Wolf Pack

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

We’ve all heard this phrase, and we instinctively agree.  It makes sense, in theory.  Yet, players everywhere are training to become better individual “parts” without necessarily focusing on becoming better teammates.

The current baseball environment makes teamwork even harder to develop.  If you’re playing for a high school team—plus a couple of travel teams on the side—you’re constantly adjusting to new teammates as rosters turn over from tournament to tournament.  College baseball isn’t much better.  With the transfer portal essentially turning every player into a free agent each year, many athletes are always searching for greener pastures.  Loyalty to a single program for more than two seasons is becoming rare, especially with schools constantly seeking better players elsewhere instead of investing time developing their own.  With all this movement, how can you truly learn to be a great teammate?

The answer is simple: decide to be one.

“The strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”

— Rudyard Kipling

The “wolf pack” mentality is a powerful commitment to mutual support: I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine. Winning teams operate as a unit.  They think, speak, and act as “we” instead of “me.” They aren’t just a collection of skilled individuals; they are something greater—a true team.

But what if you don’t feel that sense of commitment on your current team?  What if you’re not part of a wolf pack?

Then start one.

Team chemistry is contagious—especially when someone steps up to lead.  A random group of players can transform into a true team.  A collection of parts can unite into a whole.  A gathering of wolves can evolve into a pack.  All it takes is a leader.

Be the one who sets the tone.

Become the alpha.

The Power of Intent

Dreams are wonderful.  We all have them.  They’re fun, exciting and free.  They float in our minds like dandelion seeds on a breeze, light and harmless.  Dreams can be as grand as we dare to imagine, and if they never materialize, it’s no big deal.  After all, they’re just dreams—weightless and fleeting.

But a dream begins to transform when we ask ourselves, “Why does this matter to me?”

The answer might come instantly, or it might take some soul-searching.  Either way, this question sparks something within us.  Suddenly, there’s a pull—a desire to act.  Maybe it’s driven by money, fame, security, self-worth, family, or community.  All are valid reasons, none right or wrong.  With this newfound “why,” we become motivated.  The stakes are raised.  Not achieving this dream now feels like a loss.  Desire ignites, becoming a flame that fuels us forward.

At this point, another question arises: “So what?”

Billions of people have dreams and desires.  What makes yours special?  Nothing, yet.  On its own, it’s still just a wish, a fleeting thought.  But it keeps tugging at you, and you find yourself asking more focused questions:

• Where do I want to go?

• When do I want to get there?

• What do I want to accomplish?

• How do I want to do it?

• Who do I want to do this with?

With these questions, your dream begins to take shape.  A vision emerges.  The picture comes into focus.  You’re on the verge of transforming your dream into something real.  But first, you must decide:

Do you simply want to do it, or do you plan to do it?

• Where do you plan to go?

• When do you plan to get there?

• What do you plan to accomplish?

• How do you plan to do it?

• Who do you plan to do this with?

This shift—from wanting to planning—is the power of intent.  It’s the moment a dream becomes a goal.  A goal is just a dream with motivation and a plan.  Until that shift happens, a dream remains nothing more than a wish, a hope, or a fantasy.  But when you decide to plan, your motivation gains direction.  You stop wishing and start doing.  That’s when everything becomes real.

If you’re reading this, perhaps you dream of making your high school varsity team, starting at a Division I college, signing a professional contract, or even playing in the big leagues.  None of these dreams will come true if they remain just dreams.  But every one of them is possible when you turn it into a goal.

All it takes is the power of intent.

Outside the Box

Baseball as an “industry” can sound like an echo chamber.  Coaches and “gurus” say the same things back and forth, a little fancier and louder than the other guy, until they’re essentially screaming the same idea back at each other.  Very simple and effective concepts get lost in the noise, and players can get confused.

To gain some clarity and perspective, step outside the echo chamber and look into other disciplines.  You will discover fresh voices, speaking at a normal volume about their craft, offering insights you can directly apply to your game: mental focus, leadership skills, awareness and mindfulness, physical training, interpersonal communication, stress management, decision-making, balance and movement, and the list goes on…

An expert from another field may be holding the key that unlocks the next level of your game. You’ll never know until you look for yourself…

To get started, here is a short list of my favorites:

— The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, by Bruce Lee

— The Inner Game of Tennis, by Timothy Gallwey

— The Book of the Samurai, by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

— The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle

— The Art of War, by Sun Tzu

— Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell

The Dojo

In Japanese, dojo means “place of the way” or “place of the path,” and it’s where martial artists train in the way of Karate, or follow the path of Aikido.  More than just a place to practice kicks and punches, it’s where they cultivate both body and mind, learning to see and think and move in response to the world as it unfolds.  It’s a sacred place, respected by students and teachers alike.

So what does any of this have to do with baseball?

Everything.

Any place dedicated to the path of mastery can be considered a dojo, not just a martial arts studio.  A batting cage is a dojo.  A bullpen mound is a dojo.  A clubhouse is a dojo.  A dugout is a dojo.  More than just a place to improve our swing, sharpen our slider, study our opponent’s weakness, or sit and rest between innings, this is where we cultivate both body and mind, learning to respond to the shifting currents of the game.  These are sacred places, and must be respected by players and coaches alike.

The dojo mindset is the spirit of preparation.  It explores many techniques, then concentrates on what works best.  It endlessly drills the simplest elements of recognition and movement until they are thoughtless and automatic.  It focuses mindfully to master the details.  It frees the mind for action when it’s needed the most:  the fight!

There are essentially two types of people: trained and untrained.  An untrained person reacts to a situation emotionally, unpredictably and ineffectively.  A trained person responds to the same situation efficiently, automatically and without fear.  An untrained person hopes to win after the fight starts, but the trained person wins the fight before the first kick flies.  While we’re not preparing for combat like a martial artist, we train with a dojo mindset to win the ballgame before the first pitch is thrown.

As the first batter steps into the box, there is only one question: Am I ready?

If you’ve been to the dojo, you don’t need to hope…