From Hidden Brain Media, I'm Shankar Vedantam. This is my unsung hero, stories where one person reached

out to help another in a time of need.

I would like to thank my unsung hero.

I do not know her.

He just pulled up a chair and we talked.

I'd say for about I can't even express to you how much you've changed my life.

Today's story comes from psychologist Bob Chaldini.

When Bob was a senior in high school, he was really good at baseball.

Good enough that one day a scout showed up at his last game of the year and handed him a piece of paper.

It was a contract and offered to play in the minor leagues.

I was a center fielder and I wanted all my life I wanted to be Mickey Mantle or Willie

May's, the big center fielder's 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.

You 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 academic 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

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