Just another overnight Success

Over the next 3 years, those dreams and big plans slowly dissolved. I did not get to play in very many games and those I did play in were uninspiring. In 3 years of single A ball, I batted barely over .250 as a role player.  As my dreams of being a big league player evaporated, I re-aligned my sights toward being a Manager.   I approached the organization and expressed my ambition.  They gave me a chance to manage their rookie and Class A teams.  Over the next 6 years as a manager I learned a lot but never once posted a winning record.  Again, not very inspiring.  Inexplicably,  the organization did not fire me but re-assigned me to “roving scout” and roving “hitting instructor”.   Imagine that. A career .250 minor league hitter as a roving hitting instructor.  My boss at the time impressed upon me that my role was that of a teacher and to maximize each prospect’s potential. My lack of hitting prowess shouldn’t hinder me from helping others get better.  I think I was good at that.

Life as a minor league anything is not a bed of roses. If you don’t know anything about the economics of baseball, it works like this.  All the money is at the top.  Compensation drops off fast as you work your way down the food chain.  By the time you get to the minor leagues and “roving instructors”  there isn’t much money left.   Money was always tight for me. I wasn’t able to give my wife and 2 small kids the life I thought they should have.   The financial strain and transient lifestyle as a roving coach took a toll on my young family and my marriage fell apart.   That was a huge sacrifice to give to the game. Still, I kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Over time I made my way up the ladder to become a bench coach on the Angels. All told, I gave 31 years to the Angel’s organization before being named Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. That’s a long time to wander in the wilderness. Most folks conveniently forget about the sacrifices that I made and the years of self-doubt that I had as I pursued my dream.

As Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays for 9 years, I had my share of success and began to emerge from the shadows into the limelight. Now as Manager of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs, I qualify as the quintessential “Overnight Success”. It’s only been 40 years in the making.  It’s been an amazing journey.  My name is Joe Maddon.

TAKE AWAY’S

• “Overnight Success Stories” are a myth; They don’t exist.
• The path toward being a successful ( fill in the blank) will be long and will most likely require many sacrifices.  Trading is no exception. Re-calibrate the time line for the expectations you have for yourself if you think differently. 
• Some traders may have more raw talent and feel for the game than you do, but that does not have anything to do with YOUR success. Your will to work and dedication to your pursuit of trading craftsmanship will be your ticket to success.
• A good coach or mentor will help you maximize your potential.  If Joe Maddon approached a struggling hitter with some advice, how many of them would reply “Why should I listen to a person who hit .250 in Class A ball?”   You might want to think about that for a while.  You can learn valuable lessons in the most unexpected places. Be open to new ideas where ever or however they may come.
• Joe Maddon has a particular managerial style that fits both himself and the roster he has to work with.  Good managers like Maddon also exhibit flexibility and resourcefulness when the circumstances change. I think the same is true of good traders. Good traders find a style and technique that fits their unique personality and ability. That said, they exhibit flexibility and openness to make subtle changes to their approach when they perceive market conditions changing.

Happy Hunting and Good Trading!