On July 20, 1976, at age 42, Hank Aaron hit the 755th home run of his career, capping a 31-year career record, but there was a moment early on in his career that would demonstrate a fustian sense of focus that would define this sensational slugger from Mobile, Alabama’s legacy on and off the diamond.
It was during that time that, only a decade after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, this 23-year-old now stood in the box against the daunting New York Yankees in the 1957 World Series.
“Didn’t come up here to read. Came up here to hit.”
As Hank Aaron strolled to the plate for another at-bat during the World Series, legendary Yankees catcher Yogi Berra noticed the young hitter holding his bat the wrong way.
“Turn it around,” Berra suggested, “so you can see the trademark.”
As a former baseball player, having the label “up or down” on the baseball bat gives the batter the best chance of connecting with the ball in the “sweet spot,” where the grains are straightest and strongest in the wood, allowing optimal contact.
It was clear already that such a young person was destined for greatness due to his discipline and concentration.
How easily this suggestion could have diverted his concentration, pulled his focus, or begun to make him doubt his abilities, but Hank kept his eyes staring down the barrel towards the pitcher’s mound, determined not to allow any distraction to divide his duty of this moment.
“Didn’t come up here to read,” he bluntly replied without blinking, “came up here to hit.”
And hit he did: Hank hammered the New York Yankees heralded pitching staff, leading his team with a .393 batting average, 3 home runs, a triple, and 7 RBI.
View #1: “To do two things at once is to do neither.” – Publilius Syrus
Knowledge isn’t the problem; application is.
To remain focused, one must have the mind fixed on something and not scattered among several interests.
The only task in Henry’s interest was maintaining his attention and doing his job to the best of his ability, despite any other distractions or factors.
Action applied is greater than advice attained.
It’s within the present moment that you’re bound to produce your greatest production when delivering your full attention.
Most distractions only end in detriment, making acquired knowledge useless unless it’s put to use.
Adverse action may result from a failure to respond or a lack of confidence or concentration.
The more we divert our attention from things we should focus on, the more we give undue importance to less important things. The more concentration we have, the more sustained our focus will be.
Sustained success is a product of prioritized action.
View #2: “A leader must have courage to act against an expert’s advice.” – James Callaghan
Adhere to advice and act with intuition.
Have the courage to make decisions based on your judgment, even if it means going against the advice of others. At the moment, let go of how people think things should be; almost all risks and mistakes are invaluable life lessons.
The world is full of distraction; attention is today’s most coveted currency. Concentration, discipline, and desire, as well as your determination, dictate your destiny far more than following or studying advice from others.
Apply advice through action; don’t allow that action to become agitated because of advice.
To achieve one’s goal, we must combine expert advice with the courage to deviate from it. Take ownership of your decisions and actions, trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to fail. At the end of the day, it’s up to you, not the experts, to execute.
More often than not, we tend to take action without seeking advice and guidance. However, if you act with conviction and determination, eventually you will gain the confidence and belief needed to succeed.
“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.”
Hank Aaron
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