If you follow me on Twitter, you already know that I’m a huge New York Mets fan. Indulge me for a brief second:
Yesterday, the New York Mets made an absolute BLOCKBUSTER of a trade. They acquired All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland Indians for a seemingly very small package in return. As a Mets fan, this is a caliber of trade the team hasn’t made in over a decade and has only made a few times in franchise history. Very exciting stuff!
But the point I’d like to make today is that the Mets have seen a change in the organizational culture recently. New owner Steve Cohen is making his presence known from the very start.
Over the past few decades, the Mets have been notorious for PR blunder after blunder. Leaked stories left and right from within the organization about their plans to sign free agents or trade players. Most notably when the story was leaked of the Wilmer Flores trade that never happened in 2015. Flores heard about the trade from FANS who heard the leaked story on the INTERNET, and got famously emotional on the field during the game.
The Mets would consistently foreshadow moves they were trying to make, and it was hardly ever a surprise when they made a trade or a signing.
While there had been small rumors months ago about the Mets being interested in Lindor, there was NO talk of it until the deal was essentially finished yesterday. No beat writers had a tip from a source within the organization. Nobody saw it coming. It was glorious.
Team president Sandy Alderson said they had been working on the deal for a long time. Nobody knew. It was quiet progress. Work was done behind the scenes, and now they get to reap the benefits.
“HEY TIM I’M NOT A METS FAN AND WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GET TO THE POINT PLEASE.”
Okay, fine.
The point today is about making quiet progress. We live in a society where everybody shares everything. What they had for breakfast, how much money they’re spending on fancy things, their plans for the weekend, it’s all plastered all over the internet. Sometimes, especially when it comes to your personal finances, making quiet progress is the way to go.
Working hard behind the scenes while no one is looking is underrated. Saving money, chipping away at debt, making small deposits towards retirement, paying down your mortgage – these are all things that social media wouldn’t deem as sexy or flashy, but they’re some of the most important things you can do.
Be proud of your accomplishments, but make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. If it still matters to you while no one’s looking, when no one’s there to “like” it, go get it! Like I’ve always said, this personal finance business is PERSONAL. It’s all about achieving your goals and being happy with yourself.
Work hard behind the scenes, and you’ll get to reap the benefits too. Let’s go Mets!
