When I was a kid, I thought talent was the ceiling. And when I became a man, I realized it was the floor. Talent is what you do well. Habits are what you do well repeatedly without thought. Skills are what you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress.
In 2024, we need millions of boys in America to develop good habits.
A habit is divided into three parts:
- Cue – a signal for action
- Routine – a sequence of actions regularly followed
- Reward – a thing received for achievement
We have a generation of boys in America who can easily determine their value by their baseball ranking, Instagram likes and YouTube views. I get it because I was the same way back in the day.
Abhijit Naskar once said, “Those who focus on attention never attain ascension, those who live for ascension don’t have time for attention.” Boys seeking attention is the cue and they need a tried and true routine.
- Excellence – meeting expectations
- Humility – not thinking less of yourself while thinking of others more than yourself
- Integrity – doing the right thing even when you can do the wrong thing
- Loyalty – unwavering commitment
- Stewardship – protection of values and beliefs
- Teamwork – individuals working at a level of excellence for a specific goal
The reward for having these sacred six means you are not arrogant, selfish, greedy, egotistic, self-centered and self-regarding, and can be on track to becoming a benevolent Major League Baseball Player and/or a Major League Citizen.
Here are five questions you should answer each day using your written or voice memos on your mobile phone that can help you be the best you:
- How does it feel to be me?
- What do I need to do today?
- How will it help others?
- What is the negative voice in my head telling me about what I need to do today?
- Why won’t I give into that negative voice today?
In the words of former NFL wide receiver and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, “Today I will do what others won’t do so tomorrow I can do what others can’t.”
For more information, visit L.E.A.D. 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.
