Bill lived in Kansas City and worked the night shift as security for a pork and beans cannery. Most nights, he had nothing much to do at work. He would literally just sit there.

Bill was never any good at sports and didn’t look like an athlete. But, he loved baseball, especially baseball statistics.

Plus, this was well "before the internet." So Bill started publishing an old-fashioned newsletter that he mailed out—in 1977.

Soon, he developed a following.

Instead of just sitting at his desk at work, Bill developed his genius as he studied during the late nights at the meat packing firm. He eventually developed—and discovered—totally new information about baseball statistics.

His following grew … to almost cult-like status.

Eventually the Boston Red Sox hired him. In 2003.

He was a Vice President in the Boston front office until he retired in October 2019, but in the meantime Bill earned four championship rings by virtue of the 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018 World Series wins by the Red Sox.

The work of Bill James is now saturated across the web and throughout countless books about baseball.

Make the most of your time and opportunities to learn.

Study hard.

Make it big.

As always,

Brian

P.S. -- A simple life motto I developed (thanks primarily to studying and coaching baseball) :

• Have a plan.

• Be aggressive.

• Exhibit character. 

Reminder: Nothing is "paint by numbers easy," even painting by numbers.