When I was 12 years old, our baseball team was hands down amazing. We actually just barely lost to the team that won the little league world series that year. Needless to say, we were filthy. Right before I was about to start a game, we were doing pitchers drills and all of us thought we were pretty good. So I was the last one to go…and made my way over to first, caught the ball nonchalantly, went to go step on first without looking…and the man up above proceeded to teach me a lesson I will never forget. I didn’t just trip over first base, I ate it over first base and fell flat on my face. After I got out of the pile of dust I created for myself, I had to wipe myself off…humiliation and dust combined. It was in that moment, I learned one of the greatest lessons of my life. Never…ever…be cocky.

Someone asked me the question the other day of what I thought made a good man. Well, I am sure I could come up with a whole list of things, but one of the biggest things is to maintain humility. I think cockiness is one of the most unattractive things possible. In fact, I apologize ladies for the guys you confront who are full of themselves because I can’t even spend time around that kind of stuff. Most of the time, we have to talk about what we are doing rather than just doing it because we need some sort of recognition. I think that lesson is part of the one that I learned falling on the ground that day. Let your game speak. If you are great, people will be able to see it no matter what. You don’t need to tell everyone how great you are. There is a difference between arrogance and being proud of who you are. Often of times that difference will get muddled up by those who perceive you, but just remember that arrogance is insecurity in disguise. Now when people pay you complements, you don’t have to deny them or say that they are untrue. All you really have to say is thank you. I honestly will never forget that lesson I learned at the baseball field that day because I felt like such a piece of junk when I had to stand up in front of all my friends laughing at me.

I still have my jersey from those days. One day I will frame it because that day is an incredibly important to me. I am going to keep asking for everyone to head on over to the Quotes Page and write down your favorite quotes. I am going to make something pretty cool with them. Thanks a ton for reading!

Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project