In high school, I visited USC for a pitching training camp and learned one of the greatest lessons I would ever learn.

My coach, the best pitching coach I have ever had, would stand next to me and talk to me about something I would never forget.

After a full bullpen session, he looked at me and said

Evan, 10% of the time you are going to be terrible. A long pause… 10% of the time you are going to be fantastic. Another long pause…and 80% of the time you are going to be average. He let that sit with me for a while. The champions are made in that 80%.

You are going to be average a lot…but it is what you decide to do during those times when you know you have average stuff that will determine how great you are.

I have remembered this lesson word for word ever since he told it to me.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is a lifelong lesson.

I wanted to share this with you today because it is one of the finer messages I remember from that time in my life.

Today is going to be a short post because I feel like that message speaks volumes. I realize that a lot of the time…most of the days actually…I am going to be completely average.

However, I know that I can give it 100% during those days that I only have 80% in the tank.

This helps me make only average days into great days.

Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project