It is still October, but November nears. August through October is the time my hitters commit and discipline themselves to try new things. The goal is to determine what works and what doesn’t. November through January are the months of engagement—the time to build habits and strength based on what works.

Compare these two phases to gardening. There is a tilling process that requires digging, stirring and overturning of the soil before planting seeds. Planting seeds in baseball is the act of teaching.

Do you believe learning lasts after you have been humbled?

When I was a teenager, I was like a lot of teenage boys who thought they knew everything. I was talented and very athletic. Now that I am a seasoned adult who has experienced many ups and downs, I realize that talent is the floor and skills are the ceiling.

A bridge between talent and skills is humility. I define humility and not thinking less than of yourself, but thinking of others more than yourself.

The tilling and humbling phase of development that should happen August through October can make it much easier to plant seeds and learn November through January.

So throughout October, commit to trying new things to determine what works and what doesn’t.

Experiment with your load and timing. Build strong habits and strength this winter. Feel empowered in the spring by converting those habits to skills. Maintain those skills this summer with an application mindset.

Remember, skills pay the bills.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

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.

Never be afraid to try something new because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know.

• 25% of what you do is based on what you know
• 20% of what you do based on what you don’t know
• 55% of what you do is based on what you don’t know that you don’t know

I love the fall (August-October) because I can recommit myself to trying new things so that I can determine what works and what doesn’t. In the winter workout months of November through January, I build habits and strength for the things that I know work.

When I continue to do things based on what I know, I feel safe but I don’t feel fulfilled. Wanting to improve myself causes me to be in spaces where I can be challenged and inspired by others.

I am a member of a Life Group at my church, Elizabeth Baptist Church, in Atlanta. This is an environment where I can ask questions based on what I don’t know and get the answers I need to grow.

Have you ever been in the presence of somebody who was knowledgeable and wise, and you find yourself not knowing the right questions to ask?

The questions you may have are good ones, but they are frequently asked questions (FAQ) you could easily Google to find the answers, rather than wasting the time of your guru.

The appropriate question to ask is a “Should Ask Question” (SAQ). FAQs are fast and shallow; SAQs are slow and deep. Asking SAQs requires courage because the responses can only be answered from a place of conviction.

Gurus are not intimidated by SAQs. They are a gift to us.

What SAQs do you have for me?

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

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.

Roy T. Bennett once said, “To learn something new, you need to try new things and not be afraid to be wrong.” I have grown so much spiritually, mentally and emotionally in the last two years amid the pandemic and 2020’s racial pandemonium.

Two-thousand twenty forced a lot of us to do new things, with many of us still building on that.

I signed up and ran in my first Atlanta Track Club AJC Peachtree Road Race in 2020 because I wanted to do something new. And I had a great time in 2021 and 2022.

Running has now become a lifestyle for me, allowing me to be stronger physically. And I wear my clothes a lot better, too. It also has allowed me to get to know myself better. Running for 6.2 miles is an ideal time of meditation for me. I ask myself a lot of questions and wrestle with myself on the answer.

• How do you block yourself from getting to know you?
• What do you do to allow yourself to really get to know you?
• What’s something new you started in 2020 that you continue to do now—and makes you a better you?

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

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.

 

Lao Tzu once said, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

So, who are you? What are you trying to be? Who does your Instagram say you are? What if you do not become what you are trying to become?

When I was a kid, I simply wanted to grow up to be rich and famous. I thought playing professional was the best way to do it.

Recently, a high school hitter texted me two “should ask” questions.

The difference between “frequently asked” questions and “should ask” questions is like the difference between learning to hit off a tee and hitting a 90-mph fastball.

The hitter: When you were in the league, what would you say were two of the most important things you learned?

Me: Passion and love.

The Latin word for passion is suffering. Inasmuch and love is an emotion, it also is a decision. While I learned I was not passionate about playing, I also learned I did not love playing.

I am passionate about coaching because I was not coached as well as I should have been. I am willing to make sacrifices to be one of the best coaches to ever do it because I love it. I did not love playing enough to make the necessary sacrifices to be a great player.

Coaching is my calling and playing was a part of it.

The hitter: So, when you were playing, did you have fun or was it just like I made it, so let’s keep going?

Me: It was not a lot of fun for me. I was not mentally, emotionally or physically prepared to be a professional player.

Because I was not prepared. When the going got tough, I wanted to quit. I had a lot of talent, but not enough reliable habits and skills.

Remember the fall season (August-October) is the best time of year that hitters should commit and discipline themselves to trying new things to determine what does not work and what does work.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

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.

A habit is something you do well repeatedly without thought. A great way to get into a habit mindset is during your practice time. The fall season (August-October) is when my hitters commit and discipline themselves to trying new things, determining what works and what doesn’t.

Next, they move into the Build Phase (November-January), where they work to build habits and strength based on what works.

If you have a goal of hitting for more power in the spring (February-April), consider trying a new load this fall (August-October). This can help put your body in the best leveraged position to produce more power.

Maybe one of these four loads will work for you.

Hand Drop 
Toe Tap
Bat Wrap
High Leg 

If one works, commit and discipline yourself this winter (November-January) to building a habit and strength for it. If it doesn’t work, at least you were able to improve your athleticism.

And remember our latest acronym: N.E.W. (never embrace worry).

So go for it: Make a habit of trying new things.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

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.