Stop Clearing Your Throat When You Write

Don’t worry if your first draft sucks

You’d think after all the texting, tweeting and TikTok-ing we do in our limited attention-span society, we’d be better at getting straight to the point. But we don’t.

We waffle, we hedge, we tiptoe around the edges in our conversations and Zoom calls. It’s even worse in our writing. Sometimes you have to tell your team about budget cutbacks or give bad news to a high-maintenance client or tell the board why their big audacious goal for the year is not all that original--and unlikely to work. Sometimes you have to put yourself out there to try to win the business. Sometimes we just need to tell our spouses we’re running late (again).

So why don’t we just come out and say it?

Because in the back of our minds, we’re afraid of being rejected, mocked, marginalized, ignored or not taken seriously. So, we hem and haw for a few sentences sprinkling in low ROI words such as:

·        Actually

·        Basically

·        Rather

·        Just

·        As a matter of fact

·        At all times

·        Studies show

And like, um, you know, we get too far out in front of our skis. So, at the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, when you’re thinking outside the box and doing a deep dive into the issues, it is what it is. But it’s not. You haven’t said anything yet!

My high school English teacher, Mr. Hallowell, used to scribble in all caps: “STOP CLEARING YOUR THROAT!” when grading our papers. Journalistic throat-clearing is like sharing a cross-country flight with a seatmate who is constantly hacking, sniffling and harrumphing. Pretty annoying, right?

More than once I saw Mr. Hallowell tear up a student’s paper BEFORE he even started reading it. Why? “I could tell by the look in your eyes, it wasn’t your best work,” he’d tell the devastated student (disclosure: sometimes it was me). “So, I’m not going to read it, until it’s ready. Do it again!”

Mr. Hallowell’s message: Just get to the point! State your case and then make corrections if needed. Silicon Valley tech companies do this all the time with new products. Why can’t you? You might get rejected. So, what. At least you know where you stand with the reader and where you need to improve your message or your offering.

Another reason high-striving professionals have trouble getting started is because they’re perfectionists. They’re constantly burnishing their personal brands. They want everything picture perfect before they put it out there. Never a hair (or a comma) out of place. But we’re talking about a short article, blog post or client memo, here. You’re not submitting your work for a Pulitzer Prize.

As Voltaire liked to say: “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” Just get to the point and move on with your day. There will be plenty of time for revising later (see below).

Here are some other techniques our clients have found helpful for eliminating brain fog and throat clearing in their communications:

1. Write quickly. Just let it flow. Don’t worry about grammar, sentence structure and punctuation. Let it rip! Don’t be a writer—be a storyteller—then revise, revise and revise. Blogger Hannah Heath explains why you should let your first draft suck and Vaibhav Vardhan explains why your first draft is supposed to suck

2. Read your work out loud or better yet, dictate it into your smartphone voice recorder and play it back. You may not like what you sound like, but this technique will prevent from straying too far from your point and from falling into the run-on-sentence rabbit hole.

3. Walk away for at least an hour. What looked so brilliant before you took your break suddenly stinks like a garbage dump on a hot summer day when you get back to your desk. Don’t despair, that’s what first drafts are supposed to do anyway

4. Start with the end in mind. Write the conclusion first, then three or four summary bullet points (i.e., Key Takeaways). What do you really want readers to take away from your article or post? Then play around with the headline (or the cover of your book). You have no choice but to be concise and on point.

5. Give it the relevance check. We all have a mental picture of our core audience when we write. We know who our biggest fans (and critics) are. Imagine them looking over your shoulder before you hit the post, send or publish button. What would their reaction be? If it stings, give your piece another tune-up. There’s no charge for parts, just for the labor.

Conclusion

 

E.B. White said, “writing is hard work and bad for the health.” Perhaps it is, but it’s an essential part of communicating with your clients, prospects, employees and stakeholders. Set a deadline. Go with your best effort, and then revise, revise and revise even after it’s been published. That’s one thing that’s great about publishing in today’s electronic age. It’s never been easier to fix things and make them better in v2.0 (or v3.0).

 

What’s your take? I’d like to hear from you.

