ANEW: “Rhythm and Tempo”
What beats underneath what you actually do and who you really are?
When people ask, "What do you do?" they’re usually seeking a straightforward answer—your job title, your day-to-day responsibilities. For me, the answer has always been educator. But lately, I’ve been thinking more deeply about that question, about how our work is not just what we do, but how we do it. It’s about rhythm and tempo—not just in baseball or in work, but in life itself.
I learned this lesson from two exceptional coaches at MICDS (Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School): Tim Canavan and Alan Berry. Coach Canavan, who led the baseball team to a state title in 2016, had a rare ability to see what the team truly needed. One of his smartest moves was having Coach Berry as an assistant, recognizing the unique strengths that Berry brought to the field. It wasn’t just about filling a position—it was about setting the right tempo for the team.
Coach Berry had a saying that he would repeat to his players as they took the field: "Rhythm and tempo." On the surface, it might seem like an odd mantra for baseball, a sport often defined by pauses and unpredictable bursts of action. But the more I reflect on it, the more I see how right he was. Baseball, like life, has a rhythm. There is a tempo to every pitch, every at-bat, every inning—a flow that, when respected, brings out the best in those who play.
Coach Berry was an inspiration, not just to his players but to his fellow coaches and to me. His ability to see the game through the lens of rhythm and tempo was more than a strategy; it was a philosophy. Watching him coach, you understood that baseball was about more than winning. It was about showing up, adjusting, finding your pace, and playing the game with intention. It was about confidence and joy, about doing what you’re good at with consistency and heart.
Coach Canavan deserves just as much credit for recognizing the value of this approach. He understood that coaching wasn’t just about managing the game; it was about managing the people who played it. By empowering Coach Berry to bring his philosophy of rhythm and tempo to the team, Coach Canavan showed a rare blend of humility and insight. He saw that the best way to lead was sometimes to step back and let others do what they did best.
This lesson—this focus on rhythm and tempo—has stuck with me beyond the baseball field. In work, in relationships, in life, I find myself returning to it. There’s a rhythm to starting something new, to finding the pace that lets you do your best work without burning out. There’s a tempo to building relationships, to balancing listening with speaking, to giving and taking in equal measure. When the rhythm is off, everything feels harder; when it’s right, even the challenges seem manageable.
So when I think about the question "What do you do?" now, I find myself answering differently. Yes, I’m an educator, but more importantly, I’m someone who tries to find and respect the rhythm and tempo in everything I do. I try to bring a sense of purpose and patience, to move through life with the same grace and intention that Coach Berry brought to the game and that Coach Canavan nurtured by recognizing the strengths in those around him.
In the end, it’s not just about what we do—it’s about how we do it. It’s about finding the rhythm that makes the work meaningful and the tempo that lets us sustain it. It’s about showing up every day, adjusting when needed, and playing the game with heart.
That’s what Coach Berry and Coach Canavan taught me. That’s what rhythm and tempo mean.
Curated Listening:
If “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is rated THE best song about baseball, John Fogarty’s “Centerfield” provides the best “Rhythm and Tempo” to the game to get anybody or any club going. Listen to Fogarty’s “Centerfield” HERE. Let’s play two!