Lesson From The Little League World Series: How to be a free and well developed individual throughout your teen and adult years

 

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Lesson From The Little League World Series: How to be a free and well developed individual throughout your teen and adult years

Lately, I’ve been watching a lot of the Little League World Series.

It fascinates me by how many people love to watch youth sports.

Considering this, today we’ll talk about:

3 Reasons why I believe so many people love to watch youth sports (and kids in general).

And …

How you can implement these same 3 qualities into your sports, schooling, jobs, and entire life to help you …

Be a free and well developed individual throughout your teen and adult years.

1. Feed Your Ambition

First, kids feed their ambition.

As kids, we’re told we can be anything we want to be:

• We can be a professional baseball player
• We can be an artist
• We can be a musician

And everyone around us seems to support our aspirations.

However, as we age and develop …

We are told we need to fit into pre-defined roles.

And as we feel pressured to fit into these pre-defined roles,

We lose our ability to feed our ambition.

2. Be Willing To Make Mistakes

Kids are willing to make mistakes:

• It’s OK if they drop a fly ball
• It’s OK if they fall down
• It’s OK if they get dirty

That is how they learn!!!

However, as we age and develop …

We begin to worry how others perceive and judge us based on our mistakes.

In the process, we stop taking risks …

And we dilute our potential.

3. Find Your Craft

Kids find their Craft.

They discover what they absolutely love to do and they go all in on it …

Without worrying about any external rewards other than the sheer enjoyment of the activity itself.

However, as we age and develop …

We are told we have to do certain things:

• We have to go to school
• We have to go to college
• We have to get a job
• We have to do the same thing day after day

In this process, we do things out of necessity, rather than for the pure love and enjoyment of the activity itself …

And we lose sight of what our Craft is.

However …

You can use these same 3 qualities to be a free and well developed individual throughout your teen and adult years.

1. FEED YOUR AMBITION

What is calling you???

Pursue it with reckless abandon.

2. BE WILLING TO MAKE MISTAKES

It’s OK if you fall down and get dirty … that is how you learn!

Take risks and allow your full potential to rise to the surface and express itself.

3. FIND YOUR CRAFT

What do you absolutely love to do???

What is that thing that you cannot not do???

Identify it, develop the skills for it, and pour into it everyday.

As you implement these 3 qualities into your sports, schooling, jobs, and entire life …

Everything you do becomes more fulfilling …

And you will be a free and well developed individual throughout your teen and adult years.

I wish you well on your journey of feeding your ambition, being willing to make mistakes, and finding your Craft, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Inspiring YOU every step of your way,

Kyle

What If You Don't Reach Your Dream??? Opening up to a larger platform to make a greater impact

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What If You Don't Reach Your Dream??? Opening up to a larger platform to make a greater impact

Have you ever worried that you might not be able to reach your aspirations? You’ve worked so hard for something, but still feel you may come up short? If you’re feeling like that, don’t worry—I felt the same way. I had this dream, but despite putting in so much time, attention, and energy into pursuing it, I still fell short.

If 10 to 15 years ago you told me how short I would actually fall of that dream, I would have been heartbroken. I would have felt miserable, perhaps even like a failure. However, as I reflect on it now, I realize that life had a much more profound vision for me. It provided me with a larger platform to make a greater impact and inspire those around me.

My Commitment

In 2008, I made a commitment that one day I would play professional basketball, and that everybody who watched me play would be inspired by the way I played the game. As a kid, it seemed simple: so it is said, so it is done—let’s get after it! Growing up, I was always a very successful athlete. My teams seemed to win every game we played, and there was no doubt in my mind that one day I would play pro.

My First Obstacle

Until a few years later, when I was about 12 or 13 years old, for whatever reason, I stopped growing. For the past 13 to 15 years of my life, I essentially haven’t grown, haven’t aged, and haven’t developed. When this happened, I started to see my dream slipping away. Yet, this forced me to become the hardest worker and the most well-rounded athlete out there. I believed that if I could overcome my lack of size and still play pro, it would make a much greater impact and inspiration to those who watched me play the game.

My First Resolution

So, I buckled down on my training. The summer between my seventh and eighth-grade year, I was in the gym for hours every day: basketball skills training, lifting weights, plyometrics, running around the neighborhood—anything to enhance my physical body. I also watched my nutrition, trained my mind, and ensured I got to bed at a good time every night to enhance my recovery. Any edge I could find, I immersed myself in. As a result, I remained competitive despite my lack of size.

