Not all baseball defeats are the same, as some baseball losses are harder to overcome.

In a strange twist, I have become the student and must learn the student and athletic mindset that I preach to my ballplayers.

His mindset was the fascinating takeaway from the excellent ESPN documentary, The Captain, on Derek Jeter’s life. Whether the Yankees won or lost the World Series, Derek’s thoughts automatically went to “What’s Next?” He even admitted that mentality probably took away from him enjoying his career success, but the attitude leads to year-in and year-out success.

Encountering “The Greats” reveals their greatness!

Following are “the teaches” to help athletes learn work ethic, know-how, and confidence to have the success they desire. It bears remembering that it’s who the teachers are themselves. When adults display the traits they want their players to have, players, develop them, too, leading to the desired win-win situation.

One would think the major league baseball life would be the most joyous time of one’s life – not so fast.

Our goals are to show ourselves and the world who we are or aspire to be. The winner’s plan involves a purposeful life of moving forward by being unafraid to take on complex challenges even with the knowledge one may fail. The quest for better is the challenge and the dynamic reason to push beyond the ordinary. Pursuing success is a never-ending process of going for it, settling in, and re-examining the outcome.