Demonstrating Extraordinary Strength of Character

By BNI & Referral Institute - Sep 22 , 2008

By Paula Frazier

Central Washington and Western Oregon colleges had ladies softball teams playing for the league championship. Sarah was a senior with Western Oregon. It was her last game, and she had a goal—to hit a homerun.

It was the day of the big game. Both teams were neck and neck. Sarah stepped up to her LAST at bat with two team members on base and hit the ball over the fence!

Both teammates made it “home” safely. In her excitement, Sarah overran first base which meant she had to go back. When Sarah turned, her cleated shoes didn’t allow her foot to turn with her. The tendons in her knee were torn and she fell to the ground. Sarah managed to crawl back to first base.

The coach for Western Oregon (Sarah’s coach) asked the umpire about their options. The bottom line was that NO ONE on Sarah’s team could touch her or it wouldn’t statistically be a “home run.”

Melony Holtman played for Central Washington, the opposing team. She actually held the record for the most home runs in the league. She had more to lose than anyone.

Melony asked the umpire if her team could help Sarah. They could—AND THEY DID!!! Melony and another player from Central Washington cradled Sarah in their arms and carried her from base to base carefully stopping to bend just enough to touch Sarah’s toe on each one.

I heard this story for the first time last weekend. I’ve already shared it at a Leadership Conference. Now it is my honor to share it with BeneathTheCover.com readers. I encourage you ALL to embrace the same “SPIRIT OF SPORTSMANSHIP!”

Each week, in life and in business (even through your writing efforts) you have the chance to STEP UP TO THE PLATE and become part of a greater victory by selflessly contributing to someone else’s success…sometimes at your own expense.

Western Oregon experienced their first championship because everyone around them demonstrated extraordinary strength of character! Melony Holtman told Sarah that she’d earned it, that she “deserved” it.

As active, successful members of the book industry, when a fellow publisher, editor, agent, or author falls short – pick them up and (if necessary) carry them!!!

• YOU WILL strengthen your credibility as a writer
  
• YOU WILL strengthen your effectiveness as an agent
  
• YOU WILL strengthen your abilities as an editor
  
• YOU WILL strengthen the value of your publication…

…WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO DEMONSTRATE EXTRAORDINARY STRENGTH OF CHARACTER!

Take a few minutes to think about some of the opportunities you may have missed to demonstrate extraordinary strength of character through your role in the book industry in the last few weeks. What action(s) can you take to make a difference for someone else?

The good news is that it will make a difference for you, too!

Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKUaLlK776s to experience this phenomenal story firsthand.

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Paula Frazier is a referral marketing trainer, coach, consultant, and keynote speaker. She is an Executive Director for BNI and part of a select team of Master Trainers for Referral Institute. Paula’s business networking articles have been published nationally. She is also acknowledged in the New York Times bestseller by Dr. Ivan Misner, Truth or Delusion – Busting Networkings Biggest Myths. Paula can be contacted at paula@referralinstitute-va.com.