In addition to having been one of the greatest ballplayers and most iconic baseball figures of all time, Yogi Berra, who passed away last week at the age of 90, was, of course, in many ways, almost as well-known for his wonderful way with words.

While, at first glance his famous quotes might appear perplexing (as well as hilarious – whether intentionally or not), when pried open they are found to contain wondrous pearls of wisdom.

Whether on the ballfield, at work, or in life, here are just a few ways in which we might benefit from practicing what Yogi preached…even if he didn’t actually say everything he said:

1)      “It ain't over 'til it's over.” His most famous quote reminds us of two very important, but very different, things: One is to be careful not to declare victory prematurely. The other is that until something is official, there’s always still hope.

2)      “Always go to other people's funerals; otherwise they won't go to yours.” There are too many people out there who are “takers.” As Wharton professor and author Adam Grant emphasizes in his excellent bestseller, “Give and Take,” it’s important -- and the right thing to do -- to reciprocate. Or, even better, simply to be generous.

3)      “He's learning me all of his experience.” Said about the future Hall of Fame catcher, Bill Dickey, who was teaching the younger Yogi Berra how to play the position, encourages us to pass down our wisdom to others.

4)      “I knew the record would stand until it was broken.” While congratulating the Cincinnati Reds’ Johnny Bench on breaking his record for home runs by a catcher, this one reminds us that records are made to be broken.

5)      “If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be.” We often complain that people and things aren’t the way they’re “supposed to be”; but maybe the way things are IS the way it’s supposed to be…at least for now.

6)      “If you can't imitate him, don't copy him.” People often get frustrated and discouraged when comparing themselves to others. But perhaps the only people we should be comparing ourselves to is ourselves. As Jeff Schwartzman the head of Learning & Development of Liquidnet (and my teaching partner at NYU) always says: “Measure yourself against your own yardstick.” It’s better to be the best YOU you can be, rather than a second-rate someone else.

7)      “If you don't know where you're going, you might not get there.” Very simply, without a vision, a direction, a plan, and a goal, you probably won’t end up where you want to be.

8)      “It gets late early out there.” Referring to the difficult sun conditions in left field at Yankee Stadium, this one reminds us of how quickly time often passes us by.

9)      “Little things are big.” This one has so many possible meanings including the fact that a lot of time we focus on the big picture while losing sight of the details, and we often underestimate and undervalue the many smaller-sized and less-recognized contributions that various individuals make to a team’s or organization’s success.

10)  “Ninety percent of this game is half-mental.” So often we focus on the technical skills necessary to do a job, but forget about how important the mental/emotional/human aspect is.

11)  “You can’t hit and think at the same time.” A lot of times – when we’re delivering a presentation, interviewing, doing a task for which we’ve been trained, or swinging a baseball bat – our self-consciousness gets in the way...and we strike out. We second-guess ourselves, lose our confidence, stumble and fall. But when we’re well-prepared, confident, “in the zone,” and in a state of “unconscious competence,” we dramatically increase our chances for success.

12)  “We made too many wrong mistakes.” Making mistakes is normal; but we need to make the “right” ones, learn from them, and not repeat them.

13)  “What time is it? You mean now?” While Yogi was on a plane and didn’t know what time zone he was currently in when he was asked this, to me it’s a humorous reminder for us to try to be “in the moment.”

14)  “Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.” So often, especially in this digital age, we may end up following the crowd and jumping on the latest bandwagon. But maybe, sometimes, it might be better to just sit this one out.  

15)  “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Life is filled with choices and decisions – some minor and trivial, others future-determining and life-changing. As poet Robert Frost put it in his classic, The Road Not Taken, making choices is, ultimately, what life is all about. While we may sometimes decide to follow the crowd (see #14 above) or the path laid out for us by others, at other times we need to make our own choices, follow our own path, and take “the road less traveled”…i.e., the one which will make “all the difference.”

16)  “Four. I don’t think I can eat eight” Yogi’s response when asked by a waitress whether he wanted his pizza cut into eight slices or four slices. Shows us that with some decisions, it’s just how you slice it.

17)  “I really didn't say everything I said. Then again, I might have said 'em, but you never know.” This one speaks for itself.

To those of us who grew up with him having been around all our lives (especially if you were a Yankees fan growing up in New York!), Yogi’s passing last week really felt like losing a family member (in many ways he always reminded me of my Grandpa Sam -- same height and build, as well being an incredibly kind, warm, and genuinely friendly and generous man).

But even though he’s gone to that big ballpark in the sky, his baseball records, his Yogiisms, his smile – and his ability to make us smile simply by thinking of him – will continue to live on in the hearts of baseball fans forever.

