From the Sidelines to the Spotlight
Like many young kids in America, Cesar was in love with baseball. He lived and breathed the game, followed his idols, and practiced every single day with his team in the Summit Hills Altamira Little League.
Despite his passion, Cesar wasn’t seen as a natural talent. His coach assigned him to right field, the baseball equivalent of Siberia. It’s the quiet corner where less-trusted players go chill, unnoticed, far from the action.
For a young child, this placement can be devastating to self-esteem. According to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, nearly 70% of kids quit organized sports by age 13, often due to a lack of playing time or encouragement. (1)
The Night Everything Changed
On one spring evening, during the most important game of the year, the placement game that would determine team assignments for the season, Cesar found himself once again stationed in right field. The lights shone brightly on the well-trimmed grass, creating a Broadway-like atmosphere for this competitive matchup where winning mattered more than development or equal playing time.
As the game neared its end with Cesar having barely seen any action, something unexpected happened. Before the final three outs, the umpire, a volunteer dad in jeans and a hoodie, called out, “Who wants to pitch the last inning?”
Finding Courage in the Face of Self-Doubt
Sensing his one chance, Cesar launched his hand into the air like a bottle rocket. He couldn’t even shout; his voice was choked with hope. Somehow, the volunteer dad noticed him from across the field, the kid from the right field with fire in his eyes, and pointed at him. “You, in the right field. Come on up.”
It felt like the entire field paused for a second, holding its breath, as Cesar stepped forward into the spotlight for the very first time. He sprinted as fast as he could to the mound. The umpire handed him the ball. It was his first time ever pitching in a real game. He looked down at the catcher, then at the batter stepping into the box.
Without hesitation, Cesar threw his first pitch. Strike one. The ball hit the catcher’s mitt with a satisfying pop. Then came strike two, and finally strike three. Three pitches, three strikes. A perfect start.
“I remember my heart must have been racing. I was beyond myself. I was having fun,” Cesar later shared. “Before that moment, I wanted to be a baseball player but didn’t believe I was a good one.”
When Preparation Meets Opportunity
After the game, the head coach approached him. “I had no idea you could pitch like that,” he said. “Great pitching, kid! I want you to pitch the next game.”
As the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”Cesar’s surprising success wasn’t a fluke. He had been secretly practicing at the park every day with older, taller kids who threw harder and expected more. He had the grit to sharpen his skills long before anyone gave him a chance.
Cesar’s readiness wasn’t luck but was the result of science-backed preparation meeting opportunity. That moment on the mound didn’t make him a great pitcher; it proved he already was one.
The Power of Encouragement
A Japanese proverb says, “One kind word can warm three winter months.” That night, those few words of encouragement lit something inside Cesar that had been buried under silence and self-doubt.
Until then, he wasn’t sure he belonged. But being seen and being trusted with the chance to pitch, and hearing that honest appreciation, shifted everything. For the first time, Cesar felt like he was truly part of the team. The dream of every Little Leaguer.
Research by psychologist Albert Bandura (2) shows that self-efficacy, the belief that one can succeed when opportunities arise, grows through mastery experiences and social encouragement. Self-efficacy increases confidence, influences motivation, resulting in investing more effort, persistence through difficulties, and recovery from setbacks
Encouragement ➡ Self-Efficacy ➡ Confidence ➡ Motivation + Creativity ➡ Effort ➡ Performance
Just like in the research, the combination of encouragement and opportunity transformed Cesar’s confidence. From that night forward, confidence became Cesar’s companion. He began practicing even more diligently with the older neighborhood kids, determined to justify his coach’s faith in him.
Two weeks later, Cesar became the starting pitcher for his new team. After each game, win or lose, he made sure to appreciate his teammates’ efforts while continuing to work harder. By season’s end, he was a starter in the All-Star Game.
A Lesson in Resilience That Lasts a Lifetime
When life doesn’t go as planned, Cesar still returns to that pivotal evening on the mound.
“I remind myself that in life, everything starts with a healthy dosage of self-belief, and humble confidence based on hard work and relentless effort to execute when given the opportunity.”
And most importantly, Cesar remembers the impact of giving people an opportunity to shine and the powerful potion of appreciative encouragement. Having achieved so much in his life working a full career for Novartis, he devotes himself now to mentoring, developing, and appreciatively encouraging the young generation.
Sources:
- Aspen Institute Project Play: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/keeping-kids-from-quitting-sports/
- Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control.
- “20 years later: deliberate practice and the development of expertise in sport” by Baker at York University, Toronto, and Young at University of Ottawa: https://www.moodle.is.ed.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/29314/mod_resource/content/2/DP%2021years%20on.pdf
About Cesar G Concepcion: Cesar is a global pharmaceutical leader with a gift for bringing people together around a shared vision and delivering results across cultures. Fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Thai, he leads with clarity, empathy, and purpose, inspiring high-performing teams in every corner of the world. His personal motto, #Believe #Plan #Execute, reflects his commitment to thoughtful action and meaningful impact. Beyond the boardroom, Cesar honors his roots with pride—he created a website tribute to his father, a legendary jazz musician in Puerto Rico, preserving a rich musical legacy while writing his own story of leadership, inspiration, and contribution.
