Dad ripped the sheets back from my body. It was too early. I was ticked.

“You’re going to the tryouts,” he commanded. There would be no debate.

Alex, a future baseball GM,
with his dad, Don, and younger brother.

I was twelve, and obsessed with baseball (still am). I dreamed of playing professionally. “The Flames” were holding tryouts that day. This was a boys’ traveling team, one of the best.

The traveling teams were the way to stay sharp in the little league off-season. They were all tough to make. The Flames were among the best.

I had cold feet. I’d tried before, but always got cut. What was the point? Cozy and warm seemed a much better choice.  

But Dad dragged me out of bed…made sure I showered and ate. He saw me off to the tryouts that day. What happened? I got cut once again.

I was pretty down on myself. As hard as I tried, the other kids were a bit better. I told Dad that baseball was now out of my life.

Now, as I look back, that was a big moment for me. It changed my perspective on life. With his hand on my shoulder, this man I adore said something like this,

“Alex, in life, big wins often require small falls. Those are just steps down the road. Time after time, you’ve got to get in the game and give it your all. You can’t win if you don’t show up.

When you look back, you’ll sorely regret the mornings you stayed warm in that bed. You’ll never know if those were wins that might have been.

Take comfort in this. If you never win one single time, you can be proud you stayed in the game and continued to try.”

My name is Alex Sortino. Unlike many of your Savvy Dad authors, I haven’t yet made it in life. I’m still in college (Arizona State University). Thanks to that advice from my dad, I bounce out of the sack, keep my ego in check, forget about pride and don’t worry about falls.

It’s paying off. I earned a hard-to-get, coveted spot as a marketing intern at the Peoria Sports Complex, home of the Padres and Mariners. I intend to become General Manager of a pro team.

It will happen, just wait and see.

I don’t care how often I fall.
I don’t get stressed about “no’s”.
I learned this from Dad.
Those are just steps down the road.

 

Helping Your Child Step Down the Road