Category: Blog

David J. Schwartz, PH.D said, “A goal is more than a dream; it’s a dream being acted upon,” then do what it takes to be successful. Successful in business or playing baseball at the highest level is simpler than you think.

You just need to “BE GOOD!”

Being good is a decision, not something you are blessed with. A decision you make based upon a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement surrounding what you like to do. An enthusiasm or excitement so strong that it occupies your every thought and drives you to keep trying, keep improving, keep moving forward; determining whether you are just dreaming or acting on your goal.

To BE GOOD, your GOAL needs to become your Passion. Then and only then can you say, I am unique. I wanted something and did what it takes to make it happen.

Once you know, APPLY IT!

Once you know, WORK AT IT!

Want to know how hard you should apply and work at YOUR DREAM? This short video cuts through all the mediocrity and instant gratification by describing exactly what it takes to BE GOOD, and what it takes to be UNIQUE.

Until next Blog, become GOOD, and you too will become UNIQUE!

Al McCormick

Never met a baseball player who didn’t want to be a good hitter, yet we tend to destroy any hope of being successful. Focusing all our mental energy believing things we have no clue if they are true or not, they just sound like they are. .

“Hitting a round object with another round object as it is moving, is the hardest thing to do in all of sports.” Even though Ted Williams was one of the best hitters in major league baseball, when I asked a Physicist if he agreed, “Bull-Hockey,” was his response. “If you swing incorrectly it doesn’t matter if you are hitting a square object with another square object…frustrated he went onto say, “quit wasting your time describing and spend more time on what it takes to hit!”

So, rather than investigate, or to understand why, it’s easier to believe and attempt to react to every fallacy a coach blurts out…”let it get in on you,” …”take it the other way,”… “shorten up your swing.”

Why? crickets…..I can’t answer it either.

THE REALITY:

The Physicist is correct.

Most hitters really do not understand what it takes to hit. Scientist defines this type of decision making as the Cognitive Mental Processes of Perception, Memory, Judgment and Reason. When we don’t do it, it is called, “Cognitive Limitations.” When something is hard most have the tendency to settle for the least path of resistance. Therefore, making decisions based upon inaccurate learning or direction forces a player to be at best, a mediocre hitter.

And we are comfortable with that. It is easier to convince ourselves why hitting is so difficult to do.

We do it because it’s easier!

Dan Ariely, Professor of Behavioral Economics and Decision-making believes our “intuition is fooling us, “ and [thus] creating cognitive illusions which limits us from finding out [what it really takes to hit]. He went onto to say, these “visual cognitive illusions are those that go against what we perceive as logic, and can continue to confuse us even when we know the trick.”

Without seeing the lines side by side, it is hard to believe the two lines are the same size.  Our eyes are deceiving us in much the same our lack of understanding what it takes to hit fools us into thinking, hitting is complicated. It’s not.

In fact, accurate decision-making does not necessitate supernatural mental powers; it just requires us to focus on the right things.

Ignore the fallacies and focus on what it takes to hit.

Check out “Hitting is Simple…Have You Figured it Out Yet?”

Until next Blog,

Al McCormick

Want to play the game of baseball at the highest level? Then, you need to become a leader and use knowledge to take a chance and make a change If it makes sense, don’t wait, make the change IMMEDIATELY.

Changes that help you continue to grow, to help you improve as a baseball player. A knowledge-based change with one purpose in mind, to get better.

It starts by opening your eyes to what is real. Research helps you realize that knowledge is the difference maker in becoming your own coach and being the best baseball player you are capable of. Honestly the length of your baseball career is right under your nose [e.g., a book, a video, or even a mentor].

Gain knowledge, then ask questions, accept criticism, and in each case determine for yourself if the knowledge someone is sharing makes sense. Do this, and you will find the solution to what it takes to become the best you can be for every aspect of your game; hitting, fielding, pitching.

Do you have what it takes to become a leader? Or being honest with yourself, is it easier telling everyone you want to play at the highest level? If so, whether you know it are not, you are fooling yourself and contented with mediocrity; YOU ARE “just blowing smoke”?

Ms. Roselinde Torres, Leadership Expert, believes to become a Leader, to become your OWN COACH, we need to view things transparently and constantly ask ourselves these three questions:

1. Where are you looking to anticipate change?

• Don’t Know? Get evaluated!
  • An honest assessment to make sure you know what to change, because without making the right change, nothing changes.