#writingbestpractices, #effectivecommunication, #, #credibilitymarketing, #thoughtleadership

Want Media Attention? Make the Media’s Job Easier, Not Harder

I was a financial journalist for many years before starting HB Publishing. You know how you feel when telemarketers call you just after you’ve sat down for dinner? Well that’s how I used to feel when a rookie PR person or fledgling entrepreneur would pitch me a completely off base story—typically when I was crashing on deadline.

I know this may come as a shocker, but the financial media does NOT exist to promote your firm or your personal brand. Time-pressed journalists are charged with informing their readers/viewers about the most important news, trends and best practices that impact their readers every day. Do their readers really care if you just opened a branch office, hired a new partner or now offer a new service? Not likely. It might be a big deal for you and your team, but is that news going to make the journalist’s readers more successful, more efficient or better informed? As President Biden would say: “C’mon man!”

But, these are the kinds of questions you (and your agency) should be asking yourself before you pitch. So, how do some advisors keep getting quoted, published and cited by the popular press?

Hint: they’re not buying their way in or taking out big advertising schedules in those media. Instead, they’ve learned to be a “Go-To” guy or gal for busy journalists—a reliable source the journalist can count on time and time again to explain complex topics to their audience in concise soundbites—without dumbing it down or pitching their firm’s services.

That’s actually the easy part.

The hard part is getting on the journalist’s radar in the first place. You can hire an expensive PR firm; you can spend lots of money blasting out press releases on a wire service. But “spray and pray PR” rarely works.

Instead, you and your team have to do some old-fashioned legwork. It doesn’t mean making cold calls (or e-blasts). You simply have to isolate 10-20 media outlets in which you’d most like to appear. Hint: these are the outlets where your clients, prospects and strategic partners spend their time keeping abreast of your industry. Next, familiarize yourself with the specific editors, writers, producers and bloggers who are most often covering the areas that map to your expertise.

Next reach out by phone, email, snail mail and social media with a brief, but carefully targeted “pitch” that shows you are familiar with the writer’s work (i.e. their beat) and why featuring you or your firm in an upcoming article can shed new light on a topic they frequently cover—or should be covering. It doesn’t hurt to cite references to recent stories the journalist has written about a topic on which you’re an expert.

Hint: Use a few of those keywords in the subject line of your pitch email.
Hint2: Don’t give up if your first attempt goes answered. You may need follow up three or four time before getting a response.

Better yet, let the journalist know you have research, presentations or articles that could enhance their coverage of a topic and to consider you a source the next time they cover that subject. While it’s hard to get journalists to have lunch, drinks or golf, if they like your angle, they will be receptive to a Zoom call, or at least an email exchange to discuss further.

Finally, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call. More often than not you’ll get a voice mail. That’s fine. Even with many journalists working from home, they check their voicemail regularly because heck, they don’t get many legit voice messages anymore, and when they do, it’s usually important.

For more about getting media attention that matters, see our recent posts:

• Don’t ‘Pitch’ Stories to the Media; Be a Problem Solver
• Getting Quoted in The Journal Is Not Impossible, But……

 

Conclusion

Newsrooms are a lot thinner than they used to be and the news cycle moves faster. While journalists can be cranky at times, they’re still human. They love a good story—and even better—a good story teller. You’re a pro. Why shouldn’t you be on of them?

What’s your take? I’d like to hear from you.

#practicemanagement, #wealthmanagement, #PR, #credibilitymarketing, #thoughtleadership

Data Shows Leading Advisors Work the Press (Smart)

Quality over quantity to build longstanding relationships

As our 5th annual CPA/Wealth Advisor Confidence Survey™  draws to a close, several data points stand out. More than four out of five surveyed advisors (81%) told us they expect their practices to grow over the next 12 months. Even more encouraging, nearly two in five respondents (38%) expect their practices to grow by more than 10 percent in the year ahead—up from 21 percent who felt this buoyant in March of 2020.

What are high-growth firms doing differently in 2021?