My Second Obstacle

However, this led to me completely overtraining myself and getting burned out. I was so burned out that I had to be taken out of sports altogether to recover. When I was taken out of sports, once again, I saw my dream slipping away.

My Second Resolution

Yet, I decided that if I could overcome my lack of size and now these medical conditions, it would make my story even more inspirational if I still managed to play pro one day.

Once I recovered from my sickness and got back into sports, I went after it again. I remained competitive and believed I could still play pro. But a few years later, when I was preparing to play varsity basketball, I overtrained myself again. At this time, I was waking up at 4:30 AM before school to lift weights and train for basketball. After school, I’d practice, train again, go home, do homework, and then repeat the next day.

My Third Obstacle

This extreme training made me sick and burned out again, to the point where I had to be removed from sports to recover. When I was removed from sports, I felt like my dream was being taken away once again.

My Third Resolution

But I thought, "If I can overcome my lack of size and now these medical conditions twice, it would make an even greater inspiration to those who watched me play." So, I got back after it. Once I recovered enough to return to sports, I continued to be competitive and chase my dream.

The Final Straw

Until a few years later, the third and final time the same situation played out. I was preparing to try out for the college basketball team, training more intensely than ever before. This time, I got injured and burned out to the point where I’m still dealing with the repercussions today. This ended my competitive athletic career. Once that happened, I lost sight of who I was. My dream was gone, and I felt like my platform to inspire others was taken away. I no longer felt like someone who could overcome challenges to inspire others. I felt defeated.

The Greater Vision

Making the transition from being an athlete to being an athlete of life was difficult. But I realized that life had a much more profound vision for me. Looking back now, I couldn’t have wished for a better outcome. Life has given me more experiences, opportunities, skills, and platforms to share my gifts and story, uplifting and inspiring others.

If you are struggling, worried that you might fall short of your dream no matter how much time, effort, attention, and energy you put into it, rest assured. If you do happen to fall short, it is because life has a much more profound vision for your future. Life will provide you with a larger platform to make a greater impact and inspire those around you.

I wish you well on your journey of trusting life and allowing it to show you the platform it has for you … to make an impact and be an inspiration to those around you, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Inspiring YOU every step of your way,

Kyle

Noah Lyles SAID WHAT??? How to speak things into existence

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Noah Lyles SAID WHAT??? How to speak things into existence

Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles told a reporter that he is a …

Firm believer in speaking things into existence …

After he won the 100 meter dash.

Today we are going to talk about my thoughts on this statement and how you can use it to become the athlete and the person you were born to be.

My Thoughts

Noah Lyles said he is a firm believer in speaking things into existence.

And it’s obviously worked well for him!!!

It’s enabled him to overcome many obstacles and become the fastest man in the world right now.

Although I believe words are powerful …

• They tell the world and others you are ready to take the next step in your development
• They create a story gap in your system that helps your subconscious look for ways to make what you say come true

I don’t believe this statement of speaking things into existence paints the entire picture.

Why?

In this day where talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words,

Words are only powerful to the point where they generate enough momentum and energy for your actions to take over.

And your actions are what bring what you speak into reality.

• Don’t tell me you want to be the fastest sprinter, show me by going to the track
• Don’t tell me you want to be an Olympic gymnast, show me by practicing your handstands
• Don’t tell me you want to be a lineman for Alabama, show me by hitting the weight room, pushing sleds, and working on your footwork

Through decisive, confident action carried over the long haul,

You can bring your dreams into reality.

The same is true in life!!!

You will have this dream, vision, and calling.

You can tell some trusted mentors and peers who will help you to pursue it.

But ultimately, your decisive, confident actions, in alignment with your dreams …

Will provide them the potential to bring them into reality.

I wish you well on your journey of bringing your dreams into reality through your words and actions, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Inspiring YOU every step of your way,

Kyle

Why Do Olympians Perform Well Under Pressure??? How to get out of your mind and into the moment

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Why Do Olympians Perform Well Under Pressure??? How to get out of your mind and into the moment

Are you amazed by how well Olympians perform under pressure? Do you wish you could rise to the occasion but often find yourself caught up in your thoughts? Today, we’ll discuss three techniques to help you get out of your mind and into the moment, allowing you to unleash your full potential.

