Just Do It Right

Like most sports fans in the Dallas area, I’ve spent the last couple of weeks paying attention to the countdown for one our local sports heroes, Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers, to reach the magical baseball milestone of 3,000 hits.  Even at the age of 38, Beltre is still playing at a high level and all season long there was never any doubt about whether he would reach the 3,000 hit plateau, it was just a question of when.

The “when” was answered on Sunday, July 30th, when Beltre became the 31st player in the history of baseball to amass 3,000 hits.  I was fortunate enough to be at the ballpark Sunday to experience it live.

Thankfully baseball is a game that acknowledges some milestones are so rare they should be celebrated.  So after the hit, the game was stopped down for several minutes as Beltre’s family and teammates all came onto the field to congratulate him while a banner commemorating the achievement was unveiled on the outfield wall.  The opposing players that were on the field at the time also made it a point to personally congratulate him.

It was a great moment to see.  And I don’t think that the cheering and congratulations were just because a player reached the 3,000 hit milestone.  A lot of it was due to the fact that the player reaching that milestone was Adrian Beltre.

Adrian Beltre is one of those players who by all accounts, does it the right way.  He is respected by players whether they play with him or against him.

Any time I’ve heard his teammates talk about Beltre, they all say he the consummate teammate.  Everyone can see that he plays hard, but it is also obvious that he enjoys playing the game. And you also don’t accumulate 3,000 hits unless you treat every at bat with the same intensity regardless of the score or conditions.

In addition to his performance on the field, Beltre is also a good person off the field.  He gives back to his community through donations to charitable organizations and giving his time to participate in events hosted by charities.  It’s no wonder he has been a fan favorite in Texas since arriving a few years ago.

So what does any of this have to do with avoiding or minimizing construction disputes?  A lot really.  Sometimes people in the construction world focus on so many things, they overlook the importance of something very basic.  If you want to avoid or reduce construction disputes, focus on doing it right.

• Show up on time.
• Work hard.
• Don’t take shortcuts.
• Be accountable and be willing to hold those around you accountable.
• Be honest.
• Accept responsibility for your actions.
• Treat every project and job with the same intensity and commitment regardless of the size or fee involved.
• And commit to doing this day in and day out, regardless of the circumstances or conditions.

You see, a lot of the same principles that allow an athlete like Adrian Beltre to excel are the same principles that allow people to excel in any industry.  So just do it right.  It’s simple to say, but too often overlooked.