The Power of Conviction: Staying Focused Amid Distractions

Earlier this morning, I visited Parisi Speed School in Fair Lawn, NJ, where my former professor and mentor, Dr. Rob Gilbert, was speaking to a group of student-athletes.

Dr. Gilbert asked me to share lessons I’ve learned growing up in baseball and to pass along messages from my interviews with professional athletes - lessons that go far beyond the game.

One of the biggest messages I shared with them was the importance of having strong convictions. During a 2019 interview, former big leaguer Richie Shaffer once told me that you have to be so firm in your beliefs that other people’s opinions don’t shake you. That stuck with me, and it’s something I’ve carried ever since.

When I was in high school, there were a lot of voices in my ear as a ballplayer - and not all of them were positive. Opinions come from everywhere: teammates, coaches, and others. I had to stay grounded in what I believed about myself and my abilities, and keep moving forward. Being coachable matters. Listening and making adjustments matters. But when too many voices start competing for your attention, it can become a problem if you don’t know who you are.

At one point, Dr. Gilbert asked me to share something that holds players back from reaching the big leagues. The answer came to me immediately: distractions.

Distractions quietly destroy a lot of dreams. Not always in obvious ways, but through small, repeated choices that pull you off track over time. Lately, I’ve been open about the fact that I’ve never had a drink, never smoked, and never used drugs. In your 20s, that’s not very common. But for me, it was a decision to stay focused and avoid the kinds of distractions that derail so many people before they ever get close to their potential.

If you want to separate yourself, it’s not always about doing more - it’s about being disciplined enough to avoid what pulls you away from where you’re trying to go.

Thank you for checking out this edition of the Big League Perspective Newsletter! Be sure to share with a friend, teammate, or kid who may benefit! In the meantime, be sure to connect on social media @billythebatboy. 🙌