June 2014

Peer into the locker of most professional athletes, and you’ll find a plethora of legal powders and pills promising larger muscles, speedier recovery and increased energy.  Some of these magic elixirs even claim to improve reaction time and memory.  Supplement companies make equally empty suggestions to the general public that may be even more egregious. The supplement industry is estimated at a $30 billion per year. Because of their popularity in athletic circles, I’m asked which of these products I recommend more than any other question. My advice, as you might have come to expect, is to skip the… One of the best catalysts to jump start your 2014 healthy living program is removing soda from your daily eating plan. Whether your goal is to lower body fat, improve vitality or just generally be healthier, replacing the sugary, carbonated artificially flavored beverages with water will drastically increase your chance for success. Everyone knows that soda has a lot of sugar. If you’re drinking three 12-oz cans a day, you’re consuming 116 grams of refined sugar with absolutely no nutritional value. That’s the same amount of sugar found in 7 cups of blueberries. The blueberries would also provide 100%… Major league baseball training rooms are a popular spot for guys looking to get their daily drug fix. The drug of choice? Advil. Over the course of 162 games, plus spring training, plus the post season, an inflamed muscle here and there is impossible to avoid. I have clear recollections of taking 12 Advil a day for weeks at a time. Hundreds of throws, swings of the bat, face first slams into dirt, full speed collisions with the wall – my body hurt so badly that I felt I had no choice. A couple of ibuprofen would take the… Last year, I began weight training with my two sons. My family often makes friendly wagers on football games. In this case, I had a bet with my older son, Chase, about Peyton Manning’s performance with the Denver Broncos when he returned from neck surgery. My terms were simple. For two months, Chase would accompany me to my weight lifting sessions. I won the bet. Three times a week, Chase and I (along with my younger son, who came along for moral support) awoke at the crack of dawn and worked on the major power lifts. Chase was 13… I’m asked often about the health benefits and effectiveness of energy drinks. I can gracefully answer the first part of the question. The nutrition label on a Rockstar or Monster can tells me all I need to know – stay far, far away. The effectiveness part is a little trickier because once I read how unhealthy these beverages are, I chose not to drink them. Because I have not tried the energy drinks on the market, I can’t speak to whether or not they “work”. I do have one energy enhancer – black coffee. I’ll refrain from enumerating every… I remember the time in my life I was most obsessed with exercise. At 20 years old, home in Los Angeles for the baseball off season, I was at the peak of my training. It was January and I always started to feel like I wasn’t prepared for the upcoming season at precisely this time. I lifted weights in the morning, then headed to the field to throw, take swings and run in the afternoon. I pushed myself to the point of exhaustion, usually crashing in the early evening. My brain hadn’t developed as much as my body; I… Every January, folks around the world commit to better health. Unfortunately, many gravitate towards fad diets and cleanses as their jumping off point.  These diets make trendy claims about quick weight loss and detoxification. Those enticing promises are just enough bait to entice people to swallow the hook. For this new year, I suggest a different, fresh tactic. Start simply by choosing real, whole foods and drink tons of clean water. “Whole” means food that has been processed or refined as little as possible (if at all) and is free from additives and other artificial substances. Taking this affirmative…

We have trained ourselves to reach for a sweet snack between meals. Break this behavior chain and you will find yourself with a world of convenient options for that 3pm craving.

You know I rarely review products, but I do enjoy the tasting process. When I discover a new commodity that captures my attention, I dive in, teeth first. In this case, the Epic Bar positions itself squarely between beef jerky and a Snickers bar, standing superior to both.

Bars of all varieties are processed. If you have the option to go for a perfectly spiced steak and a fresh bowl of cherries, take it. Sometimes you need a quick option in a shiny package though, so let’s keep the playing field level for our comparisons.

The Epic Bar is more like your old pal, the Slim Jim, than your new friend, the Clif Bar. It’s going to slam your savory requirements first, but the makers of this bar got cute. They added a hint of sweetness with dried cherries and walnuts, helping to knock out that sugar craving with fewer grams (9) than most bars (23 in the Clif Bars).

Time to get to the meat (see? I’m funny) of the post.

The basic premise of the Epic bar is that it’s not a traditional protein bar. Rather than stuff the product with whey isolate or some other concoction, its base is animals of the humanely treated variety.

From Epic’s website:

We set the industry standards by sourcing our meats from ranchers that we deem epic. We mandate proof of certifications, which validate that our animals receive the utmost humane treatment. We believe that epic animals should always live pasture centered lives where turkeys forage, pigs wallow, and buffalo roam. This is the way nature intended animals to be and we see ourselves as leaders in recognizing the value of sustainable and responsible animal welfare practices.

I can dig that, and I’ll trust their implementation of their philosophies until I hear otherwise, although I encourage you to research this on your own.

If the bulk of this snack is responsibly raised, managed and slaughtered animal flesh, then let’s explore the important additions, as they add flavor.

My favorite variety contains the following ingredients, according to the one I’m holding in my hand: 

Organic beef, walnuts, dried cherries, lactic acid, salt, celery powder, fine black pepper and crushed habanero.

