Walter Clement Pipp was a very good first baseman. He played for the New York Yankees and was near the top of the league in several statistical categories. He led the American League in Home Runs in 1916 and 1917. He was a contributing member of the powerful New York Yankee lineups of the teens and twenties.
Legend has it that Pipp one day had a headache, and couldn’t play. His protégé, a young first baseman named Louis, was set to start in his place. Louis had been scouted by Pipp himself. In fact, he even encouraged the Yankees to sign him right out of Columbia University.
No one really knows if Pipp actually had a headache, was hung over, or just needed a day off. Louis not only replaced him very well that day, but went on a streak of hitting and power that few in the history of baseball has matched. Louis and teammate Babe Ruth became two if the most feared hitters in all of baseball. Louis also never gave up his position to anyone else until 2130 games later.
By now you have guessed that Louis is better known as Lou, as in Gehrig. Lou amassed an amazing array of baseball records and due to the disease that bears his name; he is a cult hero among baseball fans to this day.
The moral of this story for us all is to prepare to play everyday. You never know who is waiting in the wings for their chance to play. Do you stay late to take one more “Up” car salesmen? Do you show that “one last house” that might make the light flip on to “yes” for your buyer? Do you go out of your way to make your spouse feel special every day?
From Lou’s perspective, are you just waiting for your chance to shine? Is there a project at your office waiting for someone to take the reigns and run with it? Is this part of the reason that Lou played hurt so many times? Was he afraid that another young ball player would step in if he was absent and take HIS job?
Be ready to play every day. If you can focus and sell more at the end of the month, you can sell more and focus at the beginning and middle of the month as well.
As the late Paul Harvey would say, and now you know the rest of the story.
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