This week, I dove into Chapter 6: “Tell Them I Love (Some) Randomness.” Taleb’s point is simple but profound—randomness, setbacks, and a little chaos aren’t just obstacles. They’re fuel for growth. Randomness makes us adapt, exposes our soft spots, and if we’re paying attention, teaches us how to get better.

Baseball is built on randomness. Bad hops, weird weather, tough umpire calls, unexpected slumps—none of it goes by the book. My own recovery has been the same. Just when I think I’m back, another curveball comes my way.

Here’s what I tell my young team:
Every time we get knocked down, there’s a lesson hiding in the chaos. Every loss, every tough day, every hard-earned comeback is a chance to get stronger. The journey back isn’t supposed to be smooth. We’re learning to embrace the unexpected, to become antifragile—not just bouncing back, but coming back better.

I checked out Untold: The Sign Stealer and then read this spot-on review in The Athletic/New York Times. It’s wild how far some will go to get a leg up—whether it’s the Astros in MLB or college football’s sign-stealing saga.

But the real lesson? Shortcuts and quick fixes might work for a game or a season, but they always come with a cost. You can’t build something lasting on shaky ground.

Just like with recovery and growth, you have to play the long game. Our team’s learning that the hard way this year. No shortcuts, no easy outs. Just lessons, grit, and owning every step—especially when it’s messy.

This is the heart of my new podcast episode:
“Knocked Down, Wired Up: What Getting Smashed in the Mouth Taught Me.”
Watch on~YouTube~or listen on ~Apple Podcasts~ and ~Spotify~.

It’s been almost three months since my injury, the surgery, and all the wires. On the outside, I look fine. On the inside? Still piecing it together. Motivation faded. Energy dipped. It took something as simple as mowing the lawn for me to finally feel a spark again.

Science backs it up: studies show nearly half of athletes experience post-injury blues—even after they’re physically “healed.”
Healing isn’t linear. Routine matters. And sometimes, the little things (like mowing the grass or sticking to a daily walk) are what get us moving forward.

This week’s episode is raw, honest, and hopefully helpful. I share what the road back really looks like, and what you can do when the comeback is tougher than you planned.

Every bump in the road, every weird twist in my recovery, is fuel for my next project:

My mission is simple: make the mental game accessible for everyone. Adversity isn’t a roadblock—it’s the launchpad for real growth. Every time you get up, you get better.

What random event or setback taught you the most this year?
How have you grown—not despite adversity, but because of it?
Reply, DM me, or comment—I want to hear your story.

Until next time—stay gritty, stay antifragile, and keep firing back. And, Get Shit Done!
Coach A/B