For one, they’re working the press. They’re not just garnering press mentions; they’re leveraging those interviews into guest columns, background interviews and podcast appearances. Nearly half of respondents (47%), told us they find press mentions to be “very” or “extremely” effective for enhancing their status as thought leaders. And 46 percent said publishing bylined columns was a “very” or “extremely” effective thought leadership tactic. In fact, press mentions and bylined articles both ranked among the top 5 leadership tactics out of nearly 20 we asked respondents to rate.

The firms most optimistic about their growth prospects in 2021 were even more likely than average firms to seek press mentions and publishing opportunities. High growth firms were 5 percentage points more likely than average firms to rate press mentions a “very” or “extremely” effective thought leadership tactic (51% vs. 46%). They were 4 percentage points more likely than average firms to rate bylined articles “very” or “extremely” effective (50% vs. 46%).

 

Here are recent examples from our clients:

 

• Tax specialists BLAKE CHRISTIAN @taxcredits_CPA  and JAY DARBY  (HCVT, LLP) were published in Bloomberg Tax (O-Zone Alchemy: Turning Net 1231 Gains Into Gross 1231 Gains (and Losses)), which led to an appearance in the Millionacres/Motely Fool magazine and podcast (Bitcoin Boom Got You Facing Tax Hit? Consider Opportunity Zone Investing). 

 

• Estate planner RANDY FOX (Two Hawks Consulting) @randyafox1 was published in WealthManagement.com (Why Are Aging Rockers Cashing Out Their Music Catalogs?) and featured in Medium.com/ Authority Magazine (Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Randy A. Fox of Two Hawks Consulting Is Helping To Change Our World). 

 

• Tax-centric wealth advisor @KYLEWALTERS (L&H CPAs) has earned a twice-monthly guest column spot in Accounting Today. Don’t miss his latest Tiered huddles help firms manage busy season
  
  
• Wealth advisor DR. GUY BAKER, Ph.D (Insight Wealth Solutions) was featured in U.S News & World Report (When Do You Become a Senior Citizen?), Money Geek (Expert Insight on Conventional Loans) and Bank Rate.com (With rates so low, are CDs worth it in 2021?)
  
  
• Tax specialist RANDY CRABTREE (Tri Merit) was published in Accounting Today Down Economy Offers Great Opportunity for CPAs to Hit Restart

 

 

By the way, our clients don’t have to resort to “pay for play” (sorry Forbes Advisory Council) or “spray and pray” press releases. They take a highly targeted approach to becoming trusted go-to sources for top journalists on tight deadline. Next time, I’ll tell you more about how they do it.

*** NOTE: We’re keeping the survey open for another week. Give us five minutes of your time and we’ll send you a 20-page pre-publication summary of the findings. See how you stack up to your peers.

Conclusion

Our 2021 survey is a joint initiative of CPA Trendlines, Elite Resource Team, The Financial Awareness Foundation, the Investments & Wealth Institute and HB Publishing & Marketing Company. We don’t make money from the survey or share email addresses or individual responses of participants. We’re just trying to give back to the profession.

What’s your take? I’d like to hear from you.

 

#practicemanagement, #wealthmanagement, #PR, #credibilitymarketing, #thoughtleadership

Survey: Top Advisors to Speak, Educate and Publish More in 2021

Most remain optimistic despite interest rates, tax changes, market volatility and bumpy VAX rollout

Our 5th annual CPA/Wealth Advisor Confidence Survey™  is coming to a close. Despite recent market turbulence, preliminary data indicates that only two in five advisors (44%) believe a market correction of more than 10 percent is “very likely” in 2021 and just one in five believe the COVID-induced recession will last more than six more months. While investors were unnerved by the prospect of higher interest rates and inflation last week, just one in seven (15%) advisors we surveyed believed rising interest rates are a “significant” concern over the next 12 months.

James Nevers of Seattle-based Soundmark Advisors told us the markets endure a 20-percent correction only once every five years--even the average “intra-year spread” is about 14 percent from market high to market low.

These are just some of the reasons that advisors of all stripes remain optimistic about 2021. More than four out of five surveyed advisors (81%) told us they expect their practices to grow over the next 12 months. What’s more, nearly two in five respondents (38%) expect their practices to grow by more than 10 percent in the year ahead—up from 21 percent who felt this buoyant at this time a year ago.