Assuming you’re the average man or woman with food curiosity, you might be wondering about lactic acid. You’ve likely had the other ingredients in your pantry at one time or another, so I assume you can judge them accordingly.

From livestrong.com:

Our bodies form lactic acid naturally. It forms as the body converts carbohydrates into energy during periods of low oxygen levels, which can occur with intense physical exercise. In foods, lactic acid either occurs naturally, or a synthesized form is added as a flavoring or preservative agent.

In this case, it’s a preservative. This package comes with that little “do not eat” packet that looks like a mini condom (sorry, when I have a mind bubble, I share). These packets are produced by a company called Multisorb technologies, whose tagline “Protect Your Product’s Quality. Extend its Shelf or Service Life,”makes me think of a Twinkie (and subsequently sort of ill).

Okay, so that’s not bad. Let’s erase the unpleasant associations by taking a bite. The smell will bring you right to your beef jerky memory. Unlike your average jerky, however, it’s not at all chewy or tough. On the contrary, it boasts the subtle moisture that you’d hope for with meat. The texture has a mild crunch, almost crumbly, and the taste is ever so slightly sweet and spicy. The bar’s whole package (see what I did?) is savory and tasty, deserving of high marks for flavor.

So this isn’t the perfect snack, but we’re not always on a perfection mission. We simply want to perform more admirably than we did yesterday. We can comfortably call this a solid between meals option that will support our active lifestyle.

With appreciation for its convenience,

Kap

In the midst of digging for a pot of gold, how do you know when to quit? Achieving life’s most worthwhile goals requires uncommon persistence. 

If you think you’re in the right spot, but don’t know how deep the treasure lies, throwing in the towel too soon could mean leaving behind riches galore.

Pat Riley recently mused on the Miami Heat’s devotion to bringing further titles to South Florida.

I think everybody needs to get a grip. This stuff is hard. You have to stay together and find the guts. You don’t find the [exit] door and run out of it.

In 2003, I found myself in the final season of a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies and struggling mightily. The team made the decision to option me to AAA Colorado Springs. In the days that followed, my swing worsened. I felt the awkwardness of a player stepping into a batter’s box for the first time, not the confidence of a man who had been there thousands of times prior. No matter the adjustments I made, my existence as a baseball player was nightmarish. I recall saying to my then-wife, Lisa, “Alright, what am I really going to do with my life?” I won’t lie; I was unenthusiastic about showing up to the ballpark. I’d sheepishly peek at the lineup from around the corner, praying that I’d get one more chance to prove my mettle, but knowing full well that I hadn’t earned it the night before. I was beaten down by the days of work in the cage with no results. My mind was exhausted.

Staying put is a substantial challenge when the grind gets tedious, when success isn’t coming fast enough or when you’re coming off an ass whipping. Those times require honest self-evaluation and a determination to continue moving forward.  Formulating a plan is necessary. From Napoleon Hill:

Wishing will not bring a successful result. But desiring a result with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to achieve it, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will produce results.

Before the sun appeared, it got even cloudier. I was released by the Rockies organization and flew home to Los Angeles. This was my moment of truth. I could thrash around violently in the ocean of life, railing at the waves, I could give up, hugging my knees, and sink below the depths, or I could start swimming, pausing to float and rest, then swimming again.

I relied on a childhood pastime.

I discovered myself at a public outdoor cage connected to a miniature golf joint.  During that time of pounding yellow, dimpled rubber baseballs the opposite way and calmly grinding to figure out my stroke, I plugged into my journey and became present. I felt alive and emotional. I didn’t know where I would end up, but I had a plan and perseverance. I didn’t know how close I was to the gold, but I kept digging.

My agent called later that day. “Kap, the Cardinals and the Red Sox both want to sign you to Major League contracts.” Boom, I’m wearing a jeweled crown.

I signed with the Red Sox. A week later, I’m at Fenway Park bashing balls off the Monster.  Talk about gratifying. With the crystal memory of my earlier anguish still fresh, I was able to fully appreciate the land beneath my feet.

No matter how solid the approach, nobody has full pockets all the time. I’ve had my moments of digging deep and still coming up with lint. Inevitably, we all encounter times to remove the work gloves and put away the treasure map, or at least change our pursuit.

Many years after my days with the Red Sox, in 2011, I passionately chased the opportunity to play my final season or two at home in Los Angeles for the Dodgers. It was time for me to be close to my young men. I went as far as sending a personal note to GM Ned Colletti to express my strong feeling that I was a good fit for the club. He and I sat down and my hometown team provided me a shot to make the club in spring training. I put forth an adequate showing, but after our first exhibition game, manager Don Mattingly and Ned called me into the office in the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium. They informed me that they were keeping Xavier Paul; I had fallen short of my goal and wasn’t making the team.

It didn’t have to be the end for me. The Dodgers would allow me to play for their AAA team until something opened up at the big league level, and other clubs contacted me to discuss Major League contracts. I concluded that my priority was staying at home with my sons, and I ended my baseball career.

