Are you your Own Fan?
Last year, I attended a Stronger Business summit in Athens, Georgia. My husband and I sat discussing the speaking line up one night. I began reading off a list of names that were all pretty unknown to me. After all, we hadn’t been living in Georgia even a full year yet, and Athens was a few hours north. It was a brand new territory for me, though I did have 2 friends attending the event.
I read out the name Jesse Cole, and my husband stopped me, “Savannah Banana’s Jesse Cole?”
“I don’t know. It’s this guy here in a yellow tux.” My husband immediately started scrolling on his phone and talking quickly about baseball. If there is anything you should know about being married to a Little League World Champion, it’s that baseball is still a living, breathing part of their lives, no matter how many years ago they played.
As he chatted about baseball, I did what I always do, started tuning out. I truly adore my husband, but I do NOT love baseball. You lose me in the game somewhere around the 3rd inning.
Finally he looks up from his phone and stops talking to ask, “This guy?” and holds his phone out for me to see a video of these baseball players dressed in yellow, comically playing the game.
Now, I’m interested.
I started watching and learned a bit about the Savannah Bananas and Jesse Cole’s “ Fan’s First” attitude, which is also the title of his book. At the Summit I attended, he was a fantastic Keynote Speaker.
Hearing his story, learning his business philosophy and even getting the chance to talk to him at length afterward was an experience that gave me great insight into my client relationships. He made an impression which stuck with me.
A couple of weekends ago, I attended my first Banana’s game. It was there that I had a few revelations.
The Savannah Banana’s really did put fans first in every aspect, creating a one of a kind experience.
My youngest daughter will happily attend things she thought she hated if there is fun music inserted.
Fan’s first can expand beyond our client experience into our lives.
Are you your own fan? Do you look at your life and cheer yourself on? Do you take time to make the hurdles and sticking points in your life better? Do you take a minute to reflect on things and quiet your racing mind? Do you take time to exercise? Feed your brain?
For the majority of my adult life, both personally and in business, my answer to those questions was a resounding, “no.”
In my own life, I used to race. I convinced myself the more I handled, the more worthy I was. I believed that the more I did for other’s, the better person I was.
In reality the more I handled, the more exhausted I was. The more I did for other’s, the more depleted I became.
Doing those things is a wonderful way to live, but when you neglect to take time to pour back into yourself the natural light inside of you can only sustain itself for so long.
The more I learn about the Savannah Banana’s, the more I see how generously they pour into themselves, which allows them to pour out so incredibly to others.
The players upkeep their physical fitness, they maintain strong relationships which are apparent in their dynamics on the field, they are well spoken about all manner of things (yes, they all are around for you to chat with and get signatures after the games).
There is a high level of self care happening in the atmosphere at a Savannah Banana’s game. The pour out to such a capacity to those in the stands flawlessly. But Jesse Cole did not create this Banana culture by only thinking of one side.
Yes, he wanted to create, “Fan’s First.” But in order to do that he asked himself about the sticking points. What were the hurdles to that? What keeps people from becoming fans? What kept employees from becoming fans of their company?
Then, he attacked the entire business and his lifestyle from that perspective.
Can we all say the same?
When you think of the life you are living right now, are you a fan? Can you say that you are a fan of the way you take care of those around you? Of the way you show up for work? Of the way you unplug to take in some down time? Of the way you laugh and smile often? Of the way God is the center of your days? Of the way your relationship with your spouse operates?
Instead of looking to strengthen those weakened areas with a bigger “to do” list, think about taking things out.
One of the sticking points to attending a Major League Baseball game is pricing. There is the expense for the ticket. Then another expense to park. Yet another if you want to grab something to eat. What if you rolled the ticket, parking and food all in to one price?
Your fans would know exactly what they needed to save up for, exactly how much their experience would cost them. It would be an easier sell for you, and a much more viable experience for them.
You removed some sticking point. And with the removal of those sticking points you got one step closer to creating a fan.
What are the sticking points holding you back in your life? Business? This week, take a look at some of those and start consolidating. Take them off your list. Streamline the process and make it easier for yourself, and those around you. Create fans. Become your own fan.
Simplicity is often the best place to start when things seem too hectic.
What say you?