What are firms doing differently in 2021?

• They’re contacting their clients more frequently. More than half (54%) are contact clients 2-or-more times per month, up from 47-percent who said so at this time a year ago.
• They’re doing more public speaking (65%), holding more virtual client events and webinars (52%), getting more press mentions (47%), publishing more bylined articles (46%) and producing more videos (37%).
• They’re offering more business exit planning services, more estate & gift planning advice, more executive compensation advice and more trust services.
• They’re also being more aggressive about seeking advanced certifications (45%).

“A thought leader must have channels to effectively communicate her/his message of influence to people,” observed advisor and consultant Lionel Shipman. “My most effective communication channel is speaking, whether it is giving a presentation with slides, hosting a radio show, or facilitating a seminar/workshop because I can closely connect with people as we share a common space,” Shipman added.

So, what actions are advisors taking to help clients feel more confident about reaching their financial goals?

• Nearly all (95%) said “go beyond investments.”
• More than nine out of ten respondents (91%) said helping clients “focus on the long-term” and “doing more frequent reviews.”
• Seven out of eight (88%) said “delivering on core expectations.”

*** NOTE: We’re keeping the survey open for another week. Give us five minutes of your time and we’ll send you a 20-page pre-publication summary of the findings. See how you stack up to your peers.

Conclusion

Our 2021 survey is a joint initiative of CPA Trendlines, Elite Resource Team, The Financial Awareness Foundation, the Investments & Wealth Institute and HB Publishing & Marketing Company. We don’t make money from the survey or share email addresses or individual responses of participants. We’re just trying to give back to the profession.

What’s your take? I’d like to hear from you.

#practicemanagement, #wealthmanagement #investorconfidence #economy

7 Steps to a Better Website

 

By Patricia Creedon, Guest Columnist

Whether you are meeting prospective clients online or in person; whether they find you through a referral or a talk you gave--one thing is sure. They looked you up on the web first.

That’s why you need a website that holds their attention, explains why your firm is just what they are looking for, and shows them how easy it is to work with you. Follow these seven steps to make your website more effective at getting clients!

1. The Header

As the old saying goes: “You only get once chance to make a first impression.” People decide whether (or not) you are offering them what they want within three to five seconds of visiting your website. You need a clear message. Make it simple enough to be understood in those few seconds!

You can accomplish this by making sure your site answers these three key questions:

1.       What do you do?

2.      How will it make your client’s life better?

3.      How do they get it?

Have a clear Call to Action (CTA) such as “Call Now,” preferably in a button. This can even replace the Contact in the navigation menu. These all should be “above the fold” as they used to say in the newspaper world. Remember papers? I do. I used to deliver them on my bicycle as a kid! Now, of course that refers to the area of the website that first appears, before scrolling down.

This site immediately describes what they are (a financial group). They tell how they make their clients’ lives better and there’s a number right there to call as well as a Contact Us button.

https://www.dixonfg.com.au/

Below is a site that I worked on before I understood how much more effective it could be. The “before” is nice in that it has my client’s calming brand colors. After we redid the website recently it is able to deliver a better call to action while also enabling the viewer to get a sense of who they would be working with and how she can help.

https://www.jlhtherapy.com

Notice how we made it very easy to get in touch by putting the phone number in the upper right. There’s another CTA after the quote describing how she serves her clients. Although this site is for a therapist, the same logic applies for financial services firm.

2. The Stakes

On the home page you can describe how prospects are missing out if decide not to work with you. “Loss-aversion” is a very powerful concept in behavioral finance and it also comes into play when it comes to website design and marketing. Motivate visitors to take action by asking them about things that your clients are also concerned about. Say things like, “Are you worried about…?” Or “Are you frustrated by…?” The insurance firm’s site below cites statistics such as “17,ooo are forced out of the workforce for a prolonged period of time” (hence the need for insurance).

https://www.dixonfg.com.au/

3. The Plan

Have a 3-step process that is simple and tells what the client must do to get what they are now convinced they need. Even if more steps are involved no need to overwhelm them with the details here. It can be something like:

1.       Get an estimate.

2.      We do the work.

3.      You get this benefit when it’s done!

The website below has a clearly spelled-out process and highlights happy clients who have used the firm’s services. Another example shows a way to get your point across without literally numbering the steps. However, it does give them as:

1.       Schedule a free consultation (by using the button).

2.      Complete the included form.

3.      We will reach out to you shortly.

https://staroftexasfinancial.com/

 

https://www.armeniacpa.com/

4. Show Value

Here’s where you talk about the value, prospects will get after hiring you. Use visual language and be as specific as possible. Describe the benefits, i.e., “The process is easy”; “We incorporate your unique needs/vision;” or “We are able to work remotely.”

