Humility is often misunderstood. Many people think it means thinking less of yourself, but that’s not the case. True humility, as I define it, is thinking of others more than yourself. It’s about shifting your focus outward while still recognizing your own value.
For me, August, September, and October are months of assessment. This is my time to experiment as a coach, to try new things, to find out what works and what doesn’t. I apply a phased approach to my coaching and my life. These three months are dedicated to the assessment phase—figuring out what’s successful and what’s not. I allow myself the grace to try, fail, and adjust.
Once I’ve learned from the assessment phase, November, December and January become the engagement phase. This is where I commit to building habits and strength based on what works. The groundwork I lay in these months creates a strong foundation for growth. It’s about doing the hard work consistently, getting stronger in what works and applying that growth in every aspect of life.
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Minority Baseball Prospects National Showcase at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. It was incredible to see so many high-level African-American teenage boys on the field, performing with confidence. You could feel their energy and see their confidence in the way they carried themselves, like peacocks spreading their feathers, knowing they had already proven themselves.
As I watched them, I couldn’t help but notice the symbolism. I wore my Fruition Hat Company straw hat with a peacock feather, and it reminded me of the power of confidence and humility combined.
Confident people who are humble are some of the best people to be around. Our confidence shows that we are good at what we do, and our humility ensures that we will always do our best for others. Confidence is rooted in past performance, and humility is the mindset that keeps us grounded and focused on serving others.
I believe that true confidence and humility work hand in hand. They lead us to keep pushing ourselves to be better while remaining grounded in service to others.
To guide my journey, I’ve created an acronym for “Humility:”
H – Help others first
U – Understand your value
M – Measure your growth, not your ego
I – Inspire through action
L – Listen more, speak less
I – Invest in others’ success
T – Take responsibility for mistakes
Y – Yield to learning
These principles remind me to stay rooted in humility while growing in confidence.
- How can I use my strengths to serve and uplift others?
- What feedback have I received that can help me grow, and how can I apply it?
- In what areas of my life am I confident, and how can I remain humble in those areas while continuing to improve?
As I move into these assessment months, I keep these questions in mind to stay focused on growth, humility and the bigger picture.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
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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.
