We frequently get to watch major league baseball spring training games because we live in Arizona. The Cactus League’s season is quickly approaching. I enjoy playing baseball, and like many young people, I participated in little league when I was younger.
I have to be truthful right now. I was a terrible player. I was decent at fielding, but I was really bad at batting. I frequently got out at bat. I also saw myself as a strikeout in that way. That attitude prevented me from making much progress.
However, we received some new baseball bats one day at practice, the afternoon before a game. I came across a black bat that just felt right in my hands. Even now, I can still see it. Yogi Berra’s number was 28. Just by looking at this bat, I knew I could hit. I believed I could.
So, when it was my turn for batting practice that particular day, I hit the ball like I had never hit it before. My trainer was very impressed. He finally announced, “Mike, good job; you’re going to start the game tomorrow.”
Wow! The game has begun. That had not previously occurred to me. The game was only started by the top competitors. I felt delighted and ecstatic. The game tomorrow was something I couldn’t wait for. I wasn’t going to lose tomorrow. The 28, Yogi Berra, was the first good bat I had ever owned. I struggled to control my excitement.
But shortly after practice ended, one of the other players on our team was using the Yogi Berra 28-inch bat. The bat cracked when he struck the ball. I was in awe of it!
I was astounded and shocked. What just took place? How is it possible that this occurred?
All the excitement and anticipation for the game had abruptly vanished. I quickly went from being thrilled and enthusiastic to dreading the game tomorrow. After practice, I returned home feeling rather defeated. When it was my turn to bat the following day during the game, I can’t recall the bat I used, but I do recall striking out once more. Do you know why I made another error? I was certain that it was my lack of the Yogi Berra 28 bat at the time. But that is not true.
I wasn’t a very good hitter, and that was the truth. I hadn’t improved myself to hit better, which is why I wasn’t a very good hitter. I didn’t spend the time and effort necessary to develop my batting abilities. And while not having that new black bat may have given me a little more confidence, striking out was not the result of my lack of that bat.
Having quality tools is crucial. We’ve all probably used subpar tools at some point, so it makes sense that we’d prefer to use the best ones we can. But blaming the tools we use to get by when we don’t have the skills isn’t taking ownership of our lives. Even with the best hammer available, your thumb could still be broken. Surely the hammer is to blame for that.
I’ll never know what would have happened if I had used that Yogi Berra 28-inch bat during the game. With that bat, I might have even struck out once more! At the time, I was unaware that I didn’t actually require a good bat. I had to invest the necessary time, energy, and effort into honing my skills.
Tiger Woods is undoubtedly picky about the golf clubs he plays with. But if you play golf, do you believe you could defeat him if he used your clubs while you used his? Got the point?
If you want to succeed in life, you can’t put the blame on other people, your environment, or even the tools you employ. Instead, take control of your life by learning the skills you require.