Day 1 Thinking and Its Impact on Hitting: Unveiling the “One Rep Mentality”

As we delve into the mental aspects, one intriguing concept that caught my attention is “Day 1 thinking,” a term coined by Jeff Bezos, the creator of Amazon. Bezos outlines the mentality needed to tackle each day with the vigor and freshness of a new beginning. For those interested, here’s a link to the (Day 1 Thinking) and a clip from the Lex Friedman Podcast, where he succinctly summarizes the essence of “Day 1 thinking.”

Now, you might wonder, how does this relate to hitting?

To be clear, I’m not a mental performance coach or psychologist. Instead, I present my own perspective and reflections, drawing parallels between Bezos’s “Day 1 thinking” and what I call the “One Rep Mentality.” This connection struck me as I read Bezos’s letter, reinforcing the importance of approaching each endeavor with a fresh mindset.

Defining “One Rep Mentality”: The “One Rep Mentality” is an interpretation of taking each moment in the day as a singular repetition. The goal is simple: prevent one isolated repetition from influencing those that precede or follow it, regardless of success or failure. It’s essential to note that everyone defines “successes and failures” differently, and sometimes adjusting these definitions is crucial to allow the “one rep mentality” or any other mindset to be effective.

Consider this: How often have you seen one “bad swing” derail an entire hitting session in the cage? Or one “bad game” seeping into the cage the next day? Or everyone’s favorite, a ball called strike by the umpire within an at bat that derails the entire at bat? The “One Rep Mentality” challenges this by urging to treat each repetition as singular, a standalone opportunity for success or learning.

The Impact on Hitting: Now, let’s apply this to hitting. Imagine if every swing, pitch, and every at-bat, was approached with the mindset of “one repetition.” Could this outlook act as a reset button, fostering a new chance for success?

Reflect on your experiences as a coach or player. How many times has one “bad swing” influenced an entire hitting session? Or one “bad game” cast a shadow over subsequent practices and games? The “One Rep Mentality” encourages you to break free from these patterns, treating each moment as distinct and independent.

This mentality roots from my own experiences as a hitter, stemming from listening to Steve Springer tapes during my Community College days at Los Angeles Valley College. His words, echoed by my head coach Dave Mallas, resonated: “Today is a new game, a new pitcher, a new chance to be the hero. Want the 5th at-bat. Be the hero.”

It also draws inspiration from the wisdom of late Ken Ravizza, who emphasized “one pitch at a time” , and the late Trevor Moawad’s insight: “The most dangerous bias when discussing performance is our innate privileging of the past.”

Connecting the Dots: In summary, “Day 1 thinking” and the “One Rep Mentality” intersect in their call for a fresh perspective each day. The application to hitting challenges thought processes, urging players to break free from the constraints of past successes and failures.

As you explore the depths of mental approaches, considering adopting a “Day 1 thinking” mindset and embracing the “One Rep Mentality” when hitting. The power of these mental shifts lies in their ability to transform an approach to hitting but also a mindset toward each day’s challenges.

Here’s to approaching every pitch, every swing, & every at-bat, with the vigor of “Day 1 thinking” and the resilience of the “One Rep Mentality.”