RULE YOUR KINGDOM

There can be only one king. Do you have what it takes to rule? In this "Five-Minute Friday" episode JP references a potent Joe Rogan podcast interview to explain the importance of every hitter finding the courage and clarity to rule his own hitting kingdom.

(Five-Minute Friday episodes are short-form podcasts roughly five to ten minutes in length, intended to provide a quick-hit of inspiration for hitters heading into the weekend.)

Transcript

AT THIS POINT, IF YOU’VE LISTENED TO THE FIRST FEW EPISODES, YOU’VE PROBABLY COME TO REALIZE THAT I DON’T ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HITTING IN TRADITIONAL WAYS.

THE WORLD IS FAR TOO VAST AND INTERESTING TO LIMIT OUR EXPLORATION AND DISCUSSION TO THE SAME WORN OUT, REDUNDANT BASEBALL TERRAIN. 

HITTERS NEED MORE. 

SO WITH THE INTENTION OF CONTINUING WITH OUR “PIONEERING” SPIRIT HERE AT THE ZHP…

LET’S BRING THE RENOWNED JOE ROGAN INTO OUR CONVO TODAY. JOE MAY NOT KNOW HITTING — BUT HE SURE KNOWS HOW TO EXRACT GREAT INFO FROM HIS GUESTS. 

AND THERE IS A FANTASTIC PODCAST HE DID WITH DIRECTOR GUY RITCHIE… THAT’S GOT SOME HEAVY-HITTING CONTENT FOR US TO CONSIDER. 

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH RITCHIE… HE IS A HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR, BRITISH BORN, WHO HAS MADE SUCH FILMS AS: THE COVENANT WITH JAKE GYLENHALL, THE GENTLEMEN WITH MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, AND SNATCH WITH BRAD PITT. MOST RECENTLY HE LAUNCHED A SHOW CALLED MOBLAND ON PARAMOUNT WITH TOM HARDY. 

ANYWAY, RITCHIE STOPPED IN FOR ONE OF JOE’S MARATHON PODCAST INTERVIEWS. 

AND HERE’S THE SETUP. 

AS THE EPISODE BEGINS WE SEE JOE WEARING HIS USUAL T-SHIRT AND SWEATPANTS — LIKE HE JUST ROLLED IN FROM THE GYM. AND THEN ACROSS FROM HIM SITS GUY RITCHIE IN A SHARP BLUE SUIT, TIE, AND POCKET SQUARE. 

AND AS THE INTERVIEW INCHES INTO ITS OPENING…

JOE EYES RITCHIE CURIOUSLY AND ASKS: “UM, YOU’VE GOT A LITTLE POCKET HANKY THERE, HUH?” 

GUY GIVES HIM A SAVVY SMILE… CLEARLY HE’S BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE… AND LIKE A PREDATOR LYING IN WAIT… HE POUNCES…

“SHALL I TELL YOU, JOE, WHY I WEAR A POCKET SQUARE?” 

JOE SAYS, PLEASE. 

“BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T WEAR A POCKET SQUARE YOU HAVE THE APPEARANCE THAT YOU’VE BEEN SQUEEZED INTO A SPORTS JACKET OR A SUIT FOR CONVENTIONAL REASONS — BECAUSE YOUR MUM PUT YOU IN THERE OR YOU’RE OFF TO CHURCH OR THE OFFICE. AS SOON AS YOU PUT A POCKET SQUARE IN THERE… YOU OWN THE JACKET. IT’S YOUR IDEA. NOT SOMEONE ELSE’S IDEA.”

RITCHIE GOES ON TO ASK JOE IF HE’S EVER HEARD OF EXTREME OWNERSHIP, THE BOOK BY FORMER NAVY SEALS JOCKO WILLINK AND LEAF BABIN. (AS A SIDE NOTE, IT’S BEEN A MUST READ IN THE PERFORMANCE WORLD FOR YEARS.)

JOE HAS READ IT, AND HE SAYS HE’S EVEN HAD JOCKO ON THE SHOW. 

RITCHIE, NODS CONTENTLY, AND FOLLOWS WITH THIS ABSOLUTE GEM OF WISDOM… 

“IF YOU DON’T OWN SOMETHING. THEN YOU ARE NOT THE BOSS. YOU HAVE TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. WHY BE SUBSERVIENT? YOU MUST BE THE MASTER OF YOUR OWN KINGDOM.” 

AND THERE IT IS.

IT’S A HELL OF A QUOTE AND IT’S EVEN MORE IMPACTFUL WHEN IT COMES FROM RITCHIE HIMSELF WITH THAT CHARISMATIC BRITISH ACCENT. 

SO TAKE A BEAT HERE. 

LET THAT MESSAGE SINK IN FULLY. 

RICHIE DIDN’T SAY: “I JUST REALLY LIKE TO WEAR THE FINEST CLOTHES, JOE. OR MY WIFE OR MANAGER MADE ME WEAR IT TO LOOK SOPHISTICATED. OR IT MAKES ME STAND OUT SO I CAN GET ATTENTION.”