2. What is the [range] measurement of your network?

• Study those who have succeeded.
• Compare those who succeeded to those who failed, and ask why
• Seek honest answers from players, coaches, psychiatrist, and trainers. Identify what you need to improve on, determine the best approach to get there; then CHANGE.

3. Are you courageous enough to abandon your past? A Courage that begins with research that results in knowledge.

• Knowledge identifying the right things to improve
• Knowledge identifying if those you hang with are influencing your improvement, or holding you back
• Knowledge on HOW to make the correct changes

Use these three questions to ensure every action you are performing is helping you become closer to what you are looking for [e.g., hitting bombs, throwing 90]. The moment you are able to teach yourself is the moment you are knowledgeable enough to take control and become your own coach. To become your OWN Leader. Then repeat.

Remember no one fails, you either succeed or find out what you need to work on.

So work on it!

Until next Blog, if you need help – let’s TALK!

Al McCormick

Baseball, as in Business, is an individual game, but we need to remember we play the game in a team environment. Meaning, lack of communication tends to create movement without accomplishing anything. Accomplishing neat things that has nothing to do with helping your team or company win anything.

Communicate to help everyone succeed in the long run helps everyone understand what the team is expecting from them. A spectacular catch because someone communicated, ‘You Got Room’ in the end just may be the difference whether you win or lose. If nothing else it is likely to prevent you and your team from missing something right in front of your face.

Never ASSUME! Failure to communicate the little things prior to writing a proposal or knowing where to throw a ball on a bunt is a recipe for disaster [e.g., non-compliant versus winning or emotionally allowing the run to score without getting an out]. Finding fault after the mistake doesn’t prevent the mistake. It just allows you to Transfer Blame.

In business or on the ball field, a team is a family. And it is a RED Flag when the family is not communicating. Tiptoe around it if you want, but there is a problem looming, and it does not take a psychologist to recognize that lack of communication results in assuming, transferring of blame, and eventually LOSING.

My resolution is simple,

TALK!

Until next blog ‘Say Something I’m Giving Up On You‘,

Al McCormick

Persistent is defined as “continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition”

Harvey Deutshedorf’s “7 Habits of Highly Persistent People” said it best when he stated, “…highly persistent people have found ways to keep going despite major setbacks and a lack of evidence they are moving closer toward their goals.”

Hearing stories where people fail multiple times before they figure it out is SCARY, but I believe that is what it takes to be SUCCESSFUL. No matter the of success you choose.

• Henry Ford’s early businesses failed, before he figured out and the Ford Motor Company was founded.
• Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper for lack of creativity
• Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team for not being good enough

Check out these excerpts from Harvey Deutshedorf’s seven habits.

An All-Consuming Vision – “Reaching this goal becomes the focal point of their life and they devote a major portion of their energies and time toward reaching it.

A Burning Desire – “Persistent people have the inner energy and intensity to keep them motivated and going through these tough times.”

Inner Confidence – “While that inner confidence gets challenged and shaken, it never gets destroyed and constantly acts as a source of courage and determination.”

Highly Developed Habits – “They believe the results of the efforts they make today may not be seen for a long time, but they strongly believe that everything they do will count toward their outcome in the end.”

Ability to Adjust and Adapt – “They are not tied into their ego and are quickly willing to admit when something is not working.”

Commitment to Lifelong Learning – “Naturally curious, persistent types not only see learning as a way to reach their goals, more quickly, but they also see self-development as a way of life.”

Role Models That Act As Guides and Mentors – “Having strongly ingrained models helps persistent people sustain and motivate themselves in an environment that is not always supportive.”

Until next blog, be persistent and go get what you want!

Al McCormick

“A goal is more than a dream; it’s a dream being acted upon”

–David J. Schwartz, Ph.D

Truly knowing where you want to be is a thought process too many individuals leave to…?

• Whatever someone else is doing
• Whatever they read somewhere
• Whatever the next step is without thought of where they want to end up

That’s just it; they leave it to whatever!

Most of us agree and believe in short and long-term goals, but very few act on them. Partly because it is easier to say than it is define what it really mean. How long is LONG and how short is SHORT? It does take a looking thinking; a little time to UNDERSTAND where you want to end up, and then define the steps it takes to get there. It really is easier to just shrug your shoulders and take a Lemming approach, jump in line and follow someone else.