All it takes is hearing one Yogiism, and it’s like déjà vu all over again.

When asked by a CEO how to handle the ever-increasing time demands of start-up entrepreneurs requesting to pick his brain, the Workologist provided a few suggestions that I felt kind of came up short.

Here's the original column called, "Sharing Your Wisdom":

 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/12/jobs/sharing-your-wisdom-within-limits.html

And here's my response (scroll down to...Reader Feedback: A Mentor’s Limits)

 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/jobs/the-insufferable-colleague.html?_r=0

Does your boss hate you without your even knowing it? Maybe, maybe not. (Hopefully not!)

But you may be doing certain things that your boss hates -- without even realizing it. 

Catherine Conlan of Monster.com called upon me once again to get my insights into the "5 Things You're Doing That Your Boss Hates."

Just to give you a sneak peek, the five things are:

[1] Asking too many questions.
[2] Answering the wrong question.
[3] Creating chaos.
[4] Showing up with problems without solutions
[5] Making your boss look stupid.

Click on the link to find out more -- and discover how YOU can avoid these common pitfalls!

Easier than finding a new job, here are 5 relatively quick-and-easy things you can do to reignite your passion for your current job.

Catherine Conlan, contributing writer to Monster.com, asked me for a few suggestions on how to do this -- and here they are (originally posted on Monster.com, and then elsewhere including the NY Daily News):

Many people have ambivalent feelings about their jobs. Work is a place they go to, do some chores at, and then come home from, without feeling like they’ve grown personally or professionally, or have made a real difference in the world. Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to elevate your job from a task to something fulfilling. Here are some small changes you can make to love the job you have.

[1] Talk to your boss.
If you think there are changes that could be made to improve your outlook, let someone know, says Cheryl Heisler, president and founder of Lawternatives. “It’s very possible that the company would rather hear what you are unhappy about and fix it than to see you walk,” she says. “It’s costly to lose a trained employee, and no one wants to lose someone good.”

But don’t just drop into the boss’ office unannounced and say, “I’m bored.” Identify what’s dissatisfying you and come up with some concrete ideas on how to change it before you talk to your boss.
 


[2] Try something new.
“The best way to learn a new skill, demonstrate your potential and get out of a work rut is to take on a stretch assignment,” says Todd Cherches, founder and CEO of BigBlueGumball. “Not only will you be helping out your team or department by making a value-added contribution, but you’ll be enhancing your reputation while challenging yourself to reach new heights.”

 Heisler agrees. “We all like to do things that are familiar, but if that’s all we do, we get bored and lose interest.” Asking for something new and challenging can help “stir up the pot.”

[3] Step back a bit.
Even when you like your job, it’s important to mentally detach and revitalize when you’re not at work, says Dr. Paula Thompson, a career coach. “Studies show that people who spend their non-work time engaged in hobbies, sports and social activities have higher job satisfaction.”

Taking on a new challenge outside of work can be as invigorating as one at work. “The more you love your life outside the office, the happier you will be when you are in,” Heisler says. “Extra-curriculars keep life fun and keep work in its proper perspective.”

[4] Stop gossiping.
Complaining about work with others, especially if it’s just gossip. “Focusing on the negative will bring down your spirits,” Thompson says. “Instead, purposefully develop friendships with your co-workers who love their jobs, and you will find that their passion will be contagious and make you feel better about yours.” 

If the entire work environment is negative, you might have to find a way to shield yourself from the negativity, or, alternately, look for options for boosting morale.



[5] Start fresh every day.
Sometimes wiping the slate clean and starting fresh can help you recharge your batteries, Cherches says. “What if next Monday were your first day on the job?” he asks. “How would you prioritize? What would you start doing? What would you stop doing? What would you wear?” Organizing your workspace, clearing out the inbox, tossing out piled-up paperwork and setting deadlines for projects can all help you find new energy for your job. “Consciously deciding to adjust your attitude and approach your work in a new way may just help you get re-engaged and rejuvenated.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/jobs/small-love-job-article-1.1433016#ixzz2rSFQRfMt

Pedro: Do you think people will vote for me?
Napoleon Dynamite: Heck yes! I’d vote for you.
Pedro: Like what are my skills?
Napoleon Dynamite: Well, you have a sweet bike. And you’re really good at hooking up with chicks. Plus you’re like the only guy at school who has a mustache.

Unlike Pedro, I don’t have a sweet bike. I can’t grow a mustache. I don’t have nunchuk skills, bow hunting skills, or computer hacking skills. Or Napoleon's awesome dance moves.

But I do have some skills and habits that I use pretty much every day that I’m happy to share in order to help others be more effective and successful.

So click here to go to my Hired Guns blog and learn what those five skills are!