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Jim Abbott

5 out of 5

Former One-Handed Major League Baseball Pitcher

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Jim Abbott Biography

Famed Major League Baseball player Jim Abbott overcame the birth defect of having only one hand to become an amazing professional pitcher and ball player. Through stories, anecdotes, jokes, some self deprecation, and even failure and pain, he shows that people can overcome perceived limitations and reach their dreams.

Abbott was born without a right hand. As a youngster, he spent hours bouncing a ball off a wall to practice fielding and throwing. Instead of looking at what he did not have, Abbott's father helped him find ways to win. Abbott was the starting quarterback on his high school football team, which went to the finals of the Michigan State championship. He showed enough promise as a pitcher to be drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays shortly after graduation, but instead went to the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship. He had a career record of 26 wins and eight losses at the school.

As a member of Team USA in 1987, Abbott became the first American pitcher in 25 years to beat a Cuban team on Cuban soil. The team won a silver medal at the Pan-American Games and Abbott won the US Baseball Federation's Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur player in the country. In 1987, he became the first baseball player to win the Sullivan Award as the nation's outstanding amateur athlete. In the 1988 Olympics, he was the winning pitcher in a 5-3 victory over Japan that brought the US its first gold medal in baseball.

Abbott bypassed the minor leagues and went directly from the University of Michigan to the Angels’ starting rotation in the spring of 1989. Many considered the move a publicity stunt, but after an early struggle, Abbott proved his doubters wrong by winning 12 games with a 3.92 ERA in his rookie season. While on the mound, Abbott wore a right-hander's fielder's glove over the stump at the end of his right arm. He would rapidly switch the glove to his left hand so he could handle any balls hit back to him after delivering a pitch.

In 1991, he was one of the best young left-handers in the game after winning 18 games for the Angels while posting a 2.89 ERA. He was traded to the Yankees in December 1992, and in the heat of the pennant race tossed a 4-0 no-hitter against Cleveland. The Yankees traded Abbott to the Chicago White Sox early in 1995 and he returned to the Angels by mid-season. He suddenly became ineffective in 1996, after losing 11 straight games and finishing with a 2-18 record. Abbott then retired for a season, only to rebound and try again with the White Sox in 1998.

His memoir, Imperfect: An Improbable Life, eloquently chronicles his journey handling the difficult but peculiarly propelling gift his “imperfection” proved to be.

Speaking Topics
  • Trust

    Trust is my favorite and it is appropriate that it comes last. After you’ve found your way, after you have put the work in, after you have made the most of the abilities you were given, and stuck with it, it comes down to trust. Believing in the incredible amount of work you've done and knowing you are prepared for anything. When push comes to shove you draw your line in the sand and say, "This is who I am."

    Trust in yourself. That belief that you can do it. Trust in yourself and believe that you can respond in any circumstance.

    Throwing a no-hitter was one of the most exciting things that ever happened to me. To throw it in Yankee Stadium made is even more dramatic. That game is the greatest illustration I can think of to demonstrate the importance of trust. During that game the pressure starting mounting in the 6th inning. Pitch by pitch the fans were getting excited, and the atmosphere were becoming electric. That day the mound at Yankee Stadium began to feel like the eye of a hurricane.

    Fans, teammates, result thinking, everything starts speeding up big time. The challenge was to bring it back to laser-like focus. This pitch to that spot. Come on, now trust it. Throw this pitch with confidence. You see i'ts that trust, that last little oomph in the delivery that makes all the difference. It all comes back to trusting in yourself and the work you have done, you're ready for this, bring it on.

    So that is why I am a big believer in ADAPTing. Not only can we mold ourselves to the challenges that come our way. We can also break that word down into those 5 components and give ourselves 5 incredible strategies, and apply them any aspect of our lives. But going through life with a few extra challenges has made me a better person, not better than anyone else but better than I would have been. I've learned that sometimes adversity can be a good thing.