Yogi Berra may have defined it the best, when he said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” You may shake your head initially, but you’ll get it the more times you say it. Basically put little or no thought into what you need to accomplish short term, regardless of your dream, and it is highly unlikely you will ever reach your true potential. As Yogi says, you are likely to end up in some other place, ending up in the land of the “would-a, could-a, should-a.”

Be different!

Find out what you are good at and identify what you need to improve on, then improve everyday. It really is that simple.

If you don’t know how, but know what you would like to do, then reach out to someone who stands out today and ask them. Establish a relationship where you can ask for help when you run into a brick wall, but with one stipulation; describe your brick wall with at least One Suggestion of how you might approach getting around it. You may just surprise yourself.

Be different, have GOALS and if you want to survive in sports or business, be the Lemming with the parachute.

 

Until next Blog, find a Mentor and learn how to pack your own parachute!

Al McCormick

 

So, the question becomes, “What does it take to be a leader?” It is my belief baseball, as an individual sport in a team concept, emulates life in the business world.

Rosalinda Torres, Business Coach and Consultant featured on TED talks, defined a leader as “someone who is constantly improving by “determining [their] effectiveness.”

In baseball and in business too many of us tend to let someone else determine our effectiveness. We wait and react versus proactively improving by recognizing the issue and making a change on their own. It is my belief our decision to wait until someone says something positively or negatively is based upon an emotional panic state where the changes we make are based upon trying to solve Outcomes versus Actions. This ineffective approach drives us to try to make everyone happy trying to do everything. Reacting to anything anyone blurts out versus using our own knowledge to determine what approach may make the most sense. Thereby clouding our vision of what to do with each hiccup we have and whatever focus we may have had drifts away next thing you know, we are trying to solve things we cannot control.

In baseball our focus becomes:

“If I don’t hit I won’t play!”

“If I can’t get anyone out, I won’t pitch!”

“If I continue to make errors I won’t touch the field!”

Breathe…. seek the answer within, Grasshopper.

Instead of looking for resolution from someone else, spend valuable time understanding what it takes to accomplish whatever you need to get done!

I agree with Ms. Torres belief great leaders seek understanding from a diverse knowledge base and when they find that nugget, they are willing to take risks. With those risks comes effectiveness. Hey it doesn’t hurt to have a mentor either; or at least finding someone who can help you find what you already know.

• Take a few minutes to check out Rosalinda Torres website “Coaching and Consulting.”
• Want to understand hitting? Check out, “Hitting is Simple…Have You Figured it Out Yet?”
• Maybe you need to mentally change how you play the game. Consider, “Plan to Win…A Success Guide for Athletes.”
• Read Malcolm Gladwell’s Outlier and find out what it takes to become an Outlier in the game of baseball.

So determine your effectiveness, take risks and become that Great Leader of YOURSELF.

Until Next Blog,

Al McCormick

The college recruitment process is an athlete’s first adult decision, yet we tend to believe, “If he’s good enough, they’ll find him!”

Unfortunately baseball is viewed as a non-money making sport, seriously reducing a coaches recruiting budget. Many complicate this further by

• Worrying what others think – Only considering schools that people recognize
• Take the least path of resistance – Commit because it was the only school that showed interest
• Only resolved when you throw money at it – Waste money by going to every event with hopes they will see your son

Finding the right school Academically, Athletically, and Socially is not hard because we are stupid, they’re hard because make them hard. We lose sight with what matters!  I truly believe every educated decision we make is the right decision. We create what philosopher Ruth Chang calls, “unreflective assumption of value.” Further complicating the simple task already filled with Hard Choices.

Let’s agree, “incorrectly trying to get interest from the right school over complicates the process of picking the right school.” Yet in every case we have the power to identify facts and create reason behind our decision making process! Once we select the school, then it becomes our job to make it work.

Take 10 minutes to listen and watch Ms. Chang break down Hard Choices. If you still Need Help migrating through the College Recruitment Process, Click Here

 

 

Until next Blog,

Al McCormick

 

I truly believe it is easy to become successful. The problem is not in becoming successful; the problem is that most can’t see the forest for the trees and never put the time in to become successful.

