A domino habit is the one habit that, when you do it, sets your whole day up for success. It’s like the first domino that knocks over the rest. For many of the athletes I work with, it’s their morning routine, especially getting out of bed when their alarm goes off.

Imagine you (or your athlete) stepping onto the field not driven by the anxiety of outcomes, but empowered by confidence built on daily rituals. This is precisely the power of becoming a winner over simply winning. Belichick’s book serves as a vital reminder that our mission isn’t to chase fleeting victories but to build identities rooted in discipline, resilience, and consistent preparation.

“Life is not just about peaks and valleys, about wins and losses. Life is about the journey. You hear that all the time. You’ve got to absorb that. You’ve got to know that. The journey has to become the destination because there is no true destination. There is no endpoint. There is no goal. All rivers run to the sea and yet the sea is not full. Life goes on; accept what life gives you. The sun rises the morning after you win the championship or lose in the first round.”

Here’s what I learned—and what I now teach in every single Major League Mindset class and through the MLM+ app: Motivation doesn’t come first. Movement does.

Today I want to unpack something powerful—a quote that seems simple at first, but when you really dive in, it unlocks one of the biggest keys to success in both sports and life.

When we say “Don’t chase,” what we’re really saying is: commit to the process. The best athletes don’t obsess over results. They obsess over what they can control—their breath, their body language, their focus, their routines. That’s the foundation of a Major League Mindset.

Most athletes are taught how to swing, throw, and sprint—but almost none are taught how to think. How to reset. How to perform under pressure. How to bounce back from failure. This is where MLM+ comes in—our daily mental training app for athletes who want to build repeatable, reliable, unshakable confidence.

For seven years, I poured everything I had into competing at the highest level in Major League Baseball. The past? It didn’t just shape me — it forged me. Every setback. Every success. Every swing and miss. Every walk-off win. It built a foundation of resilience that I now pass on to others.

If your commitment is only based on rewards, stats, or hype—you’ll fold when things get hard. But if your commitment is rooted in love? You’ll find a way to stay in it. You’ll keep showing up, even when it’s hard to.

Let’s be real: no one feels 100% locked in every single day. Not even Major Leaguers. Not even me. But that’s the difference-maker. Waiting to “feel ready” is a trap. Greatness doesn’t wait for a green light from your emotions. The best of the best show up anyway.

At MLM, I believe that talent isn’t just something you’re born with—it’s something you build. The most game-changing talents in sports and life—like discipline, patience, and self-trust—are not fixed traits, they’re trainable. And when you commit to training those, you don’t just become a better player—you become undeniable in all facets of life.

Too many players ride emotional rollercoasters based on how they performed that day. One great game and they’re on top of the world. One bad one, and the doubt creeps in fast. The problem isn’t effort. These kids are working hard. The issue is that most haven’t been taught how to build a repeatable, reliable, internal system for success—one that makes them mentally tough when the pressure’s on.

If you’re serious about growing as an athlete, don’t leave your routine up to chance. Don’t negotiate with yourself in the heat of the moment. Design your day, let your habits drive your decisions, and let inertia carry you forward.

Think about stepping into the batter’s box, game on the line. You picture the pitch, your swing, the contact. That’s episodic future thinking. At MLM, we help athletes sharpen this tool so it becomes second nature. When you can clearly see the moment before it happens—and see yourself responding like the best version of you—you’re more likely to stay calm, focused, and in control.

In Be Water, My Friend, Shannon Lee expands on her father’s timeless wisdom, offering a roadmap for navigating life’s challenges with grace and strength. Let’s explore how these ideas align with MLM’s teachings to empower athletes both on and off the field.

Ask yourself: Are you following through on the commitments you make to yourself? Are you taking action when you say you will? Are you executing the right way, or just going through the motions? If the answer isn’t a resounding yes, it’s time to level up.

MLM+ is here! The MLM+ app and community is filled with players, parents, and coaches who are working through the same challenges you are. They're sharing their successes, learning from setbacks, and growing stronger together.

Growth happens because of adversity, not in spite of it. The stronger the wind, the stronger the tree. The same is true for athletes: the tougher the challenge, the greater the growth. This is the essence of being anti-fragile.

Here’s the truth: success doesn’t come from avoiding failure. It comes from learning how to face temporary defeat, stay in the game, and use those moments to fuel your growth. At Major League Mindset, this is one of our core teachings - how to bounce forward from setbacks with antifragility and keep moving forward.

Hopefully the next time you have a big game, a big test, a big presentation, an important conversation, etc., you can take some of this to use this to create your very own ‘flip the switch’ routine. Know that it doesn’t guarantee any ‘result’, but it does guarantee one thing: you’ll show up at your best, ready to go do what you do best…CRUSH IT!