Why shutting up (and listening) is key to the learning process

Editor’s Note: A New Year is going to bring lots of ups and downs. During this month, I will be discussing four experiences (see “4 Experiences That will Transform You in the New Year”) that you will no doubt experience in 2022. Here is Part III.

Anthony Liccione once said, “If talk is cheap, then being silent is expensive. And many people, it seems, can’t afford to buy into it.”

Sometimes, you can become such a problem that people have to tell you to shut up. There also are times your inner self tells you to shut up.

So many people want to be elite on and off the baseball field, but they are not willing to pay the cost.

Stepping up in times of stress—like the Atlanta Braves and the Georgia Bulldogs—is not something you can pray for or hope into existence. It requires skills. Skills are things you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress. And unlike habits—things you do well repeatedly without thought due to practice—skills come by way of training.

One of the remedies for failing to step up is learning to sit down. There is so much we can learn when we are humbled. And, while you’re sitting down, learn to shut up and listen.

For the month of January, my hitters are focused on four things that can carry them through 2022. Those include:

1. Step-up
2. Sit-down
3. Shut-up
4. Slow-down

For the final week of the month, we will focus on the importance of slowing down.

To help keep your skills sharp, we have introduced a new type of Skill Build—our Virtual Skill Build—where I can help you develop hitting skills anytime, anywhere using anything.

Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.

For more information, visit www.diamonddirectors.com today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.

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.