TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA
As the moderator of The Carrollton Focus Group in Carrollton, TX – a career/job searching networking support group, I recently had the pleasure of obtaining and listening to a wonderful guest speaker – Nancy Powell Bartlett, Founder and President of The Bartlett Alliance, Inc., a consulting firm in the Dallas, TX area.
Ms. Bartlett did a powerful interactive presentation on “Thinking & Creativity”- exercising your mind and gaining a new perspective.
In exercising your mind and gaining a new perspective, Nancy discussed “thinking critically” and changing ones routine – mixing things up a bit. For example, using your opposite and/or non-dominate hand to complete tasks and/or take a different route to work or to the store.
I’ve heard of doing stuff like this before, but after listening to Nancy’s talk, I got to thinking about my routine and as an athlete, how my superstitions play a role in my behavior and daily activities.
Many athletes and those involved in sports have varying degree of superstitions.
Take for instance the number 13. “Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13 and the avoidance to use it.” Several great athletes wore number 13 including NBA great, Wilt Chamberlain and quarterback Dan Marino, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2005 having never won a Super Bowl.
As a softball player and ardent fan and student of the game of baseball, I along with many players will not step on the baselines. (“It is kind of an unwritten rule in baseball”) In addition, most times when I played, I would not step on any base while coming off the field when it was our turn to bat. If I was hitless during a game, then I would touch the base – hoping it would bring me good luck with my next at bat.
Baseball players seem to be the most superstitious of all. When hitters are on a hot streak some will sleep with their bats and some players like the retired former Yankee catcher, Jorge Posada and the Astros former second baseman, Craig Biggio had pine tar all over their helmets. They didn’t want the bat boy or equipment manager cleaning their helmets.
Hall of Fame slugger Wade Boggs would only eat chicken before each game. Turk Wendell, the former NY Mets relief pitcher from 1997-2001 was named the most superstitious athlete of all time by Men’s Fitness. His antics ranged from “wearing a necklace decorated with the sharp teeth of wild animals he had hunted and killed, to chewing black licorice while pitching and brushing his teeth between innings.”
In doing this month’s story for Plaid for Women, I had the pleasure to sit down with Nancy Lieberman, Hall of Fame Basketball Player and the Founder and Chairwoman of the Nancy Lieberman Foundation. I asked her what her superstitions were while playing basketball.
Ms. Lieberman said, “Before a game, I would always position items in my locker a certain way and keep things in the same spot. I always put my left sock on first. And I kept a PSAL (Public Schools Athletic League, Queens, NY) championship metal necklace taped to my right leg underneath my tube sock since you weren’t allowed to wear any jewelry.” Nancy also went on to say that she would always throw her wrist band with the number 10 on it in the stands at the end of every game; and while on the basketball court you never step on the outside boundary lines either.
Thinking there may be some luck or superstition with the number 10, I asked Nancy why number 10? And she said, “It was because of her idol, Walt (Walter) “Clyde” Frazier.” Frazier is a Hall of Fame basketball player and played point guard for the NY Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
When things are going well athletes rarely change their routine. When players are in a slump they will try almost anything. Life in motion and in the real world is constant change. One has to try new things and think outside the box in order to stay ahead of the competition. Ms. Bartlett also mentions that we all have biases and preconceived notions about things that we need to let go of and look at from a different angle.
As a successful business woman, I am able to think critically and think outside the box. However, for those of us who are superstitious and have the same routine or quirks is it possible to change things up-think critically and think outside the box? I thought I would try something different. So, before my meeting with Ms. Lieberman, I took Ms. Bartlett’s advice and put my watch on my opposite wrist and put my right shoe on first. In putting my right shoe on first, I sometimes think that will bring bad luck. (My silly superstition) However, wearing my watch on my right wrist felt strange yet at the same time it was liberating and empowering. But when I got home I couldn’t wait to take it off.
Interestingly, I am left-handed. I write left-handed and use my left-hand to eat and brush my teeth. However, in sports, I am right-handed. I bat righty and throw righty and do all sports right-handed except for Frisbee and kickball. I am also one of the few “lefties” who wears a watch on their left wrist. When Nancy Lieberman said she always put her left sock on first, like I do, I asked her if she was left handed and she said, “No, I am ambidextrous.” I went on to tell her I can’t do a left-handed lay-up to save my life, but I can do a right-handed lay-up with no problems.
Ms. Lieberman said she would teach me to do a left-handed lay-up! That would definitely be changing things up and doing something different – even if it feels uncomfortable – “just do it!” (As long as it’s legal) “Think outside the baselines.”
There’s a hall of fame out there for you too!
Stay Tuned…
Special thanks again to Ms. Nancy Powell Bartlett of The Bartlett Alliance, Inc. and to Ms. Nancy Lieberman, Basketball Hall of Famer and Founder & Chairwoman of the Nancy Lieberman Foundation
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