Comments on: Can Anyone Be A Major League Pitcher?

By: Steve G

Steve G — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

I think it's great that everyone got a chance to pitch. But another approach could have been that in order to get a chance to pitch, the kid had to throw 3 strikes in a row in practice. I don't think the fact that a kid walks his first 2 batters in a little league game says he can't pitch. Or missing your first few foul shots means you can't play basketball. The approach taken served to demoralize the kids at young age and it wasn't necessary. Everyone wants to be Josh Beckett at something. The lesson needs to be you have to work your ass off.

By: clizbiz6137

clizbiz6137 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

Bottom line: It is better to realize the end of a dream on your own rather than having someone else do it for you. I learned that the hard way. Thanks for calling out this post.

By: Ben Casnocha

Ben Casnocha — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

I think I've been part of this convo with you and Amy at one point….My parents never told me "you can do anything" and I'm glad for it. The best advice is more nuanced, as Alan and you say. Unfortunately, most psycho parents nowadays are inculcating their kids with self-esteem boosting statements like these, only to set their kids up for a rude awakening.

By: martha3408

martha3408 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

Great post, Brad!!! I remember telling your nephew…. "Choose something you're interested in, give it your best… but always know when to walk away, and do it with your head held high". I'd like to think that on some level he actually listened to me!

By: James Clark

James Clark — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

As a parent of a young child that had eye surgery as an infant that took away her peripheral vision, the idea of you can do anything was apparent. Having played sports my whole life, I knew that certain sports were going to be a challenge for my girl – BUT not all sports. I've been active in participating in rock climbing and skiing with her. What I've found out is that it's not about the sports, but the time she spends with me and the challenges of getting better at it.

99.9 percent of us will never be an all-star pitcher, but that doesn't mean we should avoid the challenge of taking the mound, reaching back and bringing Beckett-like heat.

By: eric_marcou4248

eric_marcou4248 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:50 +0000

Thanks for calling out Alen's great post. We parents seemed determined to shield our children from painful experiences, but I think learning one's natural limits is critical to growing up well-adjusted. It's only possible to pursue so many endeavors and it's important for children to learn about opportunity costs at a young age.

I'm not advocating that kids only pursue things that they naturally excel at. Rather, in identifying their natural talents in a given pursuit, they can better decide whether they want to make the sacrifices required to follow their dreams of pitching for the Red Sox or jamming with Branford Marsalis.

http://www.marcoullier.com/blog/2008/02/25/you-ca...

By: sue_kunz6089

sue_kunz6089 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:50 +0000

Great post!
I think this underscores the fact that we need to drive folks (kids, employees, supervisors and friends) to focus on their strengths while mitigating weaknesses). No one is good at everything, and this is OK. But, it's OK to pursue the (near) impossible too, if failure is accepted as a likely outcome. Pursing the impossible has incredible benefits. It drives change.

By: chithra_dur6122

chithra_dur6122 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:50 +0000

So it begs the question, how do we know when to move on and give up on a dream or keep at it try to succeed? If we don't reach mastery at something, is that an indication to move on?