The Sound of the Game That Grounds Me

There’s nothing quite like the crack of a bat or the snap of a glove. For me, baseball has always been more than a pastime, it’s been a place of clarity. While much of my professional life is spent navigating business decisions, managing teams, and building long-term strategies, the baseball field offers something rare: perspective, rhythm, and connection.

Baseball isn’t a hobby I squeeze in when I have time. It’s a core part of how I stay sharp: mentally, physically, and emotionally. I’ve been playing since I was a kid on Staten Island, and to this day, whether I’m coaching, practicing with my sons, or just tossing a ball around, the game continues to teach me.

Stress Relief That Actually Works

Running a business comes with constant pressure. There’s always a deadline, a fire to put out, or a tough call to make. But stepping onto the baseball field? That’s a reset button.

When I’m out there, the world quiets down. I’m focused on the game in front of me, watching pitches, tracking hits, adjusting positions. It pulls me fully into the moment. That kind of physical presence and mental focus gives my brain the break it needs to process the day.

You don’t need mindfulness apps when you’ve got a fastball coming at you. Baseball is active meditation. It burns off the stress and helps me return to work more clear-headed and composed. I’m a better leader after a game, and a better father and friend, too.

Building Focus and Patience

Baseball demands more patience than almost any other sport. You’re not sprinting the entire game. You’re waiting, watching, analyzing. And when your moment comes, you have to act decisively. That mirrors exactly what life in business is like.

Whether you’re at bat with a full count or standing on the mound trying to read the next move, baseball teaches you to stay mentally locked in. It teaches anticipation and strategy. You have to think three moves ahead. You have to know your role, trust your team, and stay calm under pressure.

That kind of focus is essential in the boardroom. Whether I’m negotiating a contract or mentoring someone through a tough decision, those same baseball instincts come into play: keep your eye on the ball, don’t rush, and always have a game plan.

The Clubhouse Connection

Some of the strongest connections I’ve built professionally didn’t happen in boardrooms, they started in dugouts. There’s something powerful about the camaraderie of a team, especially when the stakes are both competitive and fun.

On the field, titles don’t matter. You’re not CEO, manager, or executive. You’re just a teammate. And how someone carries themselves on the field tells you a lot: Are they coachable? Do they show up for others? Can they lead under pressure?

Baseball reveals character. I’ve had meaningful conversations during warmups and after games, moments of honesty that you can’t replicate in a formal business meeting. It’s a different kind of connection, one that often leads to deeper trust and mutual respect.

Discipline That Carries Over

It takes commitment to keep playing baseball as an adult. There are early mornings, late nights, practices to run, and games to attend. But that routine builds something more than just skill, it builds discipline.

Making time for the game has made me more structured in other parts of my life. It forces me to plan, prioritize, and protect my downtime. And it shows the people I lead that balance isn’t just a talking point, it’s a choice you make over and over again.

I want my team and my sons to see that health and discipline matter. That taking care of your body, staying active, and doing something you love isn’t extra, it’s essential.

A Game That Grounds You

It’s easy to get caught up in the grind. In business, there’s always another goalpost, another project, another quarter to beat. Baseball brings me back to earth. It reminds me to enjoy the process, not just chase the outcome.

There’s joy in the game: in teaching a younger player how to improve their swing, in hitting a clean line drive, in playing catch under a summer sky. That joy refuels me. It makes me more present, more grateful, and more energized in everything I do.

Baseball has also taught me how to lose, gracefully and with grit. You strike out. You miss plays. But you don’t quit. You learn, adjust, and show up the next day. That’s how you grow, in sports and in business.

Make Time for the Ballfield

If you’re running a business or leading a team, it can feel like there’s no time for yourself. But here’s what I’ve learned: you’re not helping anyone when you’re running on empty.

Make time for your game. Maybe for you it’s baseball too. Or maybe it’s something else that gets you moving and thinking differently. Whatever it is, treat it like a priority, because it is.

Baseball keeps me sharp. It gives me peace. It teaches me how to lead under pressure, how to bounce back, and how to stay grounded in what really matters. The boardroom and the ballfield aren’t separate lives, they’re two parts of the same one. And when both are in sync, that’s when I perform at my best.