  • Perseverance

    Sticking with it. Life is full of ups and downs and how we respond to adversity makes us who we are. You may have seen the highlights, the good times in my career, but there were many difficult times.

    In 1996 I went out and had what might be one of the worst years a pitcher can have: 2-18. Sports had always been my crutch. For an insecure kid who wanted very much to be accepted, success in athletics covered up a lot of hurt for a long time. But in 1996 it all came crashing down. I was failing. As hard as I tried it would just get worse. By the end of they year I was sent to the minor leagues for the first time in my life. I'm not going to tell you that I handled that year with all of the grace I would have liked. All I could do was to keep on trying. The following spring I was released from the Angels. Cleaned out my locker in front of my friends and drove home alone through the Arizona desert. My whole world was upside down. I missed it so much. I desperately wanted to get back, but I was also gun-shy from going through a year and a half of failure.

    Inspiration can come from unexpected places. An old manager called, he told me that he didn't think I was finished. And that's all it took, we started working.

    Finally things turned around instead of baby steps those I started making large strides until I was able to call my wife and tell her the Chicago White Sox had just called me back to the big leagues. I could have kissed the mound. To make it back seems to me as great an accomplishment as making it in the first place. That experience illuminated to me that no matter how far we go in life we will continue to be tested. There is no finish line.

  • Determination

    Once you've found your way, you have to work it make it happen. Once you've found what you love, don't let anything stand in your way. I don't have to tell you that the only way to get what you want is to work your butt off. We all know that. A pitcher's success depends on the training he puts in before he takes the field.

    There is another aspect of determination that I think is equally as important. We talked about those who say you can't. You must be determined in your belief that you can. I can think of so many examples of people who, in one form or another, questioned my playing ability. Many teams bunted over and over again to see if I could make that simple play. One team bunted 6 times in a row.

    My first college win came when they tried to steal home on the catchers throw back to me. My point is that you have to create a strong filter that weeds out the negativity in whatever form it takes. You know what I mean. When we aren't feeling so strong, little things can keep us down, little comments, and body language from your boss. Even our own thinking can be corrosive when we let any thought carry us away.

    You have to be determined not to let someone else’s opinion of you define what you think of yourself. Only you know in your heart all the things you are capable of… Which brings us to accountability.

    Accountability Accountability: the heart and soul of my ADAPT chain. Basically, accountability says that we are responsible for the abilities we've been given. It is unforgiving. When we look in the mirror can we say that we've made the most of our talents, no matter how big or how small? Are we making the most of the potential we have in all aspects of our lives? As a father, as a husband, as a co-worker. Accountability is brutal, but we need it to keep pushing ourselves to be the best we can be.

  • Adjustability

    Let me start with A. Adjustability. To achieve great things in this world you must be able to adjust to what is being asked. My dream wasn't to play in the major leagues. My dream was to play baseball at all. In order to do that, I had to develop a new way of doing things. I really wanted to join in with my friends but to do that I needed to learn to play in a much different way than they did. When you NEED something, you find a way.

    I can't take credit for this. I was surrounded by wonderful people, who had the patience and creativity to help me devise the strategies I would need to get through life. Starting of course, with my parents, teachers, friends. If there is courage in my story, it was theirs. Their generosity of spirit gave me an ingrained optimism that there is a solution to be found for any problem. It may take some flexibility but it is there.

    I learned along the way, that doing things in new ways always involves risk. You have to be willing to take a chance. You will also expose yourself to a lot of skepticism and those who will say you can't do it that way. This brings us to the next word in our ADAPT chain.

  • ADAPT - Overcoming Challenges

    Major League pitcher Jim Abbott was born with only one hand, but he adapted, overcame adversity and found excellence in his 10-year professional pitching career. Abbott knows that to continue to move towards our goals we must be willing to adapt, to change, and to mold ourselves in order to meet the obstacles in our own way. Using ADAPT as an acronym, Abbott strings together a powerful set of words that provide five incredible strategies to help audiences reach their fullest potential.