Was I quitting because times got tough or was this example of solid self-evaluation of my situation? I’m confident it was the latter. Perhaps some time in Albuquerque would have resulted in achieving my ultimate goal of playing at home. This scenario is open to interpretation. I revisit it frequently.

When times strike you as overwhelming, and your patience is wafer thin, sometimes the ideal action is anything that keeps you moving. If you hone and subsequently trust your self-evaluation skills, you’ll also be able to identify when your situation is stale and you need to find a new energy source.

The trick is to figure out whether fear or another negative emotion is driving our decision-making process or if we’ve rationally identified that a change of course is optimal. Staying cozy in a fruitless situation can be as devastating as giving up too soon. From Spencer Johnson in Who Moved My Cheese?:

It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation

Tricky, isn’t it?

As with anything else, practicing awareness is the move. Both stillness and action have their virtues. Dig deep within persistently and vigorously to understand yourself and determine what you need to be whole. Therein lies the true pot of gold.

We have trained ourselves to reach for a sweet snack between meals. Break this behavior chain and you will find yourself with a world of convenient options for that 3pm craving.

You know I rarely review products, but I do enjoy the tasting process. When I discover a new commodity that captures my attention, I dive in, teeth first. In this case, the Epic Bar positions itself squarely between beef jerky and a Snickers bar, standing superior to both.

Bars of all varieties are processed. If you have the option to go for a perfectly spiced steak and a fresh bowl of cherries, take it. Sometimes you need a quick option in a shiny package though, so let’s keep the playing field level for our comparisons.

The Epic Bar is more like your old pal, the Slim Jim, than your new friend, the Clif Bar. It’s going to slam your savory requirements first, but the makers of this bar got cute. They added a hint of sweetness with dried cherries and walnuts, helping to knock out that sugar craving with fewer grams (9) than most bars (23 in the Clif Bars).

Time to get to the meat (see? I’m funny) of the post.

The basic premise of the Epic bar is that it’s not a traditional protein bar. Rather than stuff the product with whey isolate or some other concoction, its base is animals of the humanely treated variety.

From Epic’s website:

We set the industry standards by sourcing our meats from ranchers that we deem epic. We mandate proof of certifications, which validate that our animals receive the utmost humane treatment. We believe that epic animals should always live pasture centered lives where turkeys forage, pigs wallow, and buffalo roam. This is the way nature intended animals to be and we see ourselves as leaders in recognizing the value of sustainable and responsible animal welfare practices.

I can dig that, and I’ll trust their implementation of their philosophies until I hear otherwise, although I encourage you to research this on your own.

If the bulk of this snack is responsibly raised, managed and slaughtered animal flesh, then let’s explore the important additions, as they add flavor.

My favorite variety contains the following ingredients, according to the one I’m holding in my hand: 

Organic beef, walnuts, dried cherries, lactic acid, salt, celery powder, fine black pepper and crushed habanero.

Assuming you’re the average man or woman with food curiosity, you might be wondering about lactic acid. You’ve likely had the other ingredients in your pantry at one time or another, so I assume you can judge them accordingly.

From livestrong.com:

Our bodies form lactic acid naturally. It forms as the body converts carbohydrates into energy during periods of low oxygen levels, which can occur with intense physical exercise. In foods, lactic acid either occurs naturally, or a synthesized form is added as a flavoring or preservative agent.

In this case, it’s a preservative. This package comes with that little “do not eat” packet that looks like a mini condom (sorry, when I have a mind bubble, I share). These packets are produced by a company called Multisorb technologies, whose tagline “Protect Your Product’s Quality. Extend its Shelf or Service Life,”makes me think of a Twinkie (and subsequently sort of ill).

Okay, so that’s not bad. Let’s erase the unpleasant associations by taking a bite. The smell will bring you right to your beef jerky memory. Unlike your average jerky, however, it’s not at all chewy or tough. On the contrary, it boasts the subtle moisture that you’d hope for with meat. The texture has a mild crunch, almost crumbly, and the taste is ever so slightly sweet and spicy. The bar’s whole package (see what I did?) is savory and tasty, deserving of high marks for flavor.

So this isn’t the perfect snack, but we’re not always on a perfection mission. We simply want to perform more admirably than we did yesterday. We can comfortably call this a solid between meals option that will support our active lifestyle.

With appreciation for its convenience,

Kap

In the midst of digging for a pot of gold, how do you know when to quit? Achieving life’s most worthwhile goals requires uncommon persistence. 

If you think you’re in the right spot, but don’t know how deep the treasure lies, throwing in the towel too soon could mean leaving behind riches galore.

Pat Riley recently mused on the Miami Heat’s devotion to bringing further titles to South Florida.

I think everybody needs to get a grip. This stuff is hard. You have to stay together and find the guts. You don’t find the [exit] door and run out of it.

