Becoming the 'Man In The Arena'
Be a visionary. Ignore the noise. Execute.
Welcome reader! What is this all about? It’s to inspire you to be the best version of yourself and reach your goals against all odds. This is something I’ve had in the works for a long time.
Context: I have gone from D1 baseball bust to knocking on the door of professional baseball in just a year and a half, all in pursuit of chasing the same dream I’ve had since my childhood: to be a Big Leaguer.
Crazy? Maybe to some. But momentum is on my side and my odds are better than ever. If I told people this two years ago I would’ve been told I had “zero chance,” or that it would be “impossible.” Now its “unlikely” or “extremely difficult.” It doesn’t matter to me what adjectives you use, all that matters is now I actually have a chance.
All of setbacks, adversity, and struggles that I overcame gave me an abundance of wisdom and an incredible perspective on success and failure. While I wish I could go back and share this priceless information with my younger self, I can’t. So instead, I decided to share it with all of you. If this page inspires at least one person to chase their dreams and defy the odds, then I will be satisfied.
Here is a brief synopsis of what I will be sharing on this page:
Baseball Journey: I will be sharing stories from the past about my transformation as well as current experiences. This will include the strategies I used to develop my skills along with the thoughts and feelings I experienced along the way. While I am blessed in many ways, I was never the most talented and really had to work hard to earn my stripes. If you are a baseball person or even just really into sports, you’ll enjoy this.
Personal Stories: In today’s world, so many young people are struggling to build the life they want, make ends meet, or just find their way. This is especially true for those who take risks by choosing the paths less traveled. I’ll be sharing the side that many do not see: what it takes to chase your dream while making a living for yourself.
Words of Wisdom: Like I said earlier, I can’t go back and teach my younger self everything I’ve learned, but I can pass on that wisdom to you. I’ll be sharing advice and wisdom that I wish my younger self had. My problems and struggles aren’t entirely unique, so I hope at least some of you can resonate and benefit from this. For others, this may just be a gentle reminder for you.
Tools/Resources for Self-Improvement: The Transformation Playbook is the first example of this, a workbook designed map out your vision for your dream life and how to work towards it.
Man In The Arena:
How did I come up with that name?
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
―Theodore Roosevelt
No matter what you do, there will always be people on the sidelines with something to say. But like the former President said, they know neither victory nor defeat. Just because you aren’t ‘losing’ doesn’t mean you are winning. It just means you aren’t trying, which is the worst failure of all. You hear all the time from the most successful people in the world that failure is essential to learn and to grow. To be the ‘Man In The Arena’ is to put something on the line. To take risks. To subject yourself to an audience critics. To go all in despite the obstacles.
You are the person that determines your future. You have the power to decide what your life is going to look like. Stop making excuses for yourself. Stop letting outside noise hold you back. Stop watching other people live out your dream.
It’s time to step into the arena.
M.T. Morrissey
Author: Man In The Arena
Check out The Transformation Playbook