So what would you do if you were just named the very best in your profession? Would you go out for a nice dinner or take a celebratory vacation? Perhaps you would maybe purchase something very nice for yourself or a loved one?
For many people, it would be human nature to just chill out and enjoy the view from the mountaintop for awhile.
On Thursday, November 16, 2023, the Atlanta Braves’s Ronald Acuna Jr. was named the National League’s unanimous Most Valuable Player. He was named the very best in his profession but did none of those things. Acuna Jr. did not stop to smell the roses and rest on his laurels. In fact, just one hour later he was doing something quite the opposite.
As you can see below, Acuna Jr. returned to Venezuela to play Winter League ball and continue working on his skills.
When asked why a player of his stature felt the need to continue playing Winter League ball, Acuna Jr. said in this article, “There’s always time to learn, there’s always time to improve, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m here, to improve every day — as a person, as a ballplayer — and have a great year the [upcoming] season, God willing, [just] like this one. Like I’ve said before, with more time on the field, I think a ballplayer can develop his abilities and can get better results, improve his style of game. I think that was the case for me this year.”
The following are five things we learn from the MVP’s comments above about what the very best continually do to remain the very best:
The Very Best Are Continual Hard Workers
Hard work works. Success smells like sweat. There are no shortcuts to the top. Effort matters.
I have known many baseball players who played summer league ball, took the winter off, and then expected to receive recognition for delivering superior results the following spring. That rarely happened. Whether you play baseball or work in another profession, elite performance with less than full commitment is an unrealistic expectation.
The very best never drift into excellence, it is always by intentionality, effort, and hard work.
The Very Best Are Continual Learners
Arrogance is crippling to leaders because we all have blind spots. Humble leaders relentlessly probe for their areas of weakness and then work tirelessly to improve in those areas. Acuna Jr. said, “There’s always time to learn.” He is correct.
Leaders should always be learning new things about themselves and their areas of discipline.
The Very Best Focus On Continual Improvement
Because things are constantly changing, there will always be areas where we need to continually improve. People, processes, and products can become obsolete in a moment’s notice. If that is not enough, there is a continual flow of younger, highly-skilled individuals looking to take our jobs?
Acuna Jr. acknowledged, “There’s always time to improve, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m here, to improve every day — as a person, as a ballplayer.”
The Very Best Continually Prepare For The Future
Smart leaders know the greatest hindrance to future success is previous success. Babe Ruth famously said, “Yesterday’s home run doesn’t win today’s game.” Future success should never be assumed. It must be always re-earned on a daily basis.
Acuna Jr. wants to “have a great year the [upcoming] season, God willing, [just] like this one.”
The Very Best Continually Try To Get Even Better Results
They are never satisfied. There are always new mountains left to climb. Continually successfully leaders also know today’s success is merely tomorrow’s baseline of performance. They must get better.
Acuna Jr. concluded, “Like I’ve said before, with more time on the field, I think a ballplayer can develop his abilities and can get better results, improve his style of game. I think that was the case for me this year.”
I’m not betting against him.
Conclusion
After winning his first Most Valuable Player award, Acuna Jr. was immediately back at work hoping to improve his skills.
If you continually work, continually learn, continually improve, and continually prepare, you too will have an opportunity to continually get better results than previously achieved.
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