In 2003, I found myself in the final season of a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies and struggling mightily. The team made the decision to option me to AAA Colorado Springs. In the days that followed, my swing worsened. I felt the awkwardness of a player stepping into a batter’s box for the first time, not the confidence of a man who had been there thousands of times prior. No matter the adjustments I made, my existence as a baseball player was nightmarish. I recall saying to my then-wife, Lisa, “Alright, what am I really going to do with my life?” I won’t lie; I was unenthusiastic about showing up to the ballpark. I’d sheepishly peek at the lineup from around the corner, praying that I’d get one more chance to prove my mettle, but knowing full well that I hadn’t earned it the night before. I was beaten down by the days of work in the cage with no results. My mind was exhausted.

Staying put is a substantial challenge when the grind gets tedious, when success isn’t coming fast enough or when you’re coming off an ass whipping. Those times require honest self-evaluation and a determination to continue moving forward.  Formulating a plan is necessary. From Napoleon Hill:

Wishing will not bring a successful result. But desiring a result with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to achieve it, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will produce results.

Before the sun appeared, it got even cloudier. I was released by the Rockies organization and flew home to Los Angeles. This was my moment of truth. I could thrash around violently in the ocean of life, railing at the waves, I could give up, hugging my knees, and sink below the depths, or I could start swimming, pausing to float and rest, then swimming again.

I relied on a childhood pastime.

I discovered myself at a public outdoor cage connected to a miniature golf joint.  During that time of pounding yellow, dimpled rubber baseballs the opposite way and calmly grinding to figure out my stroke, I plugged into my journey and became present. I felt alive and emotional. I didn’t know where I would end up, but I had a plan and perseverance. I didn’t know how close I was to the gold, but I kept digging.

My agent called later that day. “Kap, the Cardinals and the Red Sox both want to sign you to Major League contracts.” Boom, I’m wearing a jeweled crown.

I signed with the Red Sox. A week later, I’m at Fenway Park bashing balls off the Monster.  Talk about gratifying. With the crystal memory of my earlier anguish still fresh, I was able to fully appreciate the land beneath my feet.

No matter how solid the approach, nobody has full pockets all the time. I’ve had my moments of digging deep and still coming up with lint. Inevitably, we all encounter times to remove the work gloves and put away the treasure map, or at least change our pursuit.

Many years after my days with the Red Sox, in 2011, I passionately chased the opportunity to play my final season or two at home in Los Angeles for the Dodgers. It was time for me to be close to my young men. I went as far as sending a personal note to GM Ned Colletti to express my strong feeling that I was a good fit for the club. He and I sat down and my hometown team provided me a shot to make the club in spring training. I put forth an adequate showing, but after our first exhibition game, manager Don Mattingly and Ned called me into the office in the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium. They informed me that they were keeping Xavier Paul; I had fallen short of my goal and wasn’t making the team.

It didn’t have to be the end for me. The Dodgers would allow me to play for their AAA team until something opened up at the big league level, and other clubs contacted me to discuss Major League contracts. I concluded that my priority was staying at home with my sons, and I ended my baseball career.

Was I quitting because times got tough or was this example of solid self-evaluation of my situation? I’m confident it was the latter. Perhaps some time in Albuquerque would have resulted in achieving my ultimate goal of playing at home. This scenario is open to interpretation. I revisit it frequently.

When times strike you as overwhelming, and your patience is wafer thin, sometimes the ideal action is anything that keeps you moving. If you hone and subsequently trust your self-evaluation skills, you’ll also be able to identify when your situation is stale and you need to find a new energy source.

The trick is to figure out whether fear or another negative emotion is driving our decision-making process or if we’ve rationally identified that a change of course is optimal. Staying cozy in a fruitless situation can be as devastating as giving up too soon. From Spencer Johnson in Who Moved My Cheese?:

It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation

Tricky, isn’t it?

As with anything else, practicing awareness is the move. Both stillness and action have their virtues. Dig deep within persistently and vigorously to understand yourself and determine what you need to be whole. Therein lies the true pot of gold.

We have trained ourselves to reach for a sweet snack between meals. Break this behavior chain and you will find yourself with a world of convenient options for that 3pm craving.

You know I rarely review products, but I do enjoy the tasting process. When I discover a new commodity that captures my attention, I dive in, teeth first. In this case, the Epic Bar positions itself squarely between beef jerky and a Snickers bar, standing superior to both.

Bars of all varieties are processed. If you have the option to go for a perfectly spiced steak and a fresh bowl of cherries, take it. Sometimes you need a quick option in a shiny package though, so let’s keep the playing field level for our comparisons.

The Epic Bar is more like your old pal, the Slim Jim, than your new friend, the Clif Bar. It’s going to slam your savory requirements first, but the makers of this bar got cute. They added a hint of sweetness with dried cherries and walnuts, helping to knock out that sugar craving with fewer grams (9) than most bars (23 in the Clif Bars).

Time to get to the meat (see? I’m funny) of the post.

The basic premise of the Epic bar is that it’s not a traditional protein bar. Rather than stuff the product with whey isolate or some other concoction, its base is animals of the humanely treated variety.

