Century

I like cricket.

There, I’ve admitted it. I can’t take it back. It’s too late now.

Which begs the question, what is it that I like about the game? Well for starters I like the tactical side of it, it’s quite a cerebral game, the ebb and flow of the overs, the miniature battles between batsman and bowler. I like that there are several different formats of the game requiring wildly disparate skills and that it is played in a variety of locations / conditions. I like that whilst it is a team game everyone has individual roles, often bringing quite specialist skills to the game. I like that there are smaller units within the bigger team and that everyone knows what their role is. They say that cricket is played in the head and it is true that pressure really tells. Restrict a side from scoring or and the game can change in minutes. It also has a really clear system of incentives, taking 5 wickets, getting 50 runs or a 100. You can be on the losing side but admired for your part in the game, there is a respect for ability.

This post is my 100th post on the blog. I was encouraged to start it to complement my fledgling business. Not having much of a business plan I was happy to soak up all the advice I could around marketing. However reading back through the posts there doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to what I wrote about. I tend to write about what is important to me in the moment. If it strikes a chord with others then that’s excellent, if not, then that’s fine too.

I’ve also tried to record what I do and more importantly how I do it. Whether it’s making a short film about my work, fundraising for Mind, writing up courses I’ve attended or just talking about what matters to me I’ve tried to be honest and congruent. Of course the biggest single story on my blog has been my own mental health. Ironic then that I used someone else’s blog to first talk about the challenges I’ve faced. I certainly wasn’t ready to bring all that here at first. However when I did it just kept getting easier and easier. It certainly feels right to do so now.

At first I tried to write weekly but in time that stopped and after the initial panic stricken stat checking phase I’ve never taken much notice of the viewing figures. These days I often don’t even publicise my posts. Sometimes my loyal band of followers (some 50 of them in a nice cricketing parallel) tweet or share posts via Linked In but some of my writing disappears without trace.

My business has been going for about two years now. I’m still a one man band but increasingly I’m partnering with excellent people, many of whom have come to know me via social media and this blog. I hope that they’ve found I’m the same “in person” as on the page. The blog has charted my evolution from scared business newbie to relatively busy independent facilitator and coach doing meaningful work. I like the friendships and bonds that the blog has created / nurtured and I’m proud that on the day this is published I will be delivering training which has been co-created with someone I only met a year ago.

However, this isn’t a blog post about the joys of social media. It’s a post about cricket  how writing has helped me.

• I’ve found team mates to work with, professionals who have shared their wisdom generously.
• I’ve found answers to some of the demons that afflict me.
• I’ve found my place in the broader “game”.
• I’ve been respected for my achievements.
• I’ve dealt with pressure.
• I’ve adapted my skills to be competitive in a variety of conditions and formats of the “game”.

Here I am then, 100 not out. Good batsmen say that once you get past 100 the best way is to imagine that you are starting your innings all over again, keep the concentration going and don’t dwell on the achievement. Sound advice I think……..