The Mentor’s Message: Be the Best

When I was a boy my parents encouraged me to “be the very best.” Back then, only the very best got a trophy! Nowadays the Wheaties® cereal box mantra has changed to “just do your very best” and all the teams get a trophy just for playing. It’s been a source of discomfort for me for years.

Now before you jump on the “promoting self-esteem” band wagon, let me say that I do not believe a young sand lot baseball player has failed unless he or she makes it to the World Series. But, I keep rememberi...