Cal Ripken. Baseball’s “Iron Man”. He played for a team that I never followed- nor one I liked. But, Cal Ripken is someone I admired- not just because he played day in and day out- but because he represented all that is honorable in sports.

And, Cal Ripken just had the opportunity to address the graduates of the University of Maryland. He, like Dick Costolo at the University of Michigan, truly attempted to impart words of advice to those just embarking on their life’s journeys. True to his sports career, the trio of attributes that Cal stressed- talent, skill, and attitude- were the topics of his ten minute address.

Cal Ripken reminded us that we are all born with certain talents- some of us with more developed attributes than others. And, over our life experiences, we can discover what talents we may or may not have. And, talent is something that we probably can’t develop- certainly not in sports. As Cal Ripken said, “The harsh reality—as you contemplate where you fit in—is that talent and aptitude is a requirement in some jobs. You can aspire to be a professional baseball player, but no matter how hard you want it or how hard you work at it, if you don’t have the talent, you won’t succeed.”

Our skill set is something we learn and hone, on the other hand. Developing those skills, learning new skills- they can help us reach the top of our game. (Pun intended.) But, developing those skills takes discipline and a strong work ethic. There are really no shortcuts to learning- we just have to buckle down and do it.

But, Cal stressed, it is our attitude that lets us bring our skills and talents to the fore. (This was also the bulk of his speaking time.) No matter what skills we developed, with what talents we were born, it’s out attitude that makes or breaks us.

And, Cal admitted that when he was younger, he doubted and dismissed all that talk about how attitude makes a difference. But, quickly during his first season (of 19) as an Oriole, he realized that it was up to him to make the most of what he had. He had to make the choice to develop and maintain a positive attitude.

He recalled the advice of his teammates, which he characterized as follows… “Attitude is not like talent. It’s a choice. It can be changed. It can be developed.”

That’s a lesson worth remembering!

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