Risk Taking is a Mindset
“Don’t do it... Ron don’t do it. If they scouted us, they know you’re going to
throw the ball!!” Strong words spoken from Coach Frendt our defensive
coordinator during the district final game in 2018. Coach Frendt’s defense
had just created a turnover in the 3rd quarter in an epic battle with a talented
Detroit Denby. With the game in our favor 10-7 I had a decision to make.
I had noticed that Denby’s defense was paying little attention to our wing
Angelo Patsalis. I grabbed quarterback Colby Walker and explained, “were
going to run Texas on the first play, just give me a shitty fake to the fullback
and throw it over the linebackers to Angelo, don’t take to long Colby, throw
it quick.”
On the Mariners first play after the turnover, Colby Walker connected with
Angelo Patsalis for a 25-yard touchdown pass. I immediately turned to
Coach Frendt and screamed multiple obscenities. We had the best
relationship and our competitive banter in practice was something that often
made me laugh. He screamed four letter words right back at me and we hugged
in celebration.
What the hell does this have to do with book promotion? I would like to
think that the years spent as an offensive coordinator and “play calling”
created an aggressive mindset that is beneficial for book promotion. Both
scenarios own a layer of risk taking, and some risks are bigger than others.
Both require immediate evaluation and then subsequently post-game
reflection.
My gut was screaming “throw the ball” in the Denby game as I had gathered
the following information: 1. Denby was in man to man and there was no
safety. 2. We were successfully running the ball on 1st down. 3. During big
game transitions the mind of a 16-year-old kid is racing with emotions and
are easily reeled in with “play action passing.”
So yes, throwing the ball was a huge risk in a tight game, but based on the
gathered information the timing of the play call swung in our favor. Risk
taking without proper research and observations becomes destined to ride
into the failure lane that so many fear.
Yards gained and points scored are the simplest metrics to measure success
with an offensive play call. In book promotion I rely on social media and
look at “likes, shares, comments and hits on my website Ronglodich.com.”
In both scenarios we need to study our opponent or audience and
hypothesize what might work in a given scenario. As a science teacher my
background is heavy in data analysis and this has been a huge benefit in both
fields.
The process is constant and the wheels of creativity are always churning in
this man’s mind. It is both a blessing and a curse as I find it difficult at times
to feel satisfaction as my mind inevitably races forward to the next
challenge. I suspect that all good coaches share this constant evaluation and
evolution mindset. And it is safe to say that this is true for all good authors,
directors, screenwriters. A needed trait for sustained success, self-reflection.
In the book, “A Run to the River” I describe a big play during our 1st playoff
game with the Richmond Blue Devils. Late in the 4th quarter, offensive
coordinator Daryn Letson asked me if I wanted to run the trick play we had
been working on for several weeks. It was completely his idea and the
timing was perfect. I simply said, “Do it.”
The play was successful, we scored a touchdown and it put the game out of
reach. We were victorious and on the way to our 2nd state championship. An
interception or a fumble could have blown our small lead at the time. A
calculated risk, a decision not for the weak in the knees.
Blogs have generated a great deal of attention on my website. Clips with a
video attached seem to grab more views than those without. Humor is
always a goal and the posts with humor involved jump to the top.
In both scenarios your inner peace must be strong as when failures occur,
many individuals will not hesitate to let you know. In football I had a pair of
headsets that would muff the screams of disapproval raining down from the
stands. As an author, when a social media post gets zero likes or comments,
the silence creates its own damaging noise.
Fear of negative attention has never slowed this lifelong learner. I credit my
very supportive family and a tough nose upbringing. I also credit an amazing
set of coaches from the Warren Fitzgerald school district who helped
strengthen self-confidence.
Any level of success in any occupation requires a component of risk taking.
Failure breeds change and improvement when evaluated correctly. So, the
next time a calculated risk pops up in your life, you can listen to your conservative voice, “Don’t do it” or you can throw the ball and experience an adrenaline rush like no other! Obscenities are optional.