Richard St. John identified eight (8) steps necessary to become successful at anything:

1. Passion
2. Work
3. Good
4. Focus
5. Push
6. Serve
7. Ideas
8. Persist

Scan over these eight steps and ask yourself, “Am I applying all of these steps toward becoming a successful baseball player or even in anything you do?” If you are not sure, then start from the end and work backwards.

I want [fill in the blank] – Are you serious, or are you kidding yourself?

If you are not doing what it takes, then the answer is simple, “you are wasting your time.” You are going through the motions; certainly you are attempting to do it with out thinking it is very important or having much interest in it.

Here’s a simple question to ask your self. “As an athlete, do you only practice when the coach schedules practice?”

Albert Einstein said, “Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.” Change your approach or focus your energy in another area.

So lets start at the end!

I truly believe it will become obvious the common thread identifying what it takes to become great, to become successful, is focused around the eight steps I referenced above. Let’s take a look at some very successful athletes who made it happened and identify some strength and soul they used to become what many consider true masters of what they enjoy doing.

Do You Have the Passion? Jerry Rice, Pro Football Hall of Famer, said, “There was no way I was going to be denied, I kept working hard and my dream came true.” He was seen catching passes from the groundskeeper just after winning the Super Bowl; seven months before the start of the next season.

Are You Willing to Work Hard? Bryce Harper has only 8% body fat and squats 405 pounds. Results of his hard work speaks volumes; Bryce was the number one pick in 2010 by the Washington Nationals, All-Star 3 of his first four years in the Majors, Rookie of the Year in 2012 and MVP in 2015.

Are Good Enough? Mike Trout was the 25^th pick in the first round by the Los Angeles Angels. Mike has been an All-Star 4 of his first 5 years, an MVP in 2014 and second in the MVP voting three times. Is he good enough? ESPN The Magazine organized an anonymous survey of 143 current MLB players and 56 % selected Mike Trout is the best player in the Majors.

Do You have Focus? Justin Verlander only threw 84-86 in high school, was sidelined with strep throat his senior year. At Old Dominion he was 7-6 each of the three years he was there. Not what you would call stellar college statistics, but he remained focused and became the second pick in the first round by the Detroit Tigers in 2004. Since then, he has been Rookie of the Year in 2005, on six All-Star teams, and received the Cy Young and MVP in 2011.

Are You Able to Push Yourself? His high school coached pooh-poohed the idea of Brett Butler playing baseball in College. Did not make it as a walk-on at Arizona State, but ended up at Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he set records in homeruns (31), runs (209), triples (15), hits (220), walks (162) and a career batting average (.394). Drafted in the 23^rd round of the 1979 draft by the Atlanta Braves. Played on 5 different Major League teams, came back in 1997 after battling throat cancer in 1996, and then moved into Coaching.

Are You Willing to Serve? Albert Pujols asks everyone he meets at First Base, “What is the most important thing in your life?” Several players who reached first multiple times asked why he wanted to know? He responded, “There is more than the game!” Albert came from a broken home, his grandparent’s took him in even though they had to pawn jewelry for food, and his father borrowed money to get him a glove. Everyone knows him as a phenomenal hitter who has had a storied career, yet Albert will tell you, “I don’t want people to remember me as a baseball player.” There is a lot to learn from this, but to be a success you must first learn to serve and helping others [e.g., coaching younger players, helping others in need]. To hear how Albert served, Google Albert Pujols, I am second.

Where Do You Get Your Ideas? Are you a student of the game? Ivan Rodriguez recognized catching as a defensive position and worked hard at what many call the “tools of ignorance.” Studying former greats like Johnny Bench to improve his mechanics, learning to pay attention to details, ready to anticipate and recognizing the need to always be in the best mental and physical shape he can be. Derek Jeter said, “The best way of staying safe with [Rodriguez] behind the plate was to stay put, close to the base.”

Are You Persistent Enough? Scott Bailes, a lefty for the Cleveland Indians and California Angles was released in 1992 after a terrible season. After a short stint in retirement, he returned in 1997 with the Texas Rangers and shined with a 2.86 ERA. Neil deGrasse Tyson said, “No matter what you do, you need to be able to fail and know how to recover from it in order to one day succeed. There is no successful person who has never failed.”

I told you it is easy to be successful, provided you do the right things.

Until Next Blog,

Al McCormick