Be GREAT for YOU, Not Anyone Else
Success—what does it really mean to you?
It’s so easy to let the world define success for you, especially in sports. Whether it’s wins, awards, rankings, or status, there’s a constant pressure to measure yourself by external results. While results do matter, real success goes beyond what's on the scoreboard or the statistics. True success isn’t just about the wins—it’s about the process, the growth, and most importantly, who you are becoming along the way.
Take a step back and ask yourself: What does success mean to me? You must define it for yourself, before someone else does. If you let others shape your idea of success, you risk losing sight of what truly matters to you and the kind of athlete (and person) you want to become. And that, my friend, is how you end up chasing things that might not even align with who you are.
It’s time to think about success on your own terms.
In softball, it’s easy to fall into the trap of defining success based solely on external outcomes—like having the most strikeouts or having the highest batting average. These are all things that can be measured and observed by others, which is why we often gravitate towards them. But let’s be real for a second: those results are just one part of the equation.
Real success isn’t measured solely by the number of wins or awards—it’s about the growth you experience as an athlete and as a person. It’s about staying true to your values and ensuring that your actions align with the best version of yourself. When you define success based on your personal growth and alignment with your values, it shifts your focus to what really matters: your effort, mindset, resilience, and commitment to the process.
It’s time to evaluate your self-awareness and not worry so much about what others think.
A big part of this is self-awareness. Fear of what others think can be one of the biggest obstacles athletes face. We worry about how our coaches, teammates, and parents perceive us. But the truth is, only YOU can evaluate your performance. Only you know how many quality at-bats you had or what you felt like in the circle. When you focus on becoming self-aware and tuning into your own reflections, you stop waiting for someone else to tell you how you did. You stop defining success based on others’ opinions.
Be GREAT for YOU, not for anyone else.
When you take ownership of your definition of success, you start building a framework that makes sense for you. This means you don’t just chase after results—you focus on your personal values and your growth. You recognize that success is a combination of wins and lessons learned from challenges. Your ultimate goal should always be to grow as an athlete, to move forward, and to align your actions with your inner vision of success.
Remember, it’s not about having a perfect game—it’s about showing up and doing your best, no matter the outcome. Trust your processes. Be consistent. And most importantly, stay true to what success means to YOU.
Define success for yourself, and align your work and habits with that vision. As you do, you’ll find that true success isn’t just a destination—it’s a journey that’s uniquely yours.
Be the athlete who defines success on their own terms. Be GREAT for YOU
