“Just when I think I’ve hit rock bottom, when something has happened that I’m sure is the worst thing that can possibly occur, it always leads to something good. Everything good that has happened to me has happened as a direct result of something bad.”
– Harry Caray, Legendary Sports Broadcaster
Harry Caray is one of history’s most famous sports broadcasters. While he is best known for his final 16-year stint as play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs, he also spent a year with the Oakland A’s, 11 years calling White Sox games, and 25 years as the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The one thing we all remember about Harry Caray is how much he seemed to enjoy his work. He loved life and exuded optimism. He brought humor to nearly every situation and he wasn’t afraid to laugh at himself. (Ever notice how the happiest people don’t take themselves too seriously?)
Harry Caray always seemed to be having a blast and his joy was contagious.
When we see people like Harry Caray—people who always seem so happy—it’s easy to think something like, “Well, if I made my living calling baseball games, I’d be happy too.” It’s easy to assume they must have lived a charmed life where everything has always gone their way and that is why they’re so happy all the time.
Yet, when you study the lives of happy and successful people, you quickly discover that their lives are full of dramas and setbacks—just like everyone else’s life.
Harry Caray was certainly no exception. He grew up in poverty, he was fired from his dream job, he suffered a stroke that nearly killed him—on and on his list of hardships could go.
What I’ve discovered is that the happiest and most successful people are not those who find a way to avoid life’s setbacks and disappointments. Rather, they are the ones who respond to setbacks and disappointments with optimism and a bounce-back mentality.
When Harry Caray was abruptly fired from his dream job with the Cardinals, his initial reaction was one of anger and fear. Yet, he quickly decided to focus on only what he could control following the negative surprise and he soon landed a job with the Oakland A’s (for much more money). The job with the A’s led to a job with the White Sox, which then led to the Cubs—the job he will forever be synonymous with.
Caray responded similarly after suffering a stroke that nearly killed him. Fueled by an optimistic attitude and a can-do spirit, he made a near-miraculous recovery and was back in the broadcast booth just three months after his debilitating stroke.
Things don’t always work out. No matter how positive you are, you’ll experience disappointments. Some of those disappointments are completely out of your control.
People like Harry Caray remind us is that it’s how you RESPOND to disappointment that determines your wellbeing.
Harry’s response to setbacks—everything from lost jobs to health crises—was to believe that tough times never last and that they always lead to something better.
It’s that type of belief that turns setbacks into setups for something better.
Instead of wallowing in self-pity and asking, “Why me?” people like Harry Caray choose to bounce back with enthusiasm. They choose to believe that something better will come from the setback.
When you make the choice to believe that something better is on the way, it keeps you moving forward. The setback has happened. It’s over and done with. Learn what you can from it, but know that something better is headed your way.
If you keep that attitude, the good times will far outweigh the tough times.
THINK LIKE A CHAMPION:
“Tough times never last and great things are coming my way.”
[Photo credit: public domain]
