This past Sunday at Elizabeth Baptist Church, we celebrated 96 years of excellence. Bishop Craig L. Oliver delivered a powerful sermon about the resilience of the palm tree. He shared how some grow as tall as 120 feet, but what’s even more incredible is that their roots extend just as deep—120 feet into the ground. These trees thrive in harsh conditions, standing strong against storms, and they bear fruit all year round.
Hearing this, I couldn’t help but reflect on the phases of development that my hitters go through and how it directly connects to where we are now in the season.
The Build Phase: Strength and Habits (November–January)
Just like the deep roots of a palm tree, November, December, and January are about building habits and strength. This is the foundation, the time for hitters to put in thousands of reps—over and over again—so that their movements become second nature.
- Talent is what you do well.
- Habits are what you do well repeatedly without thought.
During this time, we’re not focused on immediate results. Instead, we are deepening our roots, making sure we are planted firmly so that when the storms come, we are unshaken.
The Conversion Phase: Training Under Pressure (February–April)
Now, as we enter February, March, and April, we move into the Conversion Phase—the time when habits must transform into skills. And this is where the real test begins
- Skills are what you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress.
- This requires training under pressure, because what you build in practice must hold up in competition.
The palm tree doesn’t wait for perfect conditions to bear fruit—it thrives regardless of the environment. Likewise, my hitters must now step into the game prepared or not. The reps they’ve put in will determine if they are truly ready to perform when it matters most.
Beyond Baseball: Winning the Game of Life
This lesson isn’t just about baseball. It’s about life. We don’t just train to win this season—we train to win in life. Building strong habits, enduring adversity and performing under pressure are not just skills for the field; they are essential for success in anything we pursue.
As we step into this next phase, the question isn’t just, “Are you ready?” It is:
“Have you built the roots deep enough to stand strong? Have you trained enough so that your skills prevail under stress?”
Just like the palm tree, we must be rooted, resilient, and always bearing fruit—no matter the season.
Let’s go. It’s time to convert.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
For more information, visit www.diamonddirectors.com today.
If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.
C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.
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