The below example shows the benefit of financial success in the image and describes it as well:

https://vanddfinancialsolutions.com/

5. Address Concerns

This is where you diffuse typical objections by stating the top reasons people don’t hire you and the reasons why these fears are unfounded. Be empathetic and show you understand.

For my own firm, I constantly acknowledge to prospects that I know design may be an area they have trouble relating to and that they have had a hard time getting “creatives” to understand their goals in the past. Trust me, I get it!

I can explain how I understand financial branding from years of working closely with those in the industry. Therefore, I can help you get back to what you do best and take that design burden off your plate.

The website in this sample has a listing of why you might want to choose IAA.

https://independentadvisoralliance.com/

6. Free Offer

A great way to offer value right away-- before anyone takes the leap of hiring you--is to have a PDF available for free download. It’s said that each email you collect is worth $20, so offer something that has at least that much value.

Create an enticing title that makes them want to know more, as in the below example “8 Pitfalls to Avoid…” Or, “6 common mistakes financial planners make.” If you want subscribers to a newsletter, make sure you explain the valuable tips or news they will get, maybe showing past issues with topics of interest.

https://independentadvisoralliance.com/

7. The Rest

Here’s where you put the extras like a hiring link, map, locations, disclaimers, etc. There should be a CTA here as well as in most of the other sections.

https://staroftexasfinancial.com/

Conclusion

The seven best practices above may not be necessary for every website, but for most businesses and professional services firms, heeding this list will help you grow. Test them out with some tweaks and see how they work for you!  I’d love to hear from you.

The websites in this post were all created by Pat Creedon Design, Inc. (New Canaan, CT) and/or her web design and development partners.

#practicemanagement, #webdesign 

Advisor Survey: Even the Affluent Lack Financial Awareness

Most advisors we talked to are optimistic about their growth prospects in 2021. But they don’t seem as confident about their clients’ financial acumen. 

Early results of our 5th annual CPA/Wealth Advisor Confidence Survey™  showed more than half of advisors (55%) believe America’s financial literacy has NOT improved over the past year. More than half of advisors (53%) told us the majority of their clients lacked a clearly defined investment policy statement or asset allocation plan when they first started working with them. Further, 51 percent of advisors said the majority of their clients did not know how much retirement income they would need when they first started working with them. And nearly half (47%) of advisors said the plurality of their clients did not have current estate and gift plans in place when they first started working with them.

*** NOTE: We’re keeping the survey open for another week. Give us five minutes of your time and we’ll send you a 20-page pre-publication summary of the findings. See how you stack up to your peers.

This data is even more concerning when you consider the affluence and educational attainment of clients working with high-end financial advisors.

“Some people do not consider financial planning a high priority in their busy lives,” explained respondent Lionel Shipman, a financial and life empowerment professional. “Unfortunately, as life events happen, many will regret not having a financial plan in place and will have to endure the consequences of their lack of prioritization,” Shipman added.

According to our respondents, the biggest reason why Americans don’t update their estate and gift plans are because:

·         They don’t see it as a priority (76%).

·         They think it’s too expensive (55%).

·         They don’t know where to turn for advice (52%).

·         They don’t think they’re old enough (50%).

“People are reluctant to keep a financial, estate and gift plan in place because they mistakenly feel it limits their day to day lifestyle,” observed respondent Jim Stovall. “In reality proper planning brings freedom,” Stovall added.

Survey respondents also revealed that most of their clients did not realize how much their home equity worked against them when it came to financing college tuition. Hypothetically speaking, if families could no longer tap their home equity to pay for higher education, how would higher education costs be impacted?

