My friend said, "I was born on third base." For those who don't follow baseball, that means he started life just one step away from scoring - with significant advantages already in place. Then he added something that stopped me cold: "Unlike others born on third base, I realize I didn't hit a triple to get here."

That recognition - that his privileged position came from circumstances, not his own achievements - sparked something worth exploring.

Let me explain this baseball diamond of life:

Outside the stadium: Immigrants fleeing danger, families in deep poverty, children born into war zones - starting without even basic access to the game.

In the stands watching: Born in America with fundamental safety and opportunity.

On the bench: Safe neighborhood, stable home with at least one parent present.

First base: Middle-class family, both parents home, access to decent schools - you've gotten on base.

Second base: Upper-middle-class, college-educated parents, education costs covered - you're in scoring position.

Third base: Private schools, family wealth providing a financial safety net - one good hit brings you home.

Crossed home plate: Generational wealth creating virtually unlimited opportunities.

Now here's where it gets real: Take points away for the extra obstacles life handed you. Discrimination based on race, religion, physical challenges, sexual orientation. Subtract heavily for growing up around addiction, violence, or grinding poverty.

Where do you honestly place yourself? I landed between second and third base - stable, loving, educated parents who provided security and values, but we each inherited $500 and mostly worked our way through college.

This isn't about guilt or resentment. It's about clarity. Understanding where we started helps us see our journey more honestly - both the mountains we've climbed and the head starts we received.

At 72, this perspective feels especially important. My children are now in their forties, navigating their own complex lives. Our family dynamics have shifted dramatically over the decades. Every few years, we take behavioral assessments together - not because we're broken, but because we want to understand each other's evolving needs and respect each other's different strengths.

We're meeting again in June. I plan to ask them: "What base do you think you were born on?" And then: "Do you feel you've earned where you are today through your own efforts?"

Self-awareness isn't comfortable, but it's the foundation of genuine growth - and authentic relationships with the people who matter most

Peace.

Tim McCarthy  

tim@thebusinessofgood.org 

www.thebusinessofgood.org 

Quote of the Month: Seth Godin

“Sorting and Choosing 

One is far more important than the other.

Sorting puts our options into two piles. One pile is the don’t-like, not-good-enough or wrong stack. These are the flavors we don’t enjoy, the paths that are dead ends and the people we simply don’t want to hang out with.

The other pile meets spec. The other pile is good enough.

Choosing among the good pile makes a small difference, but getting the piles right is the hard part. All the time we’re agonizing about our choices, we’re avoiding the hard work of really considering how we sorted things in the first place.

We need to spend less time choosing and more time sorting.”

---Seth Godin

Song of the Month:  “Tempted By the Fruit of Another”, by Squeeze

Editor’s Note: An obscure song by an obscure British band (though produced by Elvis Costello), this song caught my ear the other day and I remember tapping my feet to it when it came out.  Hope you enjoy.

Favorite lyric: (there’s not much here 😊)

“Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
What's been going on
Now that you have gone”

Listen to the full song here

Book of The Month: “On Becoming A McCarthy”, by Timothy F. McCarthy

Editor’s Note: This book will never be published for more than my immediate family and a few partners and friends but…should you wish to peek in on 200 years of McCarthys, feel free to visit the website where a digital copy is now posted under “resources”.  Recently, I encouraged all my readers to write their life story.  This is mine, the base of which was answering 130 questions my kids posed to me over a couple years using www.storyworth.com. And since it’s an open platform, steal anything you’d like.

Read it for yourself here

Truly Funny: Dad's Pen

My dad once reached for a pen in his pocket protector, but pulled out a rectal thermometer instead.  He looked at the nurse waiting for prescription he planned to write and said, “oh, darn, some asshole has my pen”.