Out of the Park: Give to Grow
I’ve read Bob Burg’s The Go Giver and have been reading Give to Grow by Mo Bunnell. The message of both resonates deeply as I wrap up my 18th season broadcasting Royals baseball. The grind is real, but what I’ll remember more than the innings played or miles traveled are the people who gave something of themselves along the way.
Salvador Perez is still giving. Even after 14 seasons, he has as much energy, guidance, and love for the game as he did in 2011. Never wavering, never holding back.
Bobby Witt Jr., a rising star who led MLB in hits for the second consecutive season, still takes time to sign for kids at home and on the road because he knows those moments matter.
Jeff Montgomery, who has been my broadcast partner since 2009, has never had a bad day. He shows up because he loves the work, and that steady presence is a gift in itself.
And none of it would be possible without the sacrifice of my family, who gives me the space and support to live this life.
That’s what giving to grow means to me. It’s generosity, time, energy, love and encouragement. And it’s a lesson I will carry into the offseason where my work continues through speaking and sharing beyond the ballpark.
Because in the end, the real wins come from the relationships we invest in and the spirit we bring to others, inside and Out of the Park.
Stadium dreams
I grew up outside of Philadelphia. We moved when I was 13, but I remained a die-hard Phillies fan well into my 20s. Veterans Stadium was the ballpark I frequented as a kid and even though it was a dump, it was my dump. Now that it has been replaced by Citizen’s Bank Park, visiting the Phillies is just another team on the Royals’ schedule to me. It just doesn’t hold the same nostalgia.
What it does hold is pure Philly energy. Fans there speak their minds, live in every moment and create an atmosphere that is unmatched by most ballparks.
That energy was on full display when Salvador Perez hit his 300th career home run there. My producer sent me to find the fan who caught the ball, and I braced for someone who lived up to the city’s tough reputation. What I found instead was Jerry Book, a Phillies fan who chose connection over transaction. Rather than asking for money or leverage, he simply wanted to meet Salvy with his family.
I wrote about Jerry’s giving spirit in my Small Ball Snapshot earlier this month because even in one of baseball’s most intense environments, he allowed generosity to shine. Citizens Bank Park is tough, loud and passionate. And sometimes, surprisingly full of brotherly love.
Local flavor
We finished the season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. Normally home to the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, this year it has served as the temporary home of the former Oakland A’s before they eventually move to Las Vegas. It wasn’t a usual MLB stop, but was still the 45th stadium I’ve seen a big league game in.
It was a far cry from a true MLB ballpark, but more than sufficient with excellent hospitality that matched a charming city. Though temporary, Sacramento gave itself to the A’s all summer long so the team could grow.
From Old Sacramento’s historic district to the Capitol to the Tower Bridge stretching across the river, Sacramento was a welcoming destination for a unique chapter in A’s history. And though it wasn’t the most notable stage, the spirit of the city still made every moment feel big.
Dugout dialogue
Baseball is built on the future. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get to see it taking shape in real time.
At this year’s Futures Night, 19-year-olds Asbel Gonzalez and David Shields were honored for their growth in the sport: Gonzalez as the Royals’ Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year, and Shields as the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year.
I sat down with Shields for this month's interview. He may be young, but still has plenty to teach about the humility, work and effort you must give to grow. It’s a story that exemplifies what Give to Grow really means: pouring yourself into the grind now, to make room for something bigger to emerge later.
Giving to grow applies no matter what line of work you find yourself in. Watch my monthly chat with Chief of Staff KC’s Casey Wright to hear how a growth mindset shows up in the corporate world.
speaking engagements
With another baseball season officially in the past, my speaking schedule has picked up and I couldn’t be more excited. Every time I step on stage, my goal is to give more than just a keynote. Sometimes that means extra time with a client, a conversation offstage, or sharing something that goes beyond the program itself to help my audiences grow.
This month, that spirit will come full circle as I emcee the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Hall of Game Gala on October 4th for the second consecutive year.
The calendar also includes:
October 20 — Keynote for Cornerstone Companies in Kansas City
October 23 — Emcee, Giving Grace Breakfast at Arrowhead Stadium
October 24 — Keynote, Leawood Chamber Young Professionals Event
October 28 — Keynote, Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series in Hutchinson
My Game Changer Speaking Series addresses universal topics like trust, culture, grit and resilience that apply to every team, whether baseball fans or not.
If you have an event coming up, it’s time we play ball. To inquire about my keynote series, event moderation or custom video content, just click the link below. A member of my team will get back to you right away.
Rounding the bases rewind
Corey Morris is a true leader in the digital marketing space. He’s the President and CEO of Voltage, an award-winning agency that has spent decades crafting success plans for brands that refuse to settle. Unlike some, he doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. Instead, he remains focused on giving only the things he does best.
This against-the-grain mindset has been the key to the growth of his business. By saying no to the asks that are outside of his speciality, he is actually helping his clients more than they realize. It’s a powerful message many of us could learn from. You can check it out here. It’s one that definitely deserves a listen.
And of course, I want to extend another thank you to each of the incredible guests who gave of their time to round the bases with me this month:
Our schedule is already booked into the fall, but we are always looking for interesting guests with standout stories. Would you or someone you know make a great guest on Rounding the Bases?
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please email my Executive Producer Ashleigh Sterr: ashleigh@joelgoldbergmedia.com.
Keeping the score
I’ve long believed that the secret to influence is giving to grow. The idea of sowing favors instead of collecting them is a practical strategy rooted in human psychology, reciprocity and integrity. And when you offer value with intention instead of expectation, you set a cycle into motion that I have found returns far more than you ever imagined.
Shifting the paradigm from “What can I get?” to “How much value can I offer?” rewires your mindset to see opportunity in generosity. The idea of giving to grow as a relational strategy is a concept that changed the life of one recent guest on my podcast, Rounding the Bases, who believes every one of us can master the art of sales, whether we carry a quota or not.
Her name is Dr. Cindy McGovern, a two-time bestselling author, founder of Orange Leaf Consulting and an international authority known around the world as the First Lady of Sales. With a dynamic energy and practical approach, Dr. Cindy has inspired thousands to see sales not as a transaction, but as an opportunity to give.
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