·         Two thirds of respondents (65%) believed tuition rates would stabilize or start to decline.

·         Only one third (35%) thought tuition would continue rising faster than inflation.

So, what actions can advisors take to help clients feel more confident about reaching their financial goals?

• Nearly all (95%) said go beyond investments.
• More than nine out of ten respondents (91%) said helping clients focus on the long-term and doing more frequent reviews.
• Seven out of eight (88%) said delivering on core expectations.

Perhaps that’s why advisors are contacting their clients more frequently than ever before. Nearly half of respondents (45%) indicated they are communicating with clients multiple times per month, (up from 43% who said so in 2020, 38% in 2019 and 35% in 2018).

Conclusion

Our 2021 survey is a joint initiative of CPA Trendlines, Elite Resource Team, The Financial Awareness Foundation, the Investments & Wealth Institute and HB Publishing & Marketing Company. We don’t make money from the survey or share email addresses or individual responses of participants. We’re just trying to give back to the profession.

What’s your take? I’d like to hear from you.

#practicemanagement, #wealthmanagement, #investorconfidence #economy

Advisors Remain Cautiously Optimistic for 2021

Reasons for optimism may surprise you

Preliminary results of our 5th annual CPA/Wealth Advisor Confidence Survey™  show the vast majority of U.S. financial advisory firms (92%) expect to grow in 2021. In fact, nearly two in five (39%) are expecting to grow by double digits or more this year—comparable to pre-COVID levels.

While more than half of advisors (52%) expect to see at least one sharp market correction in 2021, less than one in five (19%) expect to see a continued recession this year (i.e. two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth).

*** NOTE: We’re keeping the survey open for another week. Give us five minutes of your time and we’ll send you a 20-page pre-publication summary of the findings. See how you stack up to your peers.

What’s keeping affluent Americans up at night?

In addition to the pandemic, nearly three in four respondents (74%) cited “turbulence in Washington DC” and an equal amount (73%) cited “changes in tax laws.”  Nearly two-thirds (62%) pointed to “concerns about the federal budget deficit” and nearly half (45%) cited “lifestyle changes post COVID.”

The young generation and financial literacy

As has been the case since we launched the survey in 2016, Millennials (42%) where overwhelmingly cited as the generation most pessimistic about its financial future. Generation Y (age 36-52) was the next most pessimistic cohort (23%) followed by seniors (19%) and Boomers (16%).

Less than half of respondents (45%) felt America’s financial literacy has improved over the past year. About one third (35%) believe our nation’s financial literacy has remained the same and nearly one in five (19%) worry that it has fallen behind.

*** Please share this survey link with professional colleagues who might be able to benefit from our findings https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3T836CB

Conclusion

Our 2021 survey is a joint initiative of CPA Trendlines, Elite Resource Team, The Financial Awareness Foundation, the Investments & Wealth Institute and HB Publishing & Marketing Company. We don’t make money from the survey or share email addresses or individual responses of participants. We’re just trying to give back to the profession.

What’s your take? I’d like to hear from you.

 

#practicemanagement, #wealthmanagement #investorconfidence #economy

We’ll Miss You Hammerin’ Hank: Master of Consistency and Tolerance

Last weekend marked the passing of baseball great, Henry Aaron. He was just shy of his 87th birthday. 

Aaron was my first boyhood sports hero at a time when kids could still look up to athletes, celebrities and even Presidents as role models. At the time, I didn’t know the 20-something Aaron would go on to club 755 career home runs and break Babe Ruth’s all-time record of 714—long considered one of the most unbreakable records in sports.

Aaron was the only pro athlete I knew who had my same first name (Henry), nickname (Hank) and almost the same birthday. It didn’t matter that Aaron came up through the racially segregated South (Mobile, AL) and I was a young, white Jewish kid from partially integrated West Philly, and later the mostly white suburbs. I felt a special bond with Aaron, even more so after reading one of the early biographies about him “I Had a Hammer.

For a legendary power hitter, Aaron was on the small side (6 feet tall and 180 pounds in his prime). I was a scrappy undersized singles hitter. But when they started calling me “Hammerin’ Hank” after a rare over-the-fence home run on my scraggly Little League field, that was the ultimate compliment you could give an impressionable 12-year-old.

