Aaron Judge is one of baseball’s best players. Kyler Murray is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. So what do these athletes have to do with you? Each of their stories contains an important lesson about success in sports and personality radio.
Aaron Judge
The New York Yankees’ all-star outfielder is having an incredible season. He is large, strong, and fast, and he has rare natural physical talent. But Judge doesn’t settle for the success his skills seem to give him. He doesn’t rest on his immense talent alone. Judge is a meticulous preparer who consistently works to get more out of his ability.
His teammates say the thing that separates him from other players is how he prepares before the game in batting practice. He says:
In traditional batting practice, you basically see the same pitch over and over. For most of my rounds, I like seeing the types of pitches we may face that night in the game. I want three rounds of just facing sliders, curveballs, and changeups. That way, I can picture those pitches in my head before I step into the box for a game. The more chances to replicate what’s going to happen on the field — either in batting practice or in the cage — the better success you have when it matters.
In other words, Judge visualizes success and then rehearses it.
Judge is just 30 and will likely sign a new contract after this season for about $250 million or more. Not bad work if you can get it.
So what advice would he give his younger self?
Establish daily routines that help me reach my goals.
Kyler Murray
Murray is the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. He, too, is immensely talented. Murray just signed a new contract, but based on some of its details, he may not be as committed to his craft.
There’s a clause in the agreement that Murray must do at least four hours of independent study before each week’s game. The team will provide the material, and time spent in team meetings for normal game prep does not count toward the four hours. Yes, this is a real thing.
The team will monitor Murray’s iPad usage to ensure he avoids activities that might “distract his attention”. Yes, this is in the actual contract during his independent study.
His team doesn’t trust him to prepare. They aren’t convinced he will do what it takes to ensure he gets the most from his ability. They’re taking it so seriously that the team can terminate the contract if Murray fails to do the homework.
Sports and Personality Radio
What’s the point? What do sports and personality radio have in common? Well, a sports fan can see many similarities. In this case, two things stand out.
Aaron Judge will do what it takes to perform at the highest possible level, even when it’s not easy or fun. He invests time and effort to set an example. To succeed, he learned that one must establish a routine that can be repeated and hold oneself responsible for repeating the process to be fully prepared each day. This leads to confidence and trust from management because he’s proven to be trustworthy.
Kyler Murray will show occasional greatness but often fails by relying on raw talent and spontaneous reactions to compete. He seems to resist coaching and suggestions for growth because he relies on “my natural talent.” This becomes an internal barrier that sets a poor example and requires constant supervision, special contract clauses, and scrutiny to ensure he remains worth an investment.
Conclusion
If you’re a Kyler Murray performer, you’d better be good at what you do and continue to perform to those elevated expectations. And good luck when those amazing skills that serve you well now are no longer as unique or exciting as they are now.
Follow Aaron Judge’s example. Do the small things that lead to success. Commit to preparation and excellence. It will sustain a long career.
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