Eric Byrnes started his Major League Baseball career with a 22 game hitting streak. However, the foundation for his success started much earlier. At the age of 13, Byrnes was hitting 90 mph baseballs in his backyard every day. He immersed himself in his dream, worked hard, exuded good energy, and put himself in position for some luck.

“You’re creating your luck constantly,” said Byrnes. “It’s the attitude and the effort that you carry with you on a daily basis. If you want to walk around feeling like the world is against you, guess what, the world is going to be against you.”

It’s because of his positive energy that he was put into his first MLB game, over a more talented athlete. And it’s the reason he found a successful career in broadcast after his MLB days were through. He is now an endurance athlete with 11 IRONMAN finishes and a Western States medal under his belt.

In this Spartan Up! Podcast, Byrnes identifies three mantras that have helped him thrive.

1. You Get Out What You Put in

“You get out what you put into life and that’s one thing I really learned in baseball. A lot of kids that play little league baseball want to become a major league baseball player so I get asked all the time ‘Why were you able to make it?’”

His answer: hard work. Listen to this episode of Spartan Up! Podcast to hear how countless hours with a pitching machine called Iron Mike helped him conquer a 90 mph pitcher and get recruited.

2. It’s the Start That Stops Us

“As soon as we get going, we’re fine. We all have every excuse in the book not to. It’s the can’t vs the won’t. For example, it’s me saying I can’t go do a triathlon, which I said. I don’t know if I’m going to live through the swim experience, I don’t own a triathlon bike, and I’d never ran more than four miles in my life. And then all of a sudden I’m like nah, it’s not that I can’t do these things, because I very easily can, it’s that I won’t. And that gets us back to it’s the start that stops us. All we have to do is get going and then run with it but we don’t do it because we make these excuses and it’s a shame.”

3. Live in the NOW

“I used to always say ‘What’s next?’ But a couple of years ago I really started thinking about it and I’m like you know what, it’s not really about what’s next, it’s about what’s now. We can have a plan for what’s next and talk about what’s next, but part of that, that’s happening in the now! If I’m looking at that Spartan emblem over there, that dude staring at me with the mask and he’s like ‘Dude, the Death Race Byrnes, come and get some!’ That’s in the future, and I’ll look at what’s next, but we’re preparing this right now. Fully immerse yourself in the moment, right now.”

For more from Eric Byrnes, listen to the Spartan Up! podcast in its entirety.

This episode of Spartan Up! is brought to you by Gone Rogue High Protein Chips. 17 grams of protein in one crunchy ounce, and less than 2 carbs. Made from fresh, never frozen chicken, then baked to a crunch and seasoned with bold spices. Take the better way to protein with Gone Rogue High Protein Chips. Visit Amazon.com or goneroguesnacks.com and enter promo code Spartan 25 for 25% off.

TIME STAMPS

00:00 Dr. Johnny, Joe De Sena, Sefra Alexandra & The Col. Nye intro Eric’s episode

01:05 Gone Rogue offer

01:25 Interview begins with Johnny & Eric Byrnes

03:12 Kids need for free play

04:30 Being drafted to the big leagues

06:30 22 game hitting spree

08:00 Starting with ESPN Radio

10:00 Entering the triathlon world with a beach cruiser

12:30 Eric Byrnes first IRONMAN

12:55 Gone Rogue break

14:30 Western States

19:20 Iron Mike & 90 mile an hour hits

24:25 Hard times in life

28:00 The F* IT List & writing about lessons learned  

35:00 Have perspective on life & don’t take your feelings too personally

37:00 The Hustle Podcast

38:20 The panel discusses lessons learned from Eric’s interview

44:27 Gone Rogue close 

CREDITS:

Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc.

Hosts – Joe De Sena, Sefra Alexandra, Col. Nye & Johnny Waite

Synopsis – Sefra Alexandra

Production Assistant - Andrea Hagarty

Connect With the Spartan Up! Podcast for More Great Discussions Below!

Amp up your fitness and wellness routine NOW. Click here to find a Spartan Race close to you!