Andy Neary (speaker) recounts being released from the Milwaukee Brewers organization, being offered contact to independent baseball teams immediately after his release, and regretting that he chose instead to leave baseball for a conventional job. He uses the anecdote to advise listeners to 'pause' — take time with family and small moments rather than acting out of fear or anxiety.
Chapters
So is there anything I regret when I think back to playing professional baseball? I get that question a lot from people when I share stories of pitching in the Milwaukee brewers organization. And in looking back, there is one thing I regret, and it goes back to the day I got released. I shared with you in an earlier video about the pink slip in the locker, but I didn't share what happens next. You see, you go down the hallway, and you go right into the director of player personnel's office, and you walk in, and there's a chair facing the desk, and on either side of the desk are two coaches sitting there. And later, when I had a chance to digest it, I realized why the coaches are there. They're bodyguards. I mean, if you release a player and he snaps, you need someone to protect the director of player personnel from that player. So I had a chuckle about that months later. But at that time, the director of player personnel looks at me, of course, right away is telling me, I'm being released, I'm being cut.
But the next thing he does is.
He pushes piece of paper across the desk, and it has the list of all the independent baseball teams around the country. And they basically said, hey, you want to go play for any of these teams, let us know. We'll make the call and get you on the team.
And I kind of wish I would.
Have taken them up on the offer.
Instead, I said, you know what? Thanks.
I've got my degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. I'm ready to go into the real world. And off I went, flew home, and about a week or two later, I started working for a general agency in financial planning in Brookfield, Wisconsin. But again, when I look back, I.
Kind of wish I would have paused. I kind of wish I would have.
Taken them up on the offer.
I'm 22 years old. Go have some fun. Play some independent ball. Who knows?
You could have.
I could have been signed by another.
Major league team a year or two.
Later, but instead, I panicked and I said, ugh, I've got it. I lived out of fear.
And I said, I gotta get going right now. The advice I'm giving you and the reason I'm sharing this is pause. The universe, higher power, whatever you want.
To call it right now, is telling.
Us all to pause. Enjoy the time you're spending with your family. Enjoy the time you're spending with your.
Kids, with your pets, whatever. Enjoy those small things in life we.
Take for granted, because you will never get them back.
I will never get that chance again.
To go play independent ball to travel the country and maybe have a chance to be re signed.
So instead of freaking out right now.
Instead of living out of fear, living.
Out of anxiety, just get yourself the space to pause.
Because I promise you, when we get back going, when your life speeds right back up, you're not going to regret the fact that you took the time to pause to hang out with your family. Get to enjoy those little things a little more than you ever have before. So I hope that helps. Enjoy the day, have a great week and stay safe.
