What Can’t Be Taught: Hustle & Attitude

BREAKING NEWS: in life and in sport, you’re going to come across people more talented than you are. They’re going to be bigger, smarter and stronger than you are. They’re going to have more natural ability than you do.

Unfortunately for them, that’s where it ends. Why? Because you have two things that can’t be taught—you have hustle and a positive attitude.

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

Hustle isn’t something you turn on and off; it’s a state of mind. You don’t think about hustle, you just do it. You work as hard as you can in practice. You don’t miss a grounder, you run out every fly ball and even though you may not be the best, no one is going to try harder than you are. No one.

Hustle is a desire to want something so bad you’ll do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

Hustle is passion.

Passion makes you hustle.

Hustle is having a relentless work ethic. Hustle is head and heart—the two most important tools of a softball player. Yes, fundamentals are essential, but you can’t achieve anything without being both mentally and emotionally strong.

The best part about hustle is that it’s not exclusive to softball. Hustle is an invaluable skill that will help you succeed in life. Any hiring manager will tell you to hire for attitude and train for skill. Even if you don’t possess as much talent as the next person, a willingness to work hard allows you to acquire outstanding skills through application.

Along with hustle, a positive attitude is a quality all champions possess.

The way a player thinks and feels ultimately determines how they perform.

A positive attitude can carry you through the lowest of the lows. If you think you’re going to strike out, you’re going to strike out. If you think you’re going to catch a fly ball, you’re going to catch a fly ball.

Remember, attitude affects everything you do.

Focus on the positive and the rest will take care of itself.

We can’t teach hustle and attitude, we can only motivate it. You make hustle happen. You approach life with a positive attitude. It comes from within.

You’re going to wake up ready to accomplish your goals each and every day. You’re going to treat practice like a tournament. You’re going to pitch, hit and field better than they are. Why? Because you have ambition, you believe, you want to win.

You have what can’t be taught.

You have hustle and a positive attitude.