From Epic’s website:

We set the industry standards by sourcing our meats from ranchers that we deem epic. We mandate proof of certifications, which validate that our animals receive the utmost humane treatment. We believe that epic animals should always live pasture centered lives where turkeys forage, pigs wallow, and buffalo roam. This is the way nature intended animals to be and we see ourselves as leaders in recognizing the value of sustainable and responsible animal welfare practices.

I can dig that, and I’ll trust their implementation of their philosophies until I hear otherwise, although I encourage you to research this on your own.

If the bulk of this snack is responsibly raised, managed and slaughtered animal flesh, then let’s explore the important additions, as they add flavor.

My favorite variety contains the following ingredients, according to the one I’m holding in my hand: 

Organic beef, walnuts, dried cherries, lactic acid, salt, celery powder, fine black pepper and crushed habanero.

Assuming you’re the average man or woman with food curiosity, you might be wondering about lactic acid. You’ve likely had the other ingredients in your pantry at one time or another, so I assume you can judge them accordingly.

From livestrong.com:

Our bodies form lactic acid naturally. It forms as the body converts carbohydrates into energy during periods of low oxygen levels, which can occur with intense physical exercise. In foods, lactic acid either occurs naturally, or a synthesized form is added as a flavoring or preservative agent.

In this case, it’s a preservative. This package comes with that little “do not eat” packet that looks like a mini condom (sorry, when I have a mind bubble, I share). These packets are produced by a company called Multisorb technologies, whose tagline “Protect Your Product’s Quality. Extend its Shelf or Service Life,”makes me think of a Twinkie (and subsequently sort of ill).

Okay, so that’s not bad. Let’s erase the unpleasant associations by taking a bite. The smell will bring you right to your beef jerky memory. Unlike your average jerky, however, it’s not at all chewy or tough. On the contrary, it boasts the subtle moisture that you’d hope for with meat. The texture has a mild crunch, almost crumbly, and the taste is ever so slightly sweet and spicy. The bar’s whole package (see what I did?) is savory and tasty, deserving of high marks for flavor.

So this isn’t the perfect snack, but we’re not always on a perfection mission. We simply want to perform more admirably than we did yesterday. We can comfortably call this a solid between meals option that will support our active lifestyle.

With appreciation for its convenience,

Kap

In the midst of digging for a pot of gold, how do you know when to quit? Achieving life’s most worthwhile goals requires uncommon persistence. 

If you think you’re in the right spot, but don’t know how deep the treasure lies, throwing in the towel too soon could mean leaving behind riches galore.

Pat Riley recently mused on the Miami Heat’s devotion to bringing further titles to South Florida.

I think everybody needs to get a grip. This stuff is hard. You have to stay together and find the guts. You don’t find the [exit] door and run out of it.

In 2003, I found myself in the final season of a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies and struggling mightily. The team made the decision to option me to AAA Colorado Springs. In the days that followed, my swing worsened. I felt the awkwardness of a player stepping into a batter’s box for the first time, not the confidence of a man who had been there thousands of times prior. No matter the adjustments I made, my existence as a baseball player was nightmarish. I recall saying to my then-wife, Lisa, “Alright, what am I really going to do with my life?” I won’t lie; I was unenthusiastic about showing up to the ballpark. I’d sheepishly peek at the lineup from around the corner, praying that I’d get one more chance to prove my mettle, but knowing full well that I hadn’t earned it the night before. I was beaten down by the days of work in the cage with no results. My mind was exhausted.

Staying put is a substantial challenge when the grind gets tedious, when success isn’t coming fast enough or when you’re coming off an ass whipping. Those times require honest self-evaluation and a determination to continue moving forward.  Formulating a plan is necessary. From Napoleon Hill:

Wishing will not bring a successful result. But desiring a result with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to achieve it, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will produce results.

Before the sun appeared, it got even cloudier. I was released by the Rockies organization and flew home to Los Angeles. This was my moment of truth. I could thrash around violently in the ocean of life, railing at the waves, I could give up, hugging my knees, and sink below the depths, or I could start swimming, pausing to float and rest, then swimming again.

I relied on a childhood pastime.

I discovered myself at a public outdoor cage connected to a miniature golf joint.  During that time of pounding yellow, dimpled rubber baseballs the opposite way and calmly grinding to figure out my stroke, I plugged into my journey and became present. I felt alive and emotional. I didn’t know where I would end up, but I had a plan and perseverance. I didn’t know how close I was to the gold, but I kept digging.

My agent called later that day. “Kap, the Cardinals and the Red Sox both want to sign you to Major League contracts.” Boom, I’m wearing a jeweled crown.

I signed with the Red Sox. A week later, I’m at Fenway Park bashing balls off the Monster.  Talk about gratifying. With the crystal memory of my earlier anguish still fresh, I was able to fully appreciate the land beneath my feet.

No matter how solid the approach, nobody has full pockets all the time. I’ve had my moments of digging deep and still coming up with lint. Inevitably, we all encounter times to remove the work gloves and put away the treasure map, or at least change our pursuit.