NO, RITCHIE BASICALLY SAID: THIS IS MY DECISION. AND THE DECISION MEANS SOMETHING TO ME. THIS IS HOW I CHOOSE TO ROLL.

AND JOE GETS IT… HE TALKS ABOUT THE FEELING OF SEEING SOMEONE PUT ON A SUIT WITH REAL INTENTION, CRISPLY TUCKING IN HIS SHIRT, AND PUTTING ON HIS CUFFLINKS, TIGHTENING HIS TIE — EMPOWERED BY THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN, JOE SAYS: “YOU KNOW THIS IS A MAN OF PURPOSE.”

BOOM. 

THE SIMPLE ACT OF WEARING A SUIT, WITH GENUINE CONVICTION AND OWNERSHIP… ANNOUNCES TO THE WORLD:

HERE I AM. AND I MEAN BUSINESS. 

BUT HOW MANY OF US REALLY LIVE THIS WAY AS BALLPLAYERS OR PEOPLE? 

HOW MANY OF YOU PUT ON YOUR UNIFORM WITH THAT SAME SENSE OF PURPOSE, INTENTION, AND CARE? LIKE IT’S AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR AND WHAT YOU ARE DECLARING TO DO? 

TOO OFTEN WE GET LOST IN THE MUNDANE, THROWING IT ON AUTO-PILOT AND FORGETTING THAT EVERYTHING WE DO CAN HOLD MEANING… IF WE ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE IT. 

AND LET’S BE CLEAR… I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR CLOTHES HERE… THIS ISN’T A FASHION PODCAST… THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW YOU DECIDE TO DRESS.   

I COULD CARE LESS WHAT YOU WEAR TO YOUR JOE ROGAN INTERVIEW. 

THIS… IS ABOUT DELIBERATE INTENT. 

IT’S ABOUT TAKING INTEREST IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR HITTING KINGDOM. AND BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF IT. 

AS RICHIE GOES ON TO SAY:

“IT IS MY IDEA TO PUT ON THE SUIT... THEREBY, I PUT ON MY SUIT OF ARMOR AND I COME OUT IN THE WORLD.”

SO WHEN YOU WEAR A SUIT… OWN THE SUIT.

WHEN YOU PUT ON THE UNIFORM… OWN THAT UNIFORM. 

MAKE IT YOUR SUIT OF ARMOR. 

GIVE IT A PURPOSE. 

EVEN IF IT HAPPENS 162 TIMES IN A SEASON. HELL, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENS 162 TIMES. 

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT WEAR SUITS IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE UNLESS THEY HAVE TO FOR WORK PURPOSES. GUY RITCHIE DECIDES TO WEAR A SUIT EVERY DAY — BECAUSE HE HAS PROVIDED IT WITH SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL MEANING. IT’S HIS WAY OF DECLARING HIS INTENTIONS TO THE WORLD. 

HE IS THE MASTER OF HIS KINGDOM.

HE DECIDES: WHAT HE WEARS. WHAT HE EATS. HOW HE SPENDS HIS TIME. WHAT HE PLACES VALUE ON. 

HE WORKS FROM THE INSIDE-OUT… NOT OUTSIDE-IN. 

THAT’S A VITAL DISTINCTION. 

RITCHIE EXPLAINS IT LIKE THIS: 

“THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PERIOD IN YOUR DAY WHERE YOU REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A WORLD OUT THERE TRYING TO TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE. AND THERE IS A WORLD IN HERE TRYING TO TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT YOUR EGGS?”

IF WE ARE PAINFULLY HONEST HERE… MOST OF US ARE PUTTING OUR EGGS IN THE WRONG BASKET. WE ARE SO DAMN CONCERNED WITH PLEASING OUR COACHES OR PARENTS OR TEAMMATES OR OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING… THAT WE SURRENDER OUR KINGDOM. WE REFUSE TO DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR US! AND WHAT IS MEANINGFUL TO US! 

AND THE MOMENT WE HESITATE…

THE WORLD WILL CHOSE FOR US. THE WORLD WILL GOVERN FOR US. 

I PROMISE YOU THAT. 

IF YOU DON’T ANSWER YOUR OWN QUESTIONS —

THE WORLD WILL PROVIDE YOU THE ANSWERS. 

IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF HITTER YOU ARE. WHAT YOUR GOALS SHOULD BE. WHAT YOUR SWING SHOULD LOOK LIKE. 

AND THOSE ANSWERS ARE RARELY — IF EVER — WHAT WE WOULD HAVE CHOSEN FOR OURSELVES. 

MOST OF US COMPROMISE OUR INTEGRITY AND AUTHENTICITY FOR THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE. 

DON’T WE? 