    • A • Adjustability
    • D • Determination
    • A • Accountability
    • P • Perseverance
    • T • Trust

Videos
Books
Imperfect: An Improbable Life

Imperfect: An Improbable Life

News
FAQs
  • HOW TO BOOK Jim Abbott?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Jim Abbott for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Jim Abbott, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Jim Abbott or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK Jim Abbott?

    Speaking fees for Jim Abbott, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Jim Abbott charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Jim Abbott, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • WHO IS THE AGENT FOR Jim Abbott?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Jim Abbott for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jim Abbott for your next private or corporate function.
  • WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE TALENT BOOKING AGENCY?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Jim Abbott or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Jim Abbott or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
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Jim Abbott

5 out of 5

Former One-Handed Major League Baseball Pitcher

Travels From:
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Speaking Fee:

Jim Abbott Biography

Famed Major League Baseball player Jim Abbott overcame the birth defect of having only one hand to become an amazing professional pitcher and ball player. Through stories, anecdotes, jokes, some self deprecation, and even failure and pain, he shows that people can overcome perceived limitations and reach their dreams.

Abbott was born without a right hand. As a youngster, he spent hours bouncing a ball off a wall to practice fielding and throwing. Instead of looking at what he did not have, Abbott's father helped him find ways to win. Abbott was the starting quarterback on his high school football team, which went to the finals of the Michigan State championship. He showed enough promise as a pitcher to be drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays shortly after graduation, but instead went to the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship. He had a career record of 26 wins and eight losses at the school.

As a member of Team USA in 1987, Abbott became the first American pitcher in 25 years to beat a Cuban team on Cuban soil. The team won a silver medal at the Pan-American Games and Abbott won the US Baseball Federation's Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur player in the country. In 1987, he became the first baseball player to win the Sullivan Award as the nation's outstanding amateur athlete. In the 1988 Olympics, he was the winning pitcher in a 5-3 victory over Japan that brought the US its first gold medal in baseball.

Abbott bypassed the minor leagues and went directly from the University of Michigan to the Angels’ starting rotation in the spring of 1989. Many considered the move a publicity stunt, but after an early struggle, Abbott proved his doubters wrong by winning 12 games with a 3.92 ERA in his rookie season. While on the mound, Abbott wore a right-hander's fielder's glove over the stump at the end of his right arm. He would rapidly switch the glove to his left hand so he could handle any balls hit back to him after delivering a pitch.

In 1991, he was one of the best young left-handers in the game after winning 18 games for the Angels while posting a 2.89 ERA. He was traded to the Yankees in December 1992, and in the heat of the pennant race tossed a 4-0 no-hitter against Cleveland. The Yankees traded Abbott to the Chicago White Sox early in 1995 and he returned to the Angels by mid-season. He suddenly became ineffective in 1996, after losing 11 straight games and finishing with a 2-18 record. Abbott then retired for a season, only to rebound and try again with the White Sox in 1998.

His memoir, Imperfect: An Improbable Life, eloquently chronicles his journey handling the difficult but peculiarly propelling gift his “imperfection” proved to be.

Jim Abbott Speaking Topics

  • Trust

    Trust is my favorite and it is appropriate that it comes last. After you’ve found your way, after you have put the work in, after you have made the most of the abilities you were given, and stuck with it, it comes down to trust. Believing in the incredible amount of work you've done and knowing you are prepared for anything. When push comes to shove you draw your line in the sand and say, "This is who I am."

    Trust in yourself. That belief that you can do it. Trust in yourself and believe that you can respond in any circumstance.

    Throwing a no-hitter was one of the most exciting things that ever happened to me. To throw it in Yankee Stadium made is even more dramatic. That game is the greatest illustration I can think of to demonstrate the importance of trust. During that game the pressure starting mounting in the 6th inning. Pitch by pitch the fans were getting excited, and the atmosphere were becoming electric. That day the mound at Yankee Stadium began to feel like the eye of a hurricane.

