When a dozen or so 8-year-old kids run onto a baseball field for their first practice it's hard not to notice the range of skills. My son Ryan is an excellent athlete but we insisted that he participate in the "Community League" first before the "real" little league. So it was coach pitch the first season, no score kept, just for fun.
The second season came around and we had a kid on the team who was nowhere athletically. Obviously never had a mitt on his hand before, actually closed his eyes and stuck his hand out when a ball came his way, just really, really no skills. So we went through the first couple of practices trying to move him along, with other kids a little annoyed that Stevie was getting so much attention, and not making any progress.
During the last practice before the first game, one of the coaches came to me and asked me to throw to Stevie until he got a hit while he worked in the outfield with the rest of the kids. 7, 8, 9 pitches later, Stevie is nowhere closer to getting a hit. So I stopped and chatted with Stevie. I asked him,
"Stevie, what are you thinking about when you are in the batter's box with the bat in your hand?"
He said "Sometimes I want a home run for my mom, and sometimes I want a home run for my brother and ..."
He was talking so fast, I stopped him and asked again. "What are you thinking about?"
He said, "Sometimes I want a home run for my mom, and sometimes I want a home run for my brother and ..."
So I stopped him again and said "OK, if you want a home run, what do you have to do first?"
He got an inquisitive look on his face and said, "Hit the ball?"
I said "Exactly!"
He hit the next 4 pitches in a row.
I told the other coaches he was ready. They didn't believe me, but I thought he would be OK.
So the first game of the season came and Stevie was batting 9th. I wandered to the end of the bench and asked him what he was thinking about and he gritted his teeth and said "Hit the ball".
Stevie got up to bat and to my surprise, he takes the first two pitches and stands in there 2-0. I didn't think about a walk for him, but that would work. But at the next pitch he leaned back and hit a line drive over the second baseman's head for a single and he is one for one to start the season. Cheers erupt from the small group of parents, but then suddenly I realize someone is screaming from the stands. And still screaming. Sounds like a heart attack. It is Stevie's mom who is in shock that Stevie got a hit. Stevie went 2-3 that day and wound up being a good hitter.
After that first game, Stevie's mom asked me,
"Dave how did you teach Stevie to hit?"
"I reminded him that a hit is what he has to do first. He wanted a home run for you"
So a kid with literally no skills changes his focus a tiny bit and gets big results.
I always say what you focus on grows in your life.
It is axiomatic.