The Slight Edge Dear John, "How did you become THE BEST?" I'd never asked this question, in this way before. I've always asked people what they believe their competitive advantage could be. But becoming THE BEST at something, anything, was not a title bestowed on anyone I'd ever met... Until January 30, 2020. More on that in a second. The secret formula for success is often illusive but it's right in front of you. This is something your competitors hope you'll never figure out. People mystify the answer to that question. They throw a veil over it as if it's some kind of secret. I always ask people to share their success strategies but it is a rare moment when I can ask someone at the pinnacle of their profession to break down what got them there. This was the question I asked of the guy sitting next to me on the plane that January evening. During the two-hour twenty minute flight, we talked about many topics including: Being a great dad Balancing career and family Managing a hellacious travel schedule And, of course, baseball But now we were getting down to the thing I really wanted to know. The thing that drives me to do everything I do for my clients and myself. "What is the SECRET to being THE BEST?" I said. Barely able to get the words out of my mouth. Few people on Earth are better qualified to answer this question than the guy in seat 4B of flight 243 from JFK to Miami on January 30, 2020. I was in seat 4A and by some twist of fate, I was sitting next to CC Sabathia. As a huge NY Yankee fan, a former season ticket holder, and a life-long student of the game, there were thousands of questions I wanted to ask but this was the one I knew he was uniquely qualified to answer. In case you're not familiar with CC's body of work, let me share some facts: He is one of only three left handed pitchers in history to strike out 3,000 batters. He won the Cy Young Award (best pitcher in the AL) in 2007. Won a World Series in 2009. He single-handedly carried the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers into the playoffs by pitching on short rest 3 times in a week and threw a staggering 7 complete games during that time, including a 4-hit gem on the last day of the season that vaulted his team into the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. From 2007 through 2009, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who was better on the hill than CC. So asking him this question, THE question, was destiny. The answer didn't disappoint. CC said every year, every month, and every time he took the mound, he was looking for a slight edge over the hitters. In his youth he was a dominant power pitcher. As time went on, and his physical ability was no loner a competitive advantage, he needed to adapt and come up with other ways to get batters out. That's where he relied on his catchers and his coaches to help him gain an edge. The example he gave was adding a new pitch in the middle of a season when he was traded to Milwaukee in 2008. It is incredibly difficult for a pitcher to learn to throw a new pitch over six months in an off season. Between starts (four days) CC learned a two-seam sinking fastball from Milwaukee pitching coach Mike Maddux. It helped him become a ground-ball-inducing machine. He was now able to completely baffle hitters with a four-seam fastball, a slider, a change-up, and the sinker. Throughout his career, CC said he relied on his catchers to help him with hitters' tendencies and relied on his coaches and teammates to help him gain that edge. In 2014, he added a cut fastball (he learned this from Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera) and continued fooling hitters through the 2019 season. Learning how to grip a baseball differently, and then picking the right situation to throw that pitch is what made all the difference. No doubt CC has physical ability and mental agility but it was his openness to the advice and guidance of coaches and teammates that was his true edge. That's the SECRET. The difference between being a mediocre performer and becoming best in the game is in seeking out advice from others and implementing it effectively. CC Sabathia has career numbers that will one day have him enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, yet he kept learning and growing throughout his career - even after he was on top of his game. Each of us has this same ability - to gain a slight edge - and dominate our profession. The key is surrounding ourselves with teammates and coaches that will help us, and then adapting using their guidance. As we parted company at the end of the flight, CC shared some of his plans for retirement. Those include being a great dad, but they also include dominating in a new profession. Keep your eye on him. One thing is true, people who know this SECRET to career success know how to replicate it. Now that you have this information, what will you do with it? Want to know where to start? Pick up the phone and give me a call. (786) 436-1986 It's my mission to teach you the pitches that help you dominate your competition. Warm regards, Dave Lorenzo Revenue Growth Expert Toll Free: (888) 444-5150 Miami, FL: (786) 436-1986 EMail: DLorenzo@DLorenzo.com Website: DaveLorenzo.com P.S. Talking with CC Sabathia was the thrill of a lifetime for me but starting the conversation was intimidating. If you want to know how I did it, you're going to have to give me a call. It was, in and of itself, one of my best "hall of fame" moves. |