Many years after my days with the Red Sox, in 2011, I passionately chased the opportunity to play my final season or two at home in Los Angeles for the Dodgers. It was time for me to be close to my young men. I went as far as sending a personal note to GM Ned Colletti to express my strong feeling that I was a good fit for the club. He and I sat down and my hometown team provided me a shot to make the club in spring training. I put forth an adequate showing, but after our first exhibition game, manager Don Mattingly and Ned called me into the office in the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium. They informed me that they were keeping Xavier Paul; I had fallen short of my goal and wasn’t making the team.

It didn’t have to be the end for me. The Dodgers would allow me to play for their AAA team until something opened up at the big league level, and other clubs contacted me to discuss Major League contracts. I concluded that my priority was staying at home with my sons, and I ended my baseball career.

Was I quitting because times got tough or was this example of solid self-evaluation of my situation? I’m confident it was the latter. Perhaps some time in Albuquerque would have resulted in achieving my ultimate goal of playing at home. This scenario is open to interpretation. I revisit it frequently.

When times strike you as overwhelming, and your patience is wafer thin, sometimes the ideal action is anything that keeps you moving. If you hone and subsequently trust your self-evaluation skills, you’ll also be able to identify when your situation is stale and you need to find a new energy source.

The trick is to figure out whether fear or another negative emotion is driving our decision-making process or if we’ve rationally identified that a change of course is optimal. Staying cozy in a fruitless situation can be as devastating as giving up too soon. From Spencer Johnson in Who Moved My Cheese?:

It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation

Tricky, isn’t it?

As with anything else, practicing awareness is the move. Both stillness and action have their virtues. Dig deep within persistently and vigorously to understand yourself and determine what you need to be whole. Therein lies the true pot of gold.

In the midst of digging for a pot of gold, how do you know when to quit? Achieving life’s most worthwhile goals requires uncommon persistence. 

If you think you’re in the right spot, but don’t know how deep the treasure lies, throwing in the towel too soon could mean leaving behind riches galore.

Pat Riley recently mused on the Miami Heat’s devotion to bringing further titles to South Florida.

I think everybody needs to get a grip. This stuff is hard. You have to stay together and find the guts. You don’t find the [exit] door and run out of it.

In 2003, I found myself in the final season of a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies and struggling mightily. The team made the decision to option me to AAA Colorado Springs. In the days that followed, my swing worsened. I felt the awkwardness of a player stepping into a batter’s box for the first time, not the confidence of a man who had been there thousands of times prior. No matter the adjustments I made, my existence as a baseball player was nightmarish. I recall saying to my then-wife, Lisa, “Alright, what am I really going to do with my life?” I won’t lie; I was unenthusiastic about showing up to the ballpark. I’d sheepishly peek at the lineup from around the corner, praying that I’d get one more chance to prove my mettle, but knowing full well that I hadn’t earned it the night before. I was beaten down by the days of work in the cage with no results. My mind was exhausted.

Staying put is a substantial challenge when the grind gets tedious, when success isn’t coming fast enough or when you’re coming off an ass whipping. Those times require honest self-evaluation and a determination to continue moving forward.  Formulating a plan is necessary. From Napoleon Hill:

Wishing will not bring a successful result. But desiring a result with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to achieve it, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will produce results.

Before the sun appeared, it got even cloudier. I was released by the Rockies organization and flew home to Los Angeles. This was my moment of truth. I could thrash around violently in the ocean of life, railing at the waves, I could give up, hugging my knees, and sink below the depths, or I could start swimming, pausing to float and rest, then swimming again.

I relied on a childhood pastime.

I discovered myself at a public outdoor cage connected to a miniature golf joint.  During that time of pounding yellow, dimpled rubber baseballs the opposite way and calmly grinding to figure out my stroke, I plugged into my journey and became present. I felt alive and emotional. I didn’t know where I would end up, but I had a plan and perseverance. I didn’t know how close I was to the gold, but I kept digging.

My agent called later that day. “Kap, the Cardinals and the Red Sox both want to sign you to Major League contracts.” Boom, I’m wearing a jeweled crown.

I signed with the Red Sox. A week later, I’m at Fenway Park bashing balls off the Monster.  Talk about gratifying. With the crystal memory of my earlier anguish still fresh, I was able to fully appreciate the land beneath my feet.

No matter how solid the approach, nobody has full pockets all the time. I’ve had my moments of digging deep and still coming up with lint. Inevitably, we all encounter times to remove the work gloves and put away the treasure map, or at least change our pursuit.

Many years after my days with the Red Sox, in 2011, I passionately chased the opportunity to play my final season or two at home in Los Angeles for the Dodgers. It was time for me to be close to my young men. I went as far as sending a personal note to GM Ned Colletti to express my strong feeling that I was a good fit for the club. He and I sat down and my hometown team provided me a shot to make the club in spring training. I put forth an adequate showing, but after our first exhibition game, manager Don Mattingly and Ned called me into the office in the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium. They informed me that they were keeping Xavier Paul; I had fallen short of my goal and wasn’t making the team.

It didn’t have to be the end for me. The Dodgers would allow me to play for their AAA team until something opened up at the big league level, and other clubs contacted me to discuss Major League contracts. I concluded that my priority was staying at home with my sons, and I ended my baseball career.

