People matter. Stories matter. The way in which the story is told, matters. I will never lose sight of these truths.
I believe the best storytellers are people who are willing to take risks. Fight for something. Chase a dream. Stand for what matters. Then, tell it.
I pledge to take the same mentality to our story as I did as a baseball player. There is no complaining and no excuse for anything less than my best.
I will always accept constructive criticism. The day I stop striving for a better story is the day I will stop writing.
I am never bigger than the story. Writing, when done correctly, should be an act of humility and not self-admiration.
Memoirs and autobiographies will always hold a soft spot in my heart. You have one chance at connecting your story, your journey, your life to readers that adore you. Work the story until it sings.
I do not choose story on "passion." I write with passion. I live with passion. Passion is not something I chase, it comes with me.
I am entitled to nothing. I am grateful for the opportunities in my life and will never take them for granted.
I will fail. I will make mistakes. I will never be perfect. But I will always make the extra phone call, willingly choose another rewrite, and give every ounce of energy I have to the craft.