Hi everyone,

This article --and some others -- are recommended. They are not required reading.

I recommend this one because of several paragraphs describing Mr. Epstein's approach to hiring. As many of you know, he is a wunderkind who was a key figure in helping the Boston Red Sox win two world series titles. And now after almost 5 years with the Chicago Cubs, he has help rebuilt that team.

The New York Times, Sunday Sports, October 2, 2016

Click here to link to and read the article

And here are the most important paragraphs about Mr. Epstein's secret to success. The questions he asks prospective players are questions you also may be asked -- and questions you should be prepared to answer.

If there is an Epstein formula for success, it is complex and multifaceted but also remarkably unsophisticated in one essential way. When deciding whether to add a player, Epstein focuses most of his attention on an athlete’s personal characteristics rather than just his physical abilities.

Those close to Epstein have a catchphrase for this tactic: “Scouting the person more than the player.”

And the thing Epstein wants to know most about any potential player is how he has handled adversity. It is a question he asks most often during the annual draft of amateur players, an exercise that has been exceedingly good to Epstein.

“In the draft room, we will always spend more than half the time talking about the person rather than the player,” Epstein said. “What are their backgrounds, their psyches, their habits, and what makes them tick?

“And we would ask our scouts to provide three detailed examples of how these young players faced adversity on the field and responded to it, and three examples of how they faced adversity off the field. Because baseball is built on failure. The old expression is that even the best hitter fails seven out of 10 times.”

Hope you enjoy the article.

Sean