In everything I do, whether with my family, my business Diamond Directors or through the LEAD Center for Youth, excellence stands as the cornerstone of my efforts. But what exactly is excellence? For many, it is about going above and beyond, giving more than 100% in everything.
Yet, I believe excellence is much simpler—and more challenging. It is about meeting expectations, nothing more, nothing less.
Some might argue that striving to give 110% is the path to excellence. But in my experience, that extra 10% often detracts from what truly matters, leading to overexertion and underperformance. When you aim for 110%, you might end up executing at 90% instead of the full 100%. True excellence, therefore, lies in fulfilling the assignment as intended, with focus and precision.
Recently, I had the opportunity to embody this philosophy during our 10th annual Safe at Home game. It was my first time playing baseball in more than 20 years since my days in the Chicago Cubs organization. My goals were clear: hit a home run, avoid striking out, not draw a walk and not foul off a pitch within two at-bats. While I didn’t hit a home run, I succeeded in meeting my other goals. I swung aggressively, didn’t strike out, and didn’t foul off a pitch.
By my definition, this was excellence—meeting the expectations I had set for myself.
This same approach guides our work with the LEAD Ambassadors as we prepare to compete in the 15U Perfect Game World Wood Bat Fall Invitational in Jupiter, Florida, this October. Our goal is to compete in every game. While winning is the ultimate objective, we’ve set a clear, measurable target: If we lose, we aim to lose by no more than three runs.
Every training session, every drill and every piece of preparation is geared toward meeting this specific goal. We’re not aiming to exceed it; we’re focused on fulfilling it with excellence.
Having clear, intentional, and deliberate goals allows us to execute our assignments with the highest standards. When we meet these expectations, we set ourselves up for success in the next challenge, ensuring that excellence becomes a consistent part of our journey.
Excellence isn’t about overreaching; it is about consistently meeting the mark. And when we do that, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that we’ve done what’s necessary to prepare for whatever comes next.
For more information, visit LEAD Center for Youth today.
If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.
C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.
