Josh Jung (Texas Rangers): SELF-DOUBT, COMPARISON, ROUTINE
Here are the top 10 key takeaways from Ryan Holiday's conversation with Josh Jung of the Texas Rangers that will help you perform better in high-pressure situations and find more enjoyment in your work.
1. Mental clarity leads to better performance
Josh Jung discusses how overthinking can be detrimental to performance, especially in baseball where players have milliseconds to react to pitches. When a batter is thinking about technical aspects like elbow position or leg mechanics, it takes away from their focus on the ball. This mental interference prevents them from accessing their natural abilities.
The concept applies beyond baseball. Jung references "The Inner Game of Tennis," which teaches that being present and focused on external factors (like the ball) rather than internal mechanics leads to better performance. Getting out of your own head allows your trained instincts to take over, putting you in "the zone" where performance flows naturally without conscious interference.
2. Comparison is the enemy of satisfaction
Throughout the conversation, Jung discusses how comparison to other athletes can be destructive. He explains that comparing himself to players with different body types, like Aaron Judge or Mike Trout, makes no sense since their physical attributes and circumstances are entirely different. This comparison mindset creates unnecessary pressure and dissatisfaction.
The problem with comparison is that it's selective—you only see the advantages others have without considering the full context of their lives. Jung notes that baseball players often get opportunities at different rates, and being too focused on others might cause you to miss the doors opening for you. Both speakers agree that contentment comes from measuring yourself against your own potential rather than against others.
3. The balance between preparation and performance
A recurring theme in the conversation is finding the right balance between preparation and overthinking. Jung reveals that he used to arrive at the ballpark at 11:30 AM for a 7 PM game, believing this extensive preparation gave him an edge. However, he now recognizes that this approach often creates anxiety and mental fatigue before the actual performance.
Jung is learning that sometimes less preparation leads to better results. He mentions occasions where he had his worst batting practice but played his best games, suggesting that lower expectations freed his mind. The conversation highlights Churchill's quote about conserving energy: "Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down," emphasizing that protecting your mental and physical energy for the actual performance is crucial.
4. Small rituals can reset your mental state
Jung shares how he picks up dirt and throws it as a physical release during baseball games, especially when struggling. This simple action helps him clear his mind and reset. He adopted this ritual after seeing Aaron Judge do something similar, and it has become a helpful tool within the constraints of baseball's pitch clock.
The conversation explores how small rituals can be mentally clarifying when they mark the beginning or end of a mental process. However, they also discuss the danger of becoming overly dependent on rituals, which can turn into obsessive-compulsive behaviors. The key is finding balance—using rituals as tools without becoming fragile if you can't perform them. This highlights the importance of mental flexibility alongside routine.
5. Learning to turn the page quickly
One of the most powerful insights from Jung is the importance of moving on quickly from both success and failure. In baseball, where failure is inherent (even the best hitters fail 60-70% of the time), dwelling on mistakes becomes toxic. Jung practices writing down frustrations before bed and burning them as a physical way to release negative thoughts.
The conversation emphasizes that each day, each game, and each at-bat represents a fresh opportunity. Jung captures this philosophy perfectly in his closing statement: "Turn the page. Learn from the mistakes and then wake up the next day and be like, okay, I'm going to kick your ass. And if I don't, I'm not going to get hung up on it. I'm just going to come back tomorrow and try to kick your ass again."
6. Finding your unique path to success
The conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticity in performance. Rather than copying others' routines or approaches, Jung discusses finding what uniquely works for you. Different players prepare differently for games, and what works for one person might be detrimental to another.
Jung is learning to stop following prescribed methods that don't serve him personally. Instead of spending excessive hours at the ballpark because that's what "dedicated" players do, he's discovering that spending time at coffee shops reading and writing helps his mental state more. This individualized approach acknowledges that everyone has different mental and physical needs for optimal performance.
7. Self-consciousness interferes with flow
A central insight from "The Inner Game of Tennis" that both speakers reference is that self-consciousness prevents optimal performance. When you're thinking about what others think of you or how you appear while performing, you're not fully engaged in the task itself. Jung notes how opponents can even exploit this by commenting on a specific aspect of your technique, suddenly making you overly conscious of it.
This takeaway connects to the concept of "flow state," where awareness of self disappears and you become fully immersed in the activity. Jung shares how when he makes perfect contact with a baseball, he sometimes experiences a split second where he doesn't hear anything and time slows down. This state of complete immersion represents peak performance, yet remains elusive and impossible to consciously control.
8. Balancing expectations with reality
Jung discusses the challenge of having ambitious goals while maintaining a realistic perspective. He advocates for "unrealistic expectations but realistic review," meaning you should aim high but honestly evaluate your performance against what's reasonable. This balance prevents both complacency and destructive self-criticism.
The conversation also touches on how external expectations can become traps, especially when you've performed exceptionally well. After a perfect game, the pressure to replicate or exceed that performance creates unnecessary mental burdens. Jung is learning that accepting natural fluctuations in performance frees him to stay present rather than chasing past successes or worrying about future outcomes.
9. Separating identity from performance
A profound insight emerges when Jung acknowledges that there has been "no separation between Josh and the baseball player." This fusion of identity with performance creates tremendous pressure, as every failure on the field becomes a personal failure rather than just a professional setback.
Creating healthy separation between who you are and what you do allows for more emotional resilience. The conversation suggests that developing interests and routines outside of performance—like Jung's coffee shop visits for reading and writing—helps establish this boundary. This separation doesn't diminish commitment to excellence but rather creates the mental space necessary for sustainable high performance.
10. Conservation of energy for peak performance
A practical insight that emerges is the importance of conserving energy for when it matters most. Jung realizes that spending 12 hours at the ballpark depletes his mental and physical resources before the actual game begins. Both speakers agree that intentional energy management leads to better results than simply maximizing effort hours.
The conversation references Churchill's approach to energy conservation and discusses how performers across domains must decide where their energy creates the most value. For Jung, this means potentially arriving at the stadium later, but being more focused and intentional during the time he's there. This concentration of energy creates more impact than the diffused effort of longer hours.