When I was growing up, my dad coached my Little League baseball team. During tryouts, most people focused on batting average, catching skills, or pitching mechanics. But my dad and I had a different system. We watched how fast the kids ran the bases.

It wasn’t just about pure speed - it was about effort. Were they giving it their all? Were they treating tryouts like it mattered? We figured you could teach a kid how to hit, throw, and field. But you couldn’t teach effort. You couldn’t teach hustle. You couldn’t teach someone to run like they cared.

This observation evolved into a guiding framework I still carry today. The ‘fast kids’ - the ones who run hard even when it’s just practice - are the ones you want on your team. Not because they’re perfect, but because they’re trying. Because they show up. Because they care.

You can apply this lens to so many areas of life. In hiring, for example, I don’t just look at resumes. I look at how people follow up, how prepared they are for the interview, how curious they seem. A ‘fast kid’ in a job context might be someone who sends a thoughtful note, shows initiative, or does a little more than expected.

It’s the barista who remembers your name and your usual order. It’s the server who goes out of their way to make you feel welcome. It’s the coworker who prepares slides even if no one asked them to. These are the fast kids of adult life.

You don’t need to be the smartest, or the most talented, or the most polished. You just need to run the bases hard. You just need to care a little more. Show up with intention. Effort is contagious.

The beautiful thing about this framework is that it’s inclusive. Anyone can be a fast kid. It’s not about athleticism or intellect. It’s about heart. It’s about energy. It’s about doing more than the minimum - consistently.

So the next time you’re assembling a team, making a hire, starting a group project, or just looking for people to build with - don’t just look for the perfect resumes. Look for the fast kids. The ones who try. The ones who care.

Because those are the ones who will make the difference.