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Bob Cialdini dreamt of playing baseball, but a scout told him to follow a new dream

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Time now for "My Unsung Hero," our series from the team at Hidden Brain. "My Unsung Hero" tells the stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. And today's story comes from Bob Cialdini. When Cialdini was a senior in high school, he was really good at baseball, good enough that a scout showed up at his last game of the year and handed him a piece of paper. It was a contract, an offer to play in the minor leagues.

BOB CIALDINI: I was a center fielder, and I wanted - all my life, I wanted to be Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays, the big center fielders at the time. And his pen wouldn't work. So he said, well, I've got another one in the car. So we walked to the car, and along the way he said to me, so tell me something. Are you any good at school? I said, yes, I am. He said, good enough to get into college? Yes, I am. Good enough to finish college? Yes. Do you like it? Do you like thinking about academics things? I love it. And he put the contract away, and he said, go to school, kid, because most likely you won't get to the majors. But what you've told me is that you're good at something you really like. That should be where you go.

The truth is he was right. I mean, I was pretty good, but I couldn't hit a slider, a good slider. And I was going to be seeing a lot more good sliders if I went into professional baseball. And he, I think, understood that and gave me advice I've always been thankful for him for providing to me. Don't just go where your dream is. Go where your dream is that you're good at, where you have the skills to realize the dream.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

CIALDINI: He did something that was generous, and I will always be indebted to him.

CHANG: Cialdini took the scout's advice, and instead of going to the minor leagues, he headed off to college. He's now an author and psychology researcher at Arizona State University. You can find more stories from "My Unsung Hero" wherever you get your podcasts. And to share the story of your unsung hero, record a voice memo on your phone, and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.