When he got the chance, the son bought a baseball team of his own in Savannah, Georgia. The Savannah Bananas have sold out every game since their first season and have a waitlist for tickets in the tens of thousands. They have entertained millions of fans in Savannah and at ballparks all over the country who now come to watch “Banana Ball,” an invention of Cole and his organization that reimagined how fans experience the sport: from the fixed price ticket that covers everything, to the breakdancing first base coach and the dancing umpire, and myriad innovations designed to give fans what they want, unadulterated fun.
“At the end of every night, to see everyone singing and dancing, with all the players and umpires having fun with our fans, that to me is the greatest joy,” explained Cole, the first repeat guest in the podcast’s history. “It’s so much bigger than baseball, you know? At the heart of it, I’m still just a kid trying to make my dad proud and create something that he would look at and say, ‘Wow, Jesse, you’ve created something that’s really made an impact.’”
As the author Simon Sinek would say, Cole has found his “why,” and it motivates everything he and his team do in their extraordinary organization. This, by the way, is the subject of the book Cole and I have written called Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas.
Listeners to the podcast can get an advance glimpse of Cole’s extraordinary journey, one that is still very much in progress and full of useful lessons, including:
In a way, the story of the Savannah Bananas is a love story, based on Jesse’s relationship with his father, their shared love of baseball and Jesse’s devotion to bringing that love to countless others. It’s why Cole still sheds a tear when he sees his father’s eyes light up as those fans come up to Jesse to tell him how much they love what he does.
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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