Trust Your Eyes
One of the things I've always appreciated about Royals catcher Salvador Perez is his ability to embrace change without forgetting what helped make him successful.
During a casual dugout conversation, Salvy mentioned something to me he regularly reminds younger players. Today's hitters have more information than ever. They study video, scouting reports and data on their iPads. Salvy uses those tools, too. But he reminds the young guys that they still need to use their eyes.
If you're a left-handed hitter waiting for your turn, watch how the pitcher attacks other lefties. If you're right-handed, pay attention to what he's doing against righties. There's information unfolding in front of you that might not be on the screen.
I've been thinking about that conversation a lot lately, especially with how quickly artificial intelligence is changing our world. We have access to more knowledge and information than ever before, and that's a tremendous advantage. But information alone doesn't replace experience, judgment or human connection.
Over the last couple of years, I've spent more time focusing my speaking work on one subject: Winning Trust. I couldn't have anticipated just how relevant that conversation would become as technology continues to accelerate.
As AI makes knowledge easier to access, trust becomes harder to replace.
Salvy's message wasn't to put away the iPad. It was to remember to look up from it.
That's Small Ball. Embrace what's new without losing sight of what matters.
This week's question: Where might you benefit from looking up from the information in front of you and trusting what you're seeing for yourself?
EXTRA INNINGS
A little more from beyond the ballpark.
Come Cruise the Rhine With Us!
AmaWaterways’ Rhine River Cruise
In November 2027, Susan and I will be hosting a special Rhine River cruise, and we'd love for you to join us! We'll explore beautiful European cities, take in incredible scenery, enjoy great food and share experiences that go well beyond the typical vacation. For us, the best part of any trip is often the people we meet and the memories we make together, and we're looking forward to sharing this adventure with friends, both old and new.
Click here to learn more about the cruise and how to join us!
SOMETHING NEW IS TAKING SHAPE
I've been spending a lot of time exploring the connection between storytelling, trust and the small moments that bring people together. I'm working on something new that will bring those ideas to life in a different way, and I'll have more to share soon.
ONE LAST THOUGHT
“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.”
Steve Jobs, 1994