A peek at the life, times and thoughts of John during his two-year stint in Knoxville.

As time goes by in my life I have crawled painfully slowly from a Type B personality into one who can sometimes be mistaken as a Type A personality. As happy as I am about the adjustment (after all it's so much fun to be considered an A instead of a B) it's still one that I look at with some disbelief. I still remember the first evaluation I took that suggested I was Type A. I couldn't fathom it.

 

In thinking of the two key personality types it seems to me that the difference is in whether your approach to life is active or passive. In other words, to you live life or do you let life live you. I know that sounds derogatory. After all, some of my best friends are Type B and I am at best a borderline case. I'm not suggesting they're doing anything wrong, I'm merely pointing out their general tendency.

 

Type A personalities like to do things. They're the types that love expressions like "Grab life by the horns." Type B personalities aren't usually as rash. They're level headed. They're good problem solvers. They stay calm and collected and don't open their mouth much.

 

Are you a Type A or a Type B personality? I've developed my own test. Knowledge of baseball is a plus.

 

You're standing on first base. Second base is open. Do you attempt to steal the base?

 

A Type A personality would try to steal the base. They would put the pressure on the catcher and the shortstop or second baseman (depending on who covers second) to make the play and gun him down. They would put the pressure on the opponent to make the play.

 

A Type B personality would be much more hesitant and likely would not steal the base. They presume that if they attempted to steal they would easily be thrown out and for fear of the out play it safe and keep their foot on first.

 

What's the difference? The Type A person believes in taking advantage of the opportunity. They put the pressure on the opponent believing the odds of stealing the base are better than the odds of the opponent throwing them out. The Type B person believes the odds of them successfully swiping second (Ooo. Alliteration!) are less than the odds of the opposition tossing them out.

 

Apply this to that thing you've been meaning to do. Unless you're without a pulse you've been meaning to do something, so I decided to leave it broad. Are you going to dare to make the dash, believing the odds of success are better than the odds of failure? Or will you keep your foot on first base and look longingly at what's ahead hoping the batter will push your forward?

 

Type A personalities get thrown out trying to steal base sometimes. But they often get their bag and generate the excitement and buzz in a crowd that others only dream of.

 

Where are your feet?