Was I quitting because times got tough or was this example of solid self-evaluation of my situation? I’m confident it was the latter. Perhaps some time in Albuquerque would have resulted in achieving my ultimate goal of playing at home. This scenario is open to interpretation. I revisit it frequently.

When times strike you as overwhelming, and your patience is wafer thin, sometimes the ideal action is anything that keeps you moving. If you hone and subsequently trust your self-evaluation skills, you’ll also be able to identify when your situation is stale and you need to find a new energy source.

The trick is to figure out whether fear or another negative emotion is driving our decision-making process or if we’ve rationally identified that a change of course is optimal. Staying cozy in a fruitless situation can be as devastating as giving up too soon. From Spencer Johnson in Who Moved My Cheese?:

It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation

Tricky, isn’t it?

As with anything else, practicing awareness is the move. Both stillness and action have their virtues. Dig deep within persistently and vigorously to understand yourself and determine what you need to be whole. Therein lies the true pot of gold.

In the midst of digging for a pot of gold, how do you know when to quit? Achieving life’s most worthwhile goals requires uncommon persistence. 

If you think you’re in the right spot, but don’t know how deep the treasure lies, throwing in the towel too soon could mean leaving behind riches galore.

Pat Riley recently mused on the Miami Heat’s devotion to bringing further titles to South Florida.

I think everybody needs to get a grip. This stuff is hard. You have to stay together and find the guts. You don’t find the [exit] door and run out of it.

In 2003, I found myself in the final season of a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies and struggling mightily. The team made the decision to option me to AAA Colorado Springs. In the days that followed, my swing worsened. I felt the awkwardness of a player stepping into a batter’s box for the first time, not the confidence of a man who had been there thousands of times prior. No matter the adjustments I made, my existence as a baseball player was nightmarish. I recall saying to my then-wife, Lisa, “Alright, what am I really going to do with my life?” I won’t lie; I was unenthusiastic about showing up to the ballpark. I’d sheepishly peek at the lineup from around the corner, praying that I’d get one more chance to prove my mettle, but knowing full well that I hadn’t earned it the night before. I was beaten down by the days of work in the cage with no results. My mind was exhausted.

Staying put is a substantial challenge when the grind gets tedious, when success isn’t coming fast enough or when you’re coming off an ass whipping. Those times require honest self-evaluation and a determination to continue moving forward.  Formulating a plan is necessary. From Napoleon Hill:

Wishing will not bring a successful result. But desiring a result with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to achieve it, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will produce results.

Before the sun appeared, it got even cloudier. I was released by the Rockies organization and flew home to Los Angeles. This was my moment of truth. I could thrash around violently in the ocean of life, railing at the waves, I could give up, hugging my knees, and sink below the depths, or I could start swimming, pausing to float and rest, then swimming again.

I relied on a childhood pastime.

I discovered myself at a public outdoor cage connected to a miniature golf joint.  During that time of pounding yellow, dimpled rubber baseballs the opposite way and calmly grinding to figure out my stroke, I plugged into my journey and became present. I felt alive and emotional. I didn’t know where I would end up, but I had a plan and perseverance. I didn’t know how close I was to the gold, but I kept digging.

My agent called later that day. “Kap, the Cardinals and the Red Sox both want to sign you to Major League contracts.” Boom, I’m wearing a jeweled crown.

I signed with the Red Sox. A week later, I’m at Fenway Park bashing balls off the Monster.  Talk about gratifying. With the crystal memory of my earlier anguish still fresh, I was able to fully appreciate the land beneath my feet.

No matter how solid the approach, nobody has full pockets all the time. I’ve had my moments of digging deep and still coming up with lint. Inevitably, we all encounter times to remove the work gloves and put away the treasure map, or at least change our pursuit.

Many years after my days with the Red Sox, in 2011, I passionately chased the opportunity to play my final season or two at home in Los Angeles for the Dodgers. It was time for me to be close to my young men. I went as far as sending a personal note to GM Ned Colletti to express my strong feeling that I was a good fit for the club. He and I sat down and my hometown team provided me a shot to make the club in spring training. I put forth an adequate showing, but after our first exhibition game, manager Don Mattingly and Ned called me into the office in the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium. They informed me that they were keeping Xavier Paul; I had fallen short of my goal and wasn’t making the team.

It didn’t have to be the end for me. The Dodgers would allow me to play for their AAA team until something opened up at the big league level, and other clubs contacted me to discuss Major League contracts. I concluded that my priority was staying at home with my sons, and I ended my baseball career.

Was I quitting because times got tough or was this example of solid self-evaluation of my situation? I’m confident it was the latter. Perhaps some time in Albuquerque would have resulted in achieving my ultimate goal of playing at home. This scenario is open to interpretation. I revisit it frequently.

When times strike you as overwhelming, and your patience is wafer thin, sometimes the ideal action is anything that keeps you moving. If you hone and subsequently trust your self-evaluation skills, you’ll also be able to identify when your situation is stale and you need to find a new energy source.