1. Focus on Your Breath

Your mind can’t focus on two things at once. By concentrating on your breath, you shift your focus from your thoughts to the sensation of breathing. Inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and feel the present moment. This simple technique helps you get out of your head and into your body, allowing your true potential to surface.

2. Immerse Yourself in Sensations

Engage all your senses. What do you hear, see, and smell? How does the equipment feel in your hands? By fully immersing yourself in these sensations, you move away from overthinking and into the present moment. This sensory awareness enhances your performance by grounding you in the now.

3. Lift Up Your Teammates

When you’re focused on yourself, it’s easy to get trapped in your thoughts. Shift your attention to your teammates. Give them high fives, offer positive feedback, and support them. This outward focus not only builds team morale but also helps you stay present, opening up opportunities for you to perform at your best.

Apply These Techniques to Life

These methods aren’t just for sports—they’re for life. Whenever you find yourself overthinking, remember to focus on your breath, immerse yourself in the present sensations, and uplift those around you. This approach will help you perform at your highest potential and become the person you were born to be.

I wish you well on your journey of getting out of your mind and into the moment so you can perform at your Highest Potential, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Inspiring YOU every step of your way,

Kyle

Why Do Olympians Perform at Their Best??? How to tap into a new level of performance

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Why Do Olympians Perform at Their Best??? How to tap into a new level of performance

Why do athletes always seem to perform their best at the Olympics?

Today, we are going to talk about this and how you can utilize it in your training and competition, so you can:

Tap into a new level of performance.

This past week marked the beginning of the Olympics …

And why is it that it seems athletes always perform their best at the Olympics?

You could say it’s because they’re world-class athletes.

Of course, you’d be right, they must have an extreme level of athletic ability to get to their position.

But why do they break world records at the Olympics, but not at their trials?

You could say it’s because of their workout programming, periodization, and tapering.

And, although I do believe that plays a role,

I believe there is something more.

I believe athletes perform their best at the Olympics because …

They are competing for a Greater Cause.

For these two weeks, everyone in the world is watching them.

And when these athletes compete …

They are not only competing for themselves, but they are also competing for:

• Their trainers
• Their training team
• Their entire country as a whole

And competing for this Greater Cause …

Enables them to tap into a new level of performance they never had accessed before.

And you can do the same!!!

Every time you train or prepare to compete, see if you can compete for a Greater Cause:

• For your teammates
• For your school and community
• Maybe even for your state or country

And when you compete for a Greater Cause, you connect with a deeper source of energy that will enable you to tap into a new level of performance you have never accessed before.

The same holds true for your life!!!

Every day, you can tap into a Greater Cause ...

And emanate from that space in how you walk and act …

And see how that impacts your:

• Interactions
• Performance
• Becoming the person you were born to be

What Greater Cause are you competing for???

Connect with it every time you train or prepare to take the field of competition.

What Greater Cause are you living for???

Connect with it every day of your life.

As you do this over and over …

See how this enables you to tap into a new level of performance you have never accessed before!!!

I wish you well on your journey of competing and living for a Greater Cause, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Inspiring YOU every step of your way,

Kyle

Is It Worth It??? What to do if you are worried about your hard work not paying off

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Is It Worth It??? What to do if you are worried about your hard work not paying off

“What if my hard work is not paying off???”

Have you ever asked yourself that before?

“I am putting in countless hours training my skills, strength, and conditioning, but I’m worried I am not getting any better!!!”

Have you ever experienced that before?

“When the season rolls around, and I’m not any better, I’m going to feel like a FAILURE and I WASTED all that time, attention, and energy, and may never be the athlete I thought I could be!!!”

Have those thoughts ever raced through your mind before?

Look, I understand …

I struggled with this a lot during my athletic career, so today we are going to talk about:

What to do if you are worried about your hard work not paying off.

Throughout my athletic career, I trained a lot,

But often worried my hard work may not be paying off.

I recall one off-season …

I was training 2-3 times per day on my:

• Skills
• Strength
• Conditioning

In my free time, I was:

• Watching my nutrition
• Training my mind
• Making sure I was getting to bed at a good time to enhance my recovery

But I was still afraid I was not doing enough, and worried I was not getting better.

As the off-season was winding down, and the season was drawing nearer …

These feelings began to grow and swell within me.

