DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

So many people want to be the best at what they do. That's why everyone wants to know how to make themselves the best, as quickly and simply as possible. Many are tempted to look for a magical pill. Just swallow it and poof... you are a superstar. Whether you are a musician, an athlete, a dancer, a musician or whatever, what you want is the "secret sauce". Unfortunately it is not that simple. Parents explore the world for locations that produce the best of anything. Some will try to clear a path for their children to get right to it thinking if i send my kid there, then they will teach him all the secrets and make him exceptional. We applaud parents who at least are smart enough to understand that trying to teach their child a discipline with themselves, with no previous knowledge, is futile. Considering what we already know about the parent/child circuitry, it probably will not have a great outcome.

There are very good reasons why the "talent hotbeds" of the world consistently churn out exceptionally talented people. Most of these locations are not what you might expect. Comfort is usually not on the menu. Of course in the United States we have businesses that not only provide comfort, they glamorize it. With any luck it might be a little more than just a baseball childcare experience. The truth is that greatness usually involves some amount of struggle. A musician must practice a piece of music repeatedly to reach a point of refinement and the next piece of music may benefit from the experience of the first piece, but you have to start all over again and struggle with the new techniques, timing, and new material. You have to get used to feeling uncomfortable while you are learning. That's when you will make the most progress. If you are in a pampered environment, the struggle will never ignite the development you seek.

The is no comfortable route to success. You may see a group of people or a team that appears to have great players on the roster only to find out that they were all recruited because they were already refined. The team did little more than run tryouts, select the best and put them together. The team did not "develop" anything! People mistakenly think that if they are viewed as being a member of that team then they must be great. "Good by association" equals you are simply fooling yourself. Sorry, bubble bursted! The greatest athletes and performers don't become great by accident or because they won the genetic sweepstakes or because they were selected to fill a spot in a team environment that has great players. The "good ole boy" network may open a door for you but then you are on your own. Coaches, scouts and recruiters will identify talented players in a matter of minutes. They will weed out the wannabees in the same amount of time. Your stats are meaningless. Your metrics, like your approach at the plate, your throwing speed, your fielding ability, how fast you run, your mobilty, stability, mechanical efficiency, functional strength and your mental and emotional management skills will be the assets that matter. 

If you search all over the planet you will find random locations where they have a reputation for developing the best musicians, singers, pianists, baseball players, soccer players, tennis players, golfers and more. In "The Talent Code" author, Daniel Coyle referred to these locations as "Talent Hotbeds." Every location is different and not necessarily what you might expect, but they all have some very distinct similarities. 

Upon close examination you will find that all of these Talent Hotbeds incorporate a type of training that Tom House, NPA Founder, has been teaching for over thirty years. NPA protocols incorporate them into our training It is a very personalized development. Part of the training you do on your own. It's easy enough to describe, but it only works when you have the correct approach. It is the best form of training. And when you fully understand how to take advantage of "Deep Practice" you begin to see an exponential gain in your development. Sorry, skill and talent are not inherited. As Coyle said, "Greatness isn't born, it is grown."  If a famous athlete or performer has a son or daughter who also is exceptional at that discipline, it is a combination of many factors that made that happen. Sure you can argue that the genes are similar, the body type may be similar, but unless the programming is similar it is just not the same. Some children actually become much better than their parents because they get a head start on that programming. Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken, Ken Griffey Jr. are examples of players who exceeded their parents talent levels. The key is to get the correct patterning when you are young and able to develop neural pathways to develop perfected skills. Scientifically speaking your body actually coats those pathways with Myelin, forming a Myelin Sheath. The coating is like the insulation on a copper wire. 

We have actually had players come to us after exploring some of the so called talent hotbeds only to find that what they needed most was available right here at the Academy. Trips to famous Academies and the Dominican Republic made little to no difference in their metrics and when it came to reducing their risk of injury they were actually at higher risk because the "talent hotbed" focused on technique and ignored the players weakest links. Thirty years of scientific research have given us the tools and the protocols to provide a coherent understanding of exactly what is needed to exceed your own expectations. There is no need to travel to the ends of the earth when what you seek in available here. If you have what it takes it is time to get started. Call us to find out more. 215-672-7500