The trick is to figure out whether fear or another negative emotion is driving our decision-making process or if we’ve rationally identified that a change of course is optimal. Staying cozy in a fruitless situation can be as devastating as giving up too soon. From Spencer Johnson in Who Moved My Cheese?:

It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation

Tricky, isn’t it?

As with anything else, practicing awareness is the move. Both stillness and action have their virtues. Dig deep within persistently and vigorously to understand yourself and determine what you need to be whole. Therein lies the true pot of gold.

In the midst of digging for a pot of gold, how do you know when to quit? Achieving life’s most worthwhile goals requires uncommon persistence. 

If you think you’re in the right spot, but don’t know how deep the treasure lies, throwing in the towel too soon could mean leaving behind riches galore.

Pat Riley recently mused on the Miami Heat’s devotion to bringing further titles to South Florida.

I think everybody needs to get a grip. This stuff is hard. You have to stay together and find the guts. You don’t find the [exit] door and run out of it.

In 2003, I found myself in the final season of a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies and struggling mightily. The team made the decision to option me to AAA Colorado Springs. In the days that followed, my swing worsened. I felt the awkwardness of a player stepping into a batter’s box for the first time, not the confidence of a man who had been there thousands of times prior. No matter the adjustments I made, my existence as a baseball player was nightmarish. I recall saying to my then-wife, Lisa, “Alright, what am I really going to do with my life?” I won’t lie; I was unenthusiastic about showing up to the ballpark. I’d sheepishly peek at the lineup from around the corner, praying that I’d get one more chance to prove my mettle, but knowing full well that I hadn’t earned it the night before. I was beaten down by the days of work in the cage with no results. My mind was exhausted.

Staying put is a substantial challenge when the grind gets tedious, when success isn’t coming fast enough or when you’re coming off an ass whipping. Those times require honest self-evaluation and a determination to continue moving forward.  Formulating a plan is necessary. From Napoleon Hill:

Wishing will not bring a successful result. But desiring a result with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to achieve it, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will produce results.

Before the sun appeared, it got even cloudier. I was released by the Rockies organization and flew home to Los Angeles. This was my moment of truth. I could thrash around violently in the ocean of life, railing at the waves, I could give up, hugging my knees, and sink below the depths, or I could start swimming, pausing to float and rest, then swimming again.

I relied on a childhood pastime.

I discovered myself at a public outdoor cage connected to a miniature golf joint.  During that time of pounding yellow, dimpled rubber baseballs the opposite way and calmly grinding to figure out my stroke, I plugged into my journey and became present. I felt alive and emotional. I didn’t know where I would end up, but I had a plan and perseverance. I didn’t know how close I was to the gold, but I kept digging.

My agent called later that day. “Kap, the Cardinals and the Red Sox both want to sign you to Major League contracts.” Boom, I’m wearing a jeweled crown.

I signed with the Red Sox. A week later, I’m at Fenway Park bashing balls off the Monster.  Talk about gratifying. With the crystal memory of my earlier anguish still fresh, I was able to fully appreciate the land beneath my feet.

No matter how solid the approach, nobody has full pockets all the time. I’ve had my moments of digging deep and still coming up with lint. Inevitably, we all encounter times to remove the work gloves and put away the treasure map, or at least change our pursuit.

Many years after my days with the Red Sox, in 2011, I passionately chased the opportunity to play my final season or two at home in Los Angeles for the Dodgers. It was time for me to be close to my young men. I went as far as sending a personal note to GM Ned Colletti to express my strong feeling that I was a good fit for the club. He and I sat down and my hometown team provided me a shot to make the club in spring training. I put forth an adequate showing, but after our first exhibition game, manager Don Mattingly and Ned called me into the office in the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium. They informed me that they were keeping Xavier Paul; I had fallen short of my goal and wasn’t making the team.

It didn’t have to be the end for me. The Dodgers would allow me to play for their AAA team until something opened up at the big league level, and other clubs contacted me to discuss Major League contracts. I concluded that my priority was staying at home with my sons, and I ended my baseball career.

Was I quitting because times got tough or was this example of solid self-evaluation of my situation? I’m confident it was the latter. Perhaps some time in Albuquerque would have resulted in achieving my ultimate goal of playing at home. This scenario is open to interpretation. I revisit it frequently.

When times strike you as overwhelming, and your patience is wafer thin, sometimes the ideal action is anything that keeps you moving. If you hone and subsequently trust your self-evaluation skills, you’ll also be able to identify when your situation is stale and you need to find a new energy source.

The trick is to figure out whether fear or another negative emotion is driving our decision-making process or if we’ve rationally identified that a change of course is optimal. Staying cozy in a fruitless situation can be as devastating as giving up too soon. From Spencer Johnson in Who Moved My Cheese?:

It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation

Tricky, isn’t it?

As with anything else, practicing awareness is the move. Both stillness and action have their virtues. Dig deep within persistently and vigorously to understand yourself and determine what you need to be whole. Therein lies the true pot of gold.