Talent is what you have, effort is what you give!–Coach Mac
John McCarthy, or “Coach Mac”, as he is affectionately known to most Washingtonians, is a swirling tornado of positivity and charisma. And he has dedicated his life to building a better global community through the simple instrument of baseball.
Coach Mac has been running Home Run Baseball Camp, which operates 50 weeks a year in two cities (DC and Brooklyn), since 1994. In the last 24 years, he has developed thousands of players and mentored nearly 1,200 assistant coaches. And he has never turned down a full scholarship request.
Former players have gone on to star in college, the minors and even the Major Leagues. And former instructors have gone on to coach and manage at the high school and college level.
But if Coach Mac were only teaching baseball, he would be falling short of his goal. His mission has a much broader purpose. He believes every child has the potential to grow into a redwood. Strong. Confident. Accountable. Baseball is an instrument to achieve that goal but it doesn’t end there.
Everyone should have an opportunity at a better life. Everyone deserves the chance to be a redwood!
What is the plan?
So how does he do it? How does Coach Mac start the process of maximizing the potential of each player? In the beginning, it has very little to do with baseball.
Coach Mac instills a culture that “weeds the garden of selfishness” and allows each player to grow. He wants his players to understand more about the world, and more about what it means to be a team player on and off the field. He has developed a formula for developing each player into a better person. In doing so, Coach Mac has created a blueprint for all of us to form a better community based on character and resiliency!
Coach Mac learned everything he needed to know about accountability from his own college baseball coach, Tim Hulsy. Coach Hulsy set the bar for appropriate conduct and would not tolerate behavior or actions that did not meet those standards. If you were late to practice , you would run. If you did not hustle, you would sit on the bench. His demands were communicated so effectively, there was no room to argue.
Coach Mac demands the same from his players. If you hit 3 home runs in one game but don’t hustle out to the field or cheer on our teammates, you can expect to sit on the bench. By the same token, if you strike out three times but demonstrate incredible hustle and teamwork, you will get another chance to prove your worth. Every player is accountable for their actions. And accountability drives behavior.
Coach Mac wants his players to be resilient in baseball and resilient in life. He preaches the concept of “uphill” heart. This is the ability to keep fighting hard even when our performance suffers. It is easy to keep going when we are at the top of our game. Everything feels effortless and it seems as if we are pedaling downhill.
But what happens when we commit an error? What happens when we strike out looking? What motivates us to keep going when we are constantly pedaling uphill? Developing the courage and stamina to keep battling through those difficult moments defines a Coach Mac player.
Thinking beyond the diamond and reaching into the community is essential to creating a lasting bond. Coach Mac teams understand they are lucky to have the opportunity to play a game and do not take anything for granted.
In 1999 Sisters Lenore, Catherine, Anna, Natividad and Susan, of the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, asked Coach Mac and former MLB player Jesus “Pepe” Frias to create Beisbol y Libros in Consuelo, Dominican Republic.
The Grey Sisters have lived and served in the local Consuelo community for over 50 years. And every February, Coach Mac and his wife invite 40 American families (and the Wilson High School baseball team) to witness the Sister’s incredible program of social uplift.
Players who join the trip serve the local community and experience a different culture. They grow to understand another way of life and appreciate all the amenities available to them in The United States. And, as a result, the players form bonds that last long beyond their days of playing baseball.
The Coach Mac player is encouraged to demonstrate a “Yes, Coach” attitude at all times. It is the mantra that defines a team player. Discipline is such a huge part of creating a winning team. The coaches are trained to have the kids best interests at heart. So if a coach asks a player to do something, they need to do it!
There is no debate. There is no rolling the eyes and questioning the directive. If a coach offers instruction or constructive criticism, the only appropriate response is “Yes, coach!”.
After every practice, each player is asked to circle the field and pick up all the trash. In addition, each coach is asked to show up with their shoes shined and their shirts tucked in. Controlling the environment is so critical to forming a winning culture.
If the players can take pride in the field and appreciate the environment the coaches have created, they will strive to give their best. They will respect each other and respect the game. Pride is a huge part of forming a positive experience. And its starts with doing the little things right. An immaculate field and a professional environment is sometimes all it takes to bring out the best in each player.
So What Does This Mean For Us?
Coach Mac is not just trying to create a better player. He is not just trying to create a better team. He is trying to build the character and discipline of every person in the organization. In doing so, he is building a better community one player at a time.
But Coach Mac’s lessons are not just for his players. They apply to all of us in our every day lives.
As business leaders, we must create an atmosphere of accountability. Each team member must understand their role and must understand what they need to do to be successful.
As employees, we must be willing to accept the consequences of falling short. We must be accountable for our actions and change our behavior to achieve a winning formula.
More importantly, we must summon the courage to display “uphill” heart at all times. The journey of life is not easy. But if we want to stay resilient, we must fight through the tough times. We must show courage in the face of disappointment. The ability to keep pedaling uphill will catapult us from average to exceptional.
At the same time, we must never take our blessings for granted. Giving back to the community and serving the broader good can only help us appreciate our circumstances. And both the team and the individual benefit when they are focused on a larger purpose.
In addition, we never want to blindly follow our leaders. But once we place trust in them, we must be willing to accept they have earned their role and they have our best interests at heart. Displaying a “Yes, Coach” attitude can help us achieve individual success and help the team stay positive and vigorous.
Finally, we have to pick up the trash in our own lives. We must create an atmosphere of winning. We must remove the negativity from our lives and the lives of the people we love. We must take pride in doing the little things right and perpetuating a positive environment at all times.
The Final Word
Coach Mac has laid the groundwork for his players and coaches to be vibrant leaders. And that has created a winning atmosphere and a better community in his corner of the world.
All of us can benefit by focusing on these simple lessons. It’s not rocket science. It’s all about building character and resiliency. And is starts with creating a culture that produces healthy and confident redwoods!
Until next week, keep smiling.