For some reason, the moniker, Hammerin’ Hank stuck with me, even after I switched sports, towns, and schools. And I felt duty bound to follow the real Hammer the rest of his illustrious career.

I still have my first Hank Aaron baseball card circa 1970. It’s a little worn around the edges, but it still smells faintly of bubble gum and it hasn’t faded much. In those days you got 10 random cards in a pack for a quarter—plus a large slab of stale bubble gum. After blowing my allowance week after week as I accumulated half a dozen duplicate Jose Cardenals, Denny Doyles and enough Alou Brothers (Matty, Felipe and Jesus), my luck day finally came outside the local drugstore. I tore open the pack, held my breath, and there was Aaron’s likeness right on top, was staring at me, quietly confident in his Atlanta Braves uniform. Finally, a bona fide superstar to add to my mediocre collection of cards! It was like getting the Golden Ticket from Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory!

Life lessons from baseball cards.

That early life lesson taught me to keep plugging away and never give up in pursuit of your goals. More on that in a minute.

Aaron finally eclipsed Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record on a cool April 1974 night in racially tense Atlanta, Georgia. I wasn’t old enough to know about all the hate mail and death threats Aaron and his family endured as he closed in on Ruth’s seemingly unassailable home run record—one of the last remaining monuments to Caucasian superiority in the major team sports. I just celebrated with baseball fans everywhere as we watched Aaron circle the bases on TV with two young white fans, equally exhilarated, serving as his unofficial escorts, before they were tackled and hauled off by security.

Only later did I learn that Aaron was barred from playing on his high school team because of the color of his skin and that as a teenage young professional in the southern minor leagues, he had to overcome endless racial taunts and a cross-handed batting grip (left hand above his right). But it was that athletic dyslexia that gave the righty, Aaron, tremendous forearm and wrist strength—deceptive power that allowed him to launch baseballs further than any slugger in the game’s history (except one).

Aaron retired after 23 seasons, but his home run record stood for three more decades until it was finally broken by Barry Bonds—a much larger man—later found to have taken anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) as he chased Aaron’s home run record. Even with modern training and PEDs, Bonds barely broke the record when he retired with 762 homers.

Aaron was gracious after being eclipsed by Bonds in 2007. “I move over and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement,” Aaron said. “My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams.”

To his credit, Bonds last week tweeted a thank you to Aaron, calling him “a trailblazer through adversity” and credited him for “setting an example for all of us African American ball players who came after you."

Master of consistency

What many don’t realize about Aaron is that he not only had tremendous longevity, but was an outstanding fielder, a smart, speedy baserunner and a hitter who set a number of other all-time Major League records that remain on the books today:

• Most runs batted in (2,297).
• Most total bases (6,856).
• Most extra-base hits (1,477).

Another remarkable thing about Aaron’s body of work is that he only led the league in home runs four times during his stellar 23-year career. He just kept hitting 30 or 40 dingers per year for an incredibly long time. Same thing with his extraordinary career RBI total. He only led the league four or five times in that category as well—he just kept driving in 100+ runs per season year after year after year.

The mantra of consistency has served me well as a lifelong distance runner, triathlete and entrepreneur. You just have to set the bar high and keep grinding away, day after day after day.

Tom Seaver, another recently departed Hall of Famer, once said: “In baseball, my theory is to strive for consistency, not to worry about the numbers. If you dwell on statistics, you get shortsighted. If you aim for consistency, the numbers will be there at the end.”

Conclusion

“What I deeply admired and respected about [Aaron] is that each time he rounded those bases — an astonishing 755 trips home — he melted away more and more of the ice of bigotry to show that we can be better as a people and as a nation," President Biden related last Friday. "For generations of athletes and civil rights advocates who followed, he showed how to be proud and be unafraid to stand up for what is right and just," the President added.

We’ll miss you Hammerin’ Hank. The game was lucky to have you.

What’s your take on podcasting? We’d like to know.

#HankAaron, #Baseballgreats, #equality, #Hall of Fame #consistency

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