Strategy #7 / Closure - Completing tasks so that you can move on to new ones

Coach Ames has just completed a field session on backing up throws with her group. The kids are sitting on the bench in the third base dugout. “O.K. Let’s review this. Where does the pitcher go when …?”

This goes on until... “O. K., folks, now let’s get some batting practice in.”

Comments – Coach Ames has closed one task so that she and the players can go on to the next task. She really is clear that unless there is an urgent question, they are on the move. When we complete one issue, it gives us the space to move on to the next issue.

Non-Sports Example – Jerry has been painting his living room in that soft blue color his wife, June, really likes and unfortunately he ran out of paint with just about 2 square feet left in the corner. Being very resourceful, he moved one of their end tables in front of it so no one could see the unfinished work.

But! Jerry knows it’s there and every time he walks into that room his little mental reminder program says, “I’ve got to finish that paint job one of these days.” Finally, after about a dozen of these episodes, Jerry goes to the store, buys a small can of the same paint and completes the job – Closure – and he can walk into that room without being bugged by his brain.

Sports Example - Coach Ames is having a late, delicious stir-fry dinner with her family and she is telling them about the really good practice session they had late that afternoon. She is in the middle of telling them about their new player when she exclaims, “Oh, No! I knew all the way driving home that I had missed doing something and I was kicking myself for not being able to remember what it was. Now I remember. I forgot to thank Tim Lindstrom for his help with a new member of the team.”

Later that evening, Marianne talks to Elsa Lindstrom, Tim’s mother, for a while and then thanks Tim personally for what he’s been doing. I will leave you here to think about all of the future thoughts, feelings, and actions that may result from this short episode.

When your mind keeps bugging you, it often means that you didn’t complete something – you can get “stuck” there - complete it so that you can move on.

And now, taking our own advice: We have completed the Seven Super Strategies and we are ready, next week, to open up a new issue to pursue. On we go!