    Fans, teammates, result thinking, everything starts speeding up big time. The challenge was to bring it back to laser-like focus. This pitch to that spot. Come on, now trust it. Throw this pitch with confidence. You see i'ts that trust, that last little oomph in the delivery that makes all the difference. It all comes back to trusting in yourself and the work you have done, you're ready for this, bring it on.

    So that is why I am a big believer in ADAPTing. Not only can we mold ourselves to the challenges that come our way. We can also break that word down into those 5 components and give ourselves 5 incredible strategies, and apply them any aspect of our lives. But going through life with a few extra challenges has made me a better person, not better than anyone else but better than I would have been. I've learned that sometimes adversity can be a good thing.

  • Perseverance

    Sticking with it. Life is full of ups and downs and how we respond to adversity makes us who we are. You may have seen the highlights, the good times in my career, but there were many difficult times.

    In 1996 I went out and had what might be one of the worst years a pitcher can have: 2-18. Sports had always been my crutch. For an insecure kid who wanted very much to be accepted, success in athletics covered up a lot of hurt for a long time. But in 1996 it all came crashing down. I was failing. As hard as I tried it would just get worse. By the end of they year I was sent to the minor leagues for the first time in my life. I'm not going to tell you that I handled that year with all of the grace I would have liked. All I could do was to keep on trying. The following spring I was released from the Angels. Cleaned out my locker in front of my friends and drove home alone through the Arizona desert. My whole world was upside down. I missed it so much. I desperately wanted to get back, but I was also gun-shy from going through a year and a half of failure.

    Inspiration can come from unexpected places. An old manager called, he told me that he didn't think I was finished. And that's all it took, we started working.

    Finally things turned around instead of baby steps those I started making large strides until I was able to call my wife and tell her the Chicago White Sox had just called me back to the big leagues. I could have kissed the mound. To make it back seems to me as great an accomplishment as making it in the first place. That experience illuminated to me that no matter how far we go in life we will continue to be tested. There is no finish line.

  • Determination

    Once you've found your way, you have to work it make it happen. Once you've found what you love, don't let anything stand in your way. I don't have to tell you that the only way to get what you want is to work your butt off. We all know that. A pitcher's success depends on the training he puts in before he takes the field.

    There is another aspect of determination that I think is equally as important. We talked about those who say you can't. You must be determined in your belief that you can. I can think of so many examples of people who, in one form or another, questioned my playing ability. Many teams bunted over and over again to see if I could make that simple play. One team bunted 6 times in a row.

    My first college win came when they tried to steal home on the catchers throw back to me. My point is that you have to create a strong filter that weeds out the negativity in whatever form it takes. You know what I mean. When we aren't feeling so strong, little things can keep us down, little comments, and body language from your boss. Even our own thinking can be corrosive when we let any thought carry us away.

    You have to be determined not to let someone else’s opinion of you define what you think of yourself. Only you know in your heart all the things you are capable of… Which brings us to accountability.

    Accountability Accountability: the heart and soul of my ADAPT chain. Basically, accountability says that we are responsible for the abilities we've been given. It is unforgiving. When we look in the mirror can we say that we've made the most of our talents, no matter how big or how small? Are we making the most of the potential we have in all aspects of our lives? As a father, as a husband, as a co-worker. Accountability is brutal, but we need it to keep pushing ourselves to be the best we can be.

  • Adjustability

    Let me start with A. Adjustability. To achieve great things in this world you must be able to adjust to what is being asked. My dream wasn't to play in the major leagues. My dream was to play baseball at all. In order to do that, I had to develop a new way of doing things. I really wanted to join in with my friends but to do that I needed to learn to play in a much different way than they did. When you NEED something, you find a way.

    I can't take credit for this. I was surrounded by wonderful people, who had the patience and creativity to help me devise the strategies I would need to get through life. Starting of course, with my parents, teachers, friends. If there is courage in my story, it was theirs. Their generosity of spirit gave me an ingrained optimism that there is a solution to be found for any problem. It may take some flexibility but it is there.

