April 1975, I was 7 and signed-up to play little league ball for the first time. I understood the game but wasn’t as good as I wanted to be and was intimidated by the older boys. After the first two player evaluation practices, I told my dad that I wasn’t ready yet, and he understood.
Instead of playing organized ball that year I spent spring and summer of 1975 pitching a tennis ball against my front steps, learning to throw and field better. I repeatedly tossed the ball high in the air to get better at gauging pop-flys. I played Wiffle ball non-stop, learning how to become a hitter. I watched as many Phillies games on TV as I could and lived every inning of the epic 1975 World Series between the Reds and Red Sox.
When Spring of 1976 rolled-around and the little league season was getting started, I was ready. Not only were my skills so much better but I knew the game and game strategy better than those around me.
So, the next time you feel you may not be quite up to a task at work, challenge yourself, “will” yourself to get better.