Just when I thought my internship with Indiana INTERNnet could not get any more exciting after our staff luncheon at Dick’s Last Resort, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce treated the entire staff to an Indianapolis Indians Baseball game right around the corner at Victory Field. I hurried to wrap up my work for the day before the noon hour. The air in the office was electrified with excitement and the prospect of socializing. The air outside, however, was humid and warm.
After taking my seat alongside my chamber-mates, I thought back to the last time I was at Victory Field. It must have been back in 2010 while I was interning with the Human Resources Department at OneAmerica. The JW Marriott had not graced the panorama of Indy yet. And, I was ready for my first-ever baseball game. My boss at the time bought me a foam finger and guided me through the innings.
This time around, while interning with Indiana INTERNnet, I actually learned more than just the basics of the sport itself. As I sat by my coworker, Katie Coffin, I began to take in the view. After weeks of being engaged in data and social media, this was the time and place to unplug and be social. Surprisingly enough, I came away with three nuggets of insight to share with all my fellow interns out there:
Focus | For four hours, the players blocked out every distraction: the crowds, the noise, the heat, the screens, the announcer, the mental talk and the opposing team. I was impressed by their level of concentration. They lost, but I was impressed nonetheless. As I sit in my cubicle, almost secluded from the outside world, I am conscious of the diminished sources of interruption around me and the great opportunity to focus and get things done.
Practice | As the old adage goes, “practice makes perfect.” From my seat, the players make the pitching, batting and catching seem effortless. This is obviously due to the years of training under their belts. All I need to do is apply this same principle to my internship. The more practice I get with social media and blogging, the more intuitive it becomes, and the more effortless it seems.
Communication | I am not talking about only the signals between the pitcher and the catcher here. Throughout the four hours that I sat in the bleachers with my coworkers, I discovered a new side to our work dynamic. I now know who played baseball in high school, who watches the Indians fervently and who is just there to socialize. This chance to get out of the usual office element and interact on a more relaxed and entertaining dimension allows for a positive wave to wash over the staff. The renewed energy contributes to the improved atmosphere of communication. Not only have we established our own pitcher-catcher signals, but also created memories at the ball game that we will carry with us beyond the walls of Victory Field.
Here’s to a wonderful afternoon at America’s favorite pastime!