    I learned along the way, that doing things in new ways always involves risk. You have to be willing to take a chance. You will also expose yourself to a lot of skepticism and those who will say you can't do it that way. This brings us to the next word in our ADAPT chain.

  • ADAPT - Overcoming Challenges

    Major League pitcher Jim Abbott was born with only one hand, but he adapted, overcame adversity and found excellence in his 10-year professional pitching career. Abbott knows that to continue to move towards our goals we must be willing to adapt, to change, and to mold ourselves in order to meet the obstacles in our own way. Using ADAPT as an acronym, Abbott strings together a powerful set of words that provide five incredible strategies to help audiences reach their fullest potential.

    • A • Adjustability
    • D • Determination
    • A • Accountability
    • P • Perseverance
    • T • Trust

Jim Abbott Videos

  • Misfortune as a Gift | Jim Abbott | TEDxSageHillSchool
    How can we treat tough circumstances as gifts, and embrace the challenges that come with them? Retired MLB pitcher Jim Abbott shares his ...

Jim Abbott Books

Speaker Lists Featuring Jim Abbott

FAQs on booking Jim Abbott

  • How to book Jim Abbott?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Jim Abbott for both live and virtual events for over 20 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Jim Abbott, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Jim Abbott or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Jim Abbott?

    Speaking fees for Jim Abbott, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Jim Abbott charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Jim Abbott, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • Who is the agent for Jim Abbott?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Jim Abbott for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jim Abbott for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service talent booking agency?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Jim Abbott or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Jim Abbott or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.

Jim Abbott is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Trust, Perseverance, Determination, Adjustability and ADAPT - Overcoming Challenges. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jim Abbott for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Jim Abbott generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Rudy Ruettiger, Jim Morris, J.R. Martinez, Coach Ken Carter and Inky Johnson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jim Abbott for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Jim Abbott Speaking Topics

  • Trust

    Trust is my favorite and it is appropriate that it comes last. After you’ve found your way, after you have put the work in, after you have made the most of the abilities you were given, and stuck with it, it comes down to trust. Believing in the incredible amount of work you've done and knowing you are prepared for anything. When push comes to shove you draw your line in the sand and say, "This is who I am."

    Trust in yourself. That belief that you can do it. Trust in yourself and believe that you can respond in any circumstance.

    Throwing a no-hitter was one of the most exciting things that ever happened to me. To throw it in Yankee Stadium made is even more dramatic. That game is the greatest illustration I can think of to demonstrate the importance of trust. During that game the pressure starting mounting in the 6th inning. Pitch by pitch the fans were getting excited, and the atmosphere were becoming electric. That day the mound at Yankee Stadium began to feel like the eye of a hurricane.

    Fans, teammates, result thinking, everything starts speeding up big time. The challenge was to bring it back to laser-like focus. This pitch to that spot. Come on, now trust it. Throw this pitch with confidence. You see i'ts that trust, that last little oomph in the delivery that makes all the difference. It all comes back to trusting in yourself and the work you have done, you're ready for this, bring it on.

    So that is why I am a big believer in ADAPTing. Not only can we mold ourselves to the challenges that come our way. We can also break that word down into those 5 components and give ourselves 5 incredible strategies, and apply them any aspect of our lives. But going through life with a few extra challenges has made me a better person, not better than anyone else but better than I would have been. I've learned that sometimes adversity can be a good thing.

  • Perseverance

    Sticking with it. Life is full of ups and downs and how we respond to adversity makes us who we are. You may have seen the highlights, the good times in my career, but there were many difficult times.

