“It’s a small world.” A few minutes into episode 22 of #eTSChalkTalk, I realized it was a small world. Having interviewed guests from Florida, Maryland, Texas and what feels like everywhere in between, I learned Coach Lisle literally lived down the street. Our suburban town of 30,000 in the foothills of the east bay was home to the internets most followed baseball and softball coach... AND me. Sometimes you wonder how people become famous. Each story of fame is different. This one truly qualifies as a rags to riches tale. From homeless to the big leagues in all of 10 years. Coach Lisle is the only coach in America to coach at every level. I mean every level. Little league, travel ball, high school, NAIA, D3, D2, D1, and finally, MLB. This is a true story people. So one wonders, how did this happen? As all good stories have, Matt’s journey includes twists and turns and ultimately, many lessons learned. Maturity. How do we get this? How do grow wiser? Coach Lisle points to the difference in who he is now (in 2020) to who he was then (in 2010). “It’s maturity.” He says: “I was a kid then.” He cites the moment that changed him as a coach forever. It was listening to legendary coach and now Matt’s personal mentor, Bruce Brown. It was at the American Baseball Coaching Association conference that he learned to shift his focus from being a transactional coach to a transformational coach. The pivot from being inward focused to becoming outward focused started to take hold. Another aspect of coach’s maturation was a humble confession that he didn’t know everything. As a young coach myself, I remember the insecurity of feeling like I had to act like I knew it all. But there is great wisdom in understanding you don’t. Matt figured this out and grew as a result. He also mentions his witty sarcasm that was often not received well in his early years. Many coaches seem to use their wit and gregarious personality to tear down, instead of build up. Coach Lisle has rectified this to encourage his athletes. Since his own personal transformation, Matt has written a book, spoken at countless public engagements, and lived his dream coaching in the bigs. But his focus is no longer on passion, and more so on his purpose. “Do what you are meant to do to change the world.” This a different message than we are told growing up, but therein lies the secret to his success. Coaches out there, how many of us are trying to just win games? How many of us are trying to make a name for ourselves? Change the world by focusing on the other instead of focusing on yourself. Don’t try to become famous, try to make a difference. You never know who you might impact or where they might live...it’s a small world.

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