Finally, when the whistle blew to begin the first game of the year …

I let all the feelings go in SURRENDER.

As a result:

• I had one of my best performances of my career up until that point
• I helped lead our team from behind to victory
• I could sigh with relief, confidence, and assurance that my hard work had paid off, and I was becoming the player I knew I could be

As athletes, many times we struggle with worrying our hard work is paying off.

We spend countless hours in the gym and on the practice field, training our:

• Skills
• Strength
• Conditioning

However, we are not sure if we are getting better.

And, if we don’t get better by the time the season rolls around …

We can feel like a FAILURE and that we WASTED all that time, attention, and energy. And maybe …

We feel like we will never become the athlete we thought we could be.

Many times, when faced with these emotions, we approach our training like …

A child planting a garden.

They plant their seeds and for the first few days, they check to see if they grow.

After the first few days or weeks not seeing the seeds growing or sprouting, they give up believing they’ll never grow.

Or when they finally see the seed beginning to sprout they try to pull it up, but end up damaging its roots and killing it in the process.

However, The experienced farmer takes a different approach.

They plant their seeds, work the soil, and water them.

Then they sit back, with patience, and trust Nature will enable the crops to grow and sprout in the proper timing.

The experienced athlete approaches their training in a similar way.

They put in the time, attention, and energy training their skills, strength, and conditioning. They watch their nutrition, train their mind, and enhance their recovery.

But then, they sit back, with patience, and trust Life will enable their gifts to grow and sprout in the proper timing.

And that’s the ingredient that will help you to have a relaxed confidence and assurance that your hard work is paying off.

Put in the work …

But then, sit back, with patience, and trust Life will enable your gifts to grow and sprout in the proper timing.

The same is true for opportunities in your life beyond your game.

You will have a dream, a vision, a calling.

You will put in the work to pursue that dream:

• Mastering your craft
• Surrounding yourself with people to assist you in your pursuit of your dream
• Creating opportunities so you can walk through doors that will guide you to your dream

And weeks, months, and years may go by and your dream may not come.

However, once you put in the work …

Sit back, with patience, because Life will enable your dream to grow and sprout …

In the proper timing.

I wish you well on your journey of being patient and trusting Life will reward your hard work, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Inspiring YOU every step of your way,

Kyle

Now What??? How to make the most of your opportunities (in your sport and in life)

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Now What??? How to make the most of your opportunities (in your sport and in life)

The ball is in your hands …

Now what???

Coach has called you in to pinch hit for your teammate …

Now What???

The play is coming your way and it is up to you to make the tackle …

Now What???

Today, we will talk about:

How you can make the most of your opportunities in your sport, and how this prepares you to make the most of your opportunities in life.

In sports, we are presented with many opportunities to make a play.

However, it is how we respond to these opportunities that will dictate the outcome.

All too often …

We get caught up in our heads.

We overthink and overanalyze:

• We lack trust in ourselves, our technique, and our abilities
• We lack trust in our teammates, and whether they will be there for us
• We lack trust in our coaches, and whether they are putting you in the best position to win

When we get caught up in our heads …

We inhibit our abilities and don’t perform to our potential.

However, experienced athletes …

Get out of their head and into the moment.

They sink into the flow of the game:

• They trust in themselves, and their countless hours of training and preparation
• They trust in their teammates, and their countless hours of training and preparation
• They trust in their coaches, and their countless hours of training and preparation

And when they get out of their heads and into the moment …

They free themselves up to perform at their potential.

The same is true in life.

Opportunities will present themself to you:

• An opportunity for a new job
• An opportunity to lead a group
• An opportunity to chase down your dream

How will you respond when these opportunities present themselves to you???

Will you get caught up in your head?

• Lacking trust in yourself, and whether you can handle it
• Lacking trust in those around you, and whether they can support you
• Lacking trust in your teachers and mentors, and whether they can help you succeed

Or, will you get out of your head and into the moment?

• Trusting yourself, and in your training and preparation
• Trusting in your teammates, your family, teachers, and peers around you
• Trusting in your coaches, your mentors, those you look up to, and a Metaphysical Power that always has your back

And when these opportunities come to you …

What will you do to allow your full potential to come to the table and make the most of them???

The ball is in your hands …

The opportunity is here for the taking …

How will you respond???

I wish you well on your journey of making the most of your opportunities, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Inspiring YOU every step of your way,

Kyle