    In 1996 I went out and had what might be one of the worst years a pitcher can have: 2-18. Sports had always been my crutch. For an insecure kid who wanted very much to be accepted, success in athletics covered up a lot of hurt for a long time. But in 1996 it all came crashing down. I was failing. As hard as I tried it would just get worse. By the end of they year I was sent to the minor leagues for the first time in my life. I'm not going to tell you that I handled that year with all of the grace I would have liked. All I could do was to keep on trying. The following spring I was released from the Angels. Cleaned out my locker in front of my friends and drove home alone through the Arizona desert. My whole world was upside down. I missed it so much. I desperately wanted to get back, but I was also gun-shy from going through a year and a half of failure.

    Inspiration can come from unexpected places. An old manager called, he told me that he didn't think I was finished. And that's all it took, we started working.

    Finally things turned around instead of baby steps those I started making large strides until I was able to call my wife and tell her the Chicago White Sox had just called me back to the big leagues. I could have kissed the mound. To make it back seems to me as great an accomplishment as making it in the first place. That experience illuminated to me that no matter how far we go in life we will continue to be tested. There is no finish line.

  • Determination

    Once you've found your way, you have to work it make it happen. Once you've found what you love, don't let anything stand in your way. I don't have to tell you that the only way to get what you want is to work your butt off. We all know that. A pitcher's success depends on the training he puts in before he takes the field.

    There is another aspect of determination that I think is equally as important. We talked about those who say you can't. You must be determined in your belief that you can. I can think of so many examples of people who, in one form or another, questioned my playing ability. Many teams bunted over and over again to see if I could make that simple play. One team bunted 6 times in a row.

    My first college win came when they tried to steal home on the catchers throw back to me. My point is that you have to create a strong filter that weeds out the negativity in whatever form it takes. You know what I mean. When we aren't feeling so strong, little things can keep us down, little comments, and body language from your boss. Even our own thinking can be corrosive when we let any thought carry us away.

    You have to be determined not to let someone else’s opinion of you define what you think of yourself. Only you know in your heart all the things you are capable of… Which brings us to accountability.

    Accountability Accountability: the heart and soul of my ADAPT chain. Basically, accountability says that we are responsible for the abilities we've been given. It is unforgiving. When we look in the mirror can we say that we've made the most of our talents, no matter how big or how small? Are we making the most of the potential we have in all aspects of our lives? As a father, as a husband, as a co-worker. Accountability is brutal, but we need it to keep pushing ourselves to be the best we can be.

  • Adjustability

    Let me start with A. Adjustability. To achieve great things in this world you must be able to adjust to what is being asked. My dream wasn't to play in the major leagues. My dream was to play baseball at all. In order to do that, I had to develop a new way of doing things. I really wanted to join in with my friends but to do that I needed to learn to play in a much different way than they did. When you NEED something, you find a way.

    I can't take credit for this. I was surrounded by wonderful people, who had the patience and creativity to help me devise the strategies I would need to get through life. Starting of course, with my parents, teachers, friends. If there is courage in my story, it was theirs. Their generosity of spirit gave me an ingrained optimism that there is a solution to be found for any problem. It may take some flexibility but it is there.

    I learned along the way, that doing things in new ways always involves risk. You have to be willing to take a chance. You will also expose yourself to a lot of skepticism and those who will say you can't do it that way. This brings us to the next word in our ADAPT chain.

  • ADAPT - Overcoming Challenges

    Major League pitcher Jim Abbott was born with only one hand, but he adapted, overcame adversity and found excellence in his 10-year professional pitching career. Abbott knows that to continue to move towards our goals we must be willing to adapt, to change, and to mold ourselves in order to meet the obstacles in our own way. Using ADAPT as an acronym, Abbott strings together a powerful set of words that provide five incredible strategies to help audiences reach their fullest potential.

    • A • Adjustability
    • D • Determination
    • A • Accountability
    • P • Perseverance
    • T • Trust

Jim Abbott Speaker Videos

  • Misfortune as a Gift | Jim Abbott | TEDxSageHillSchool
    How can we treat tough circumstances as gifts, and embrace the challenges that come with them? Retired MLB pitcher Jim Abbott shares his ...

Jim Abbott News

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Speakers Similar to Jim Abbott

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