Finding Your Sweet Spot

Professional baseball players use wood bats typically 33-35 inches long. Wood bats have a “sweet spot” or “sweet zone” about 2 inches wide on the barrel. If contact is not made on the sweet spot a rattle is felt that stings the hands. However, when contact is made on the sweet spot, the hitter feels nothing. The ball zooms off the bat.  If you were to check the wood bat of a professional hitter, the majority of ball marks are right around the sweet spot. On the contrary, if you examined an amateurs lumber, you would witness marks spread throughout. Pro hitters work in the zone that feels the best and produces the best results. 
Just like a wooden baseball bat, our lives have a sweet spot. The more we can work in the zone that is effortless and produces elite results the more positive the experience. Here are three ways to tell if we are working in our sweet zone:  

Working in the Sweet Spot

1. Hours Do Not Matter. When I meet a young coach I listen in for how they describe their experience. If they complain about the hours I know they are not working in their sweet spot. If we are in the sweet zone the struggle will actually be to stop working. We can’t get enough of it. 
2. Feels Easy or Natural. In order to become great, long hours and sacrifice are necessary. Those hours go by much quicker when we have an aptitude for the task. We are more likely to reach a flow state when operating on things that feel natural. 
3. We’ll Want to Share. When we love what we are working on we want to share it. We find ourselves talking to anyone who is even slightly interested in the topic. The eyes light up and the energy level is heightened when the subject is broached. It takes an intentional focus to avoid overwhelming others with our passion. 

A Word of Caution:

When a hitter makes contact with the ball away from the sweet spot it rattles and even stings at times. It’s impossible to always hit the ball right on the screws. The same thing holds true for work and life: we won’t always be in our sweet zone – sometimes life rattles and stings. That is perfectly normal. I see a lot of people, especially new workers, who are frustrated because they don’t love what they do. They become discouraged or even quit because they aren’t “passionate” about their work. 
If you are not working in your sweet spot it’s ok. Over time, the goal should be to identify your purpose and focus on working in that space as frequently as possible. It takes repetitions and life experience to earn the self-awareness necessary to thrive.  

Final Thoughts:If you are living your purpose and operating in your sweet spot, I believe you have two major responsibilities:

1. Be a Champion for Another Person. If you are blessed with the ability to work in the zone, you develop the capacity to identify others potential. You’ll witness others purpose before it becomes clear to them. Your responsibility is to speak greatness into them and encourage their pursuits. Everyone needs a champion in life. You can be that for someone. 
2. Share Your Gift with the World.  There comes a point when you are aware of your purpose. It’s much easier to keep your gift internal. When you share you become vulnerable; criticism and judgment follow. You have to possess the courage to do it anyway. 

Make a difference this week, 

Mike 

Fun Activity:

To find the sweet spot in a wood bat, hold the bat hanging down. Grab the bat just below the knob with the pressure in your thumb and index finger. Have someone tap the bat with a hammer starting at the fat end of the bat. Move your hammer strikes up and down the bat. You will feel a vibration in your fingers until you find the sweet spot. Also, the sound is different.  Try it out and let me know how it goes!