WE HAVE ALL SOLD OFF PIECES OF OUR KINGDOM IN ORDER TO BE MORE EASILY ACCEPTED, TO AVOID CONFRONTATION, OR TO TRY AND GET AHEAD IN SOME DILUTED MANNER. 

WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO THE WORLD TO TELL US WHO WE ARE. AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION. 

WE ARE ALL TOO QUICK… TO SURRENDER OUR CROWN. 

AND THEN WHEN THINGS GO AWRY… AND WE COME UP SHORT… AND HOW COULD WE NOT, WE HAVE RELINQUISHED OUR POWER…

WE THEN THROW OUR HANDS UP IN DISGUST. AND WE COMPLAIN. WE MAKE EXCUSES. AND WE ACT PERPLEXED AS TO WHY THINGS DIDN’T WORK OUT FOR US. YET AGAIN. 

BUT WE ARE TO BLAME. 

BECAUSE WE ARE REFUSING TO TAKE THE THRONE. 

IT TAKES RAW COURAGE TO REALLY RULE, TO LEAD, TO DECIDE. MOMENT AFTER MOMENT. DAY AFTER DAY. IT IS FAR EASIER TO ALLOW THE OUTSIDE WORLD TO RUN THE SHOW. THIS WAY WE DON’T EVER HAVE TO TAKE REAL RESPONSIBILITY. DO WE? 

ANOTHER CRAPPY AT BAT? 

UMPIRE’S FAULT: HE’S BEEN CALLING STRIKES IN THE RIVER ALL DAY. 

ANOTHER CRAPPY GAME? 

COACH’S FAULT: HE KNOWS I DON’T HIT WELL WHEN HE MAKES ME DH. 

ANOTHER CRAPPY SEASON?

ORGANIZATION’S FAULT: I NEVER GOT CONSISTENT AT BATS. HOW COULD I POSSIBLY PERFORM? 

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. 

TAKE YOUR RIGHTFUL SEAT AT THE HEAD OF YOUR KINGDOM. SURVEY EVERY INCH OF IT. GIVE IT THE CARE AND ATTENTION IT DESERVES. BECAUSE IT IS ALL YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

FROM YOUR APPROACH IN THE BOX… TO THE AMOUNT OF SLEEP YOU GET… TO THE WAY YOU HANDLE  DISAPPOINTMENT… TO THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO YOUR HITTING CRAFT… TO THE WAY YOU CHOOSE TO WALK TO THE PLATE WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE… 

START SMALL.

CONSIDER YOUR BASEBALL BAG OR YOUR LOCKER.

LOOK IT OVER. STUDY IT. 

DOES IT HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF SOMEONE WITH CLEAR PURPOSE AND INTENT? IS IT ORGANIZED AND CARED FOR AND MANAGED IN A WAY THAT DECLARES TO THE WORLD…

I OWN THIS TERRITORY. IT’S MINE. AND I MEAN BUSINESS. 

BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE KING…

IT IS ALL UNDER YOUR DOMAIN.

EMBRACE THAT. 

DON’T HIDE FROM IT. 

HAVE A PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO — 

BUT THIS DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO DRIVE YOURSELF CRAZY AND TURN EVERYTHING INTO A LIFE-STATEMENT OR CRITICAL DECISION… WHEN YOU RULE… YOU CHOOSE WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS NOT. 

SO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT ALSO BASK IN THE FREEDOM. 

RULE WITH CLARITY AND BALANCE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT. 

THE POINT IS: YOU DECIDE. 

YOU DECIDE TO GIVE SOMETHING MEANING. YOU DECIDE WHAT HAS PURPOSE. YOU DECLARE WHAT HAS VALUE AND WHY. 

THIS IS YOUR KINGDOM. 

IT CAN LOOK THE WAY YOU WANT. IT CAN FEEL THE WAY YOU WANT. YOU CAN ALLOW ENTRANCE TO THOSE YOU WANT. YOU CAN MAKE IT WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE.

SO GET COMFORTABLE IN YOUR HITTING THRONE. TAKE YOUR STAND THERE. RULE WITH COURAGE, CLARITY, AND PURPOSE. AND WIELD YOUR POWER WITH THE TYPE OF UNAPOLOGETIC DECISIVENESS OF GUY RITCHIE. 

AND WHO KNOWS…

MAYBE ONE DAY YOU’LL FIND YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE BUYING A NEW SUIT AND TIE… PERHAPS FOR A BIG AWARDS DINNER…AND YOU ARE OFFERED A FINE POCKET SQUARE TO ACCOMPANY THE ENSEMBLE. 

AND FOR THE HELL OF IT, YOU SLIP THAT SUCKER INTO YOUR SUIT POCKET — AND GIVE A WINK TO THAT SHARP-DRESSED DUDE STARING BACK AT YOU IN THE MIRROR.

DECLARING TO YOURSELF AND THE WORLD…

IT’S GOOD TO BE THE KING!