April is here—and while some see April Fool’s Day as a joke, I see it as a reminder. A fool is someone who refuses to change, even when given the chance.
As we enter the final month of the conversion phase, it’s time for hitters to shift from habits to skills. Because habits may get you reps, but only skills pay the bills.
Let’s define what we’re working with:
- 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.
That’s what April is about. Converting habits to skills through training, not just practice. Because practice is for the grind. Training is for the Zone. And the Zone is where pressure becomes a privilege.
The Problem: Failure Without Feedback
We all fail. But failing without feedback is foolish.
In travel baseball today, players often fail and move on—new team, new uniform, same problems. No reflection. No correction. Just a revolving door of opportunity wasted.
In the early 2000s, when I started coaching travel ball, I became a fool. I knew the right things to do, but I didn’t always do them. That’s stupidity.
Let’s talk about the four types of people—and the four stages we all go through:
- Stupid – Knows the right thing to do, but doesn’t do it.
- Ignorant – Doesn’t know what to do, but is capable of doing it.
- Smart – Knows what to do, but isn’t yet capable of doing it.
- Intelligent – Knows what to do and is capable of doing it.
If you’re failing without asking for feedback, you’re choosing to stay stupid.
And in a world where baseball is becoming global—with future MLB teams and drafts outside North America—there won’t be space for fools. You might buy a ticket, but you won’t be the ticket.
Coaching in the Zone
The word coach, as I’ve coined it, is about:
- Cultivating growth
- Creating opportunities
- Advancing progress
- Building confidence
- Harmonizing a shared journey of learning and development
To convert habits into skills, players must be coached. That means receiving feedback in real time under pressure. The Zone isn’t about reps—it’s about response.
What’s Next in This Series
We’re just getting started. Each week in April, we’ll expose the fool in us and fight to stay in the Zone:
- April 9: O – Overthinking the Outcome
- April 16: O – Operating Outside of Structure
- April 23: L – Lacking Leadership
- April 30: S – Skipping the Struggle
This month, don’t be a fool. Seek feedback. Embrace failure. Stay in the Zone. Because if you want to get paid in this game, skills pay bills—and fools stay broke.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
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.
