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About Shea

A brief biography of Shea Hillenbrand

 

Hi, I'm Shea!

I am former 2-Time MLB All-Star and zoo owner, have achieved the impossible by conquering 

failure and turning it into success. My Emmy® Award-Winning Story will teach you the art of 

overcoming the insurmountable obstacles that stand in your way, leading you to triumph and 

ultimate victory. Prepare to be inspired and motivated beyond measure as you join me on this

epic journey of conquering the impossible!

"The things on the inside of you that no one can see are stopping you from achieving your greatest potential."

 

-Shea Hillenbrand

Where It All Began

When I was a child in Southern California, I eagerly raised my hand in Mr. Murphy's 5th grade class to share my two dreams: playing Major League Baseball and owning a zoo. Despite the class laughing at me, I made a personal vow to prove them all wrong.

 

The summer before my sophomore year of high school, my dad shocked me by announcing we were moving from sunny SoCal to the hot desert of Arizona. This news left me feeling inadequate and unlovable, leading me to overcompensate by excelling in sports to gain my father's approval. Leaving my friends and familiar surroundings only intensified my negative thoughts, but I found comfort in sports. Feeling unseen and inferior created my personal narrative of not being good enough or lovable, and my dad didn't care. This experience brings great emotional agony and replays in my head, becoming a part of my very being.

 

Despite excelling in soccer and becoming Arizona's top-ranked player, my childhood dream of playing Major League Baseball persisted. But to pursue it, I had to walk onto a community college team. With sheer determination and hard work, I secured a spot and became Arizona's top junior college baseball player after my sophomore season.

Dreams Do Come True

My destiny takes an extraordinary leap when the Boston Red Sox draft me, forever transforming the course of my life.

 

As a young Dodger fan in the 1980s, I had a routine for every game: arrive in the third inning, leave before the seventh, and listen to Vin Scully on the radio. With my mom and friend, I savored nachos and a chocolate malt, imagining my future success in the game. The crack of the bat, freshly cut grass, and electric crowd fueled my unwavering desire to play Major League Baseball. Against All Odds, my desire to play Major League Baseball blazed within me, never wavering or faltering. Autographs, batting practice, and baseball cards were insignificant as I remained focused in my pursuit of achieving my aspirations.

 

Harnessing the power of imagination, I know the mind can't discern between reality and fantasy, and so I take every measure to manifest my future self. After a day at the ball park, I returned home and sank into bed, allowing the vivid images etched in my mind to permeate my being. Incessantly, I replayed the scenario, envisioning myself on ESPN, the ground shaking from the deafening roars of forty thousand fans. A voice would boom over the loudspeakers, calling out, "Now batting, number 29 Sheaaaaa Hillenbrandddd." These visions compel me to push myself further, igniting the flames of passion within.

While attending my very first spring training as a professional baseball player, during batting practice, the minor league coordinator caught my attention, startling me as I instinctively thought I had done something wrong. My past experiences of being kicked off of prior baseball teams due to self-doubt reared their ugly head. But instead, the director offered words of encouragement, speaking to my talent and potential to make millions of dollars in the Big Leagues. Not fully grasping the significance of the moment, I simply asked how to achieve success, ready to follow any direction that would lead me to my dream.

 

With unwavering determination, I mastered the system and worked tirelessly, becoming Player of the Year on three of five Minor League teams over five years. My lifelong dream came true as I took the field as Boston Red Sox's starting third baseman on Opening Day 2001, bringing tears to my eyes during the national anthem in Camden Yards. Despite achieving this monumental feat, my heart still yearned for my father's approval, leaving me with a sense of inner turmoil.

 

I've spent seven grueling years in Major League Baseball, but hard work and perseverance have led me to unparalleled success. I've earned two MLB All-Star selections and made millions of dollars. But what's more valuable is the countless unforgettable moments I've experienced. Each memory is a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience that can never be duplicated, making these past years unforgettable.

 

With pain resonating within my being, I was driven to play the game - the Pain Driven Game. The constant agony numbed me to everything around me, a feeling I never thought I could endure. But then, a decision, the biggest of my life: "I QUIT!!!" I walked away from Major League Baseball, leaving behind my childhood dream and the potential to earn $50 million.

We Bought A Zoo!

My new dream, my passion, was to own a zoo - a 38-acre, $6 million horse farm with not one, but three businesses. Who would do such a thing? This guy, the only MLB player in history to embark on such a daring, life-defining journey.

 

Fame, glory, money, and the spotlight could never fill the void of my father's approval, and so I pursued entrepreneurship, hoping to catch his attention. With hard work and dedication, I knew I could succeed and finally attain his approval.

 

In just four years, I built a community staple, accumulating 300 farm and exotic animals and rescuing over 1,000 dogs. With a horse boarding facility, feed store, and petting zoo, I provided a place for 85 animals for the youth to interact with. My farm soon became the biggest and best place in town.

Witnessing my animals transform thousands of children's lives in our community through my non-profit foundation Against All Odds...PRICELESS...I'm bound to find fulfillment now...But I don't...

 

In a quiet neighborhood at 3am, a Major League Baseball player sits inside a white van holding a bottle of vodka and pills. I downs them all, running from the pain and numbing myself. Motionless on the van floor outside my ex-wife's house, I realize that I have lost everything. My children are inside, proud of their baseball-playing dad. As I take my last breath, I think of his parents and what kind of dad I was. I know baseball is my identity, and I could no longer fight the Pain Driven Game. So I let go. I don't know if I died or fell asleep. The game has become my name. My identity.

 

The next morning, I woke up to the sun shining in my face through the van's windshield. To my surprise, I had no side effects from the drugs and alcohol I took the night before. Despite the lethal combination, I was neither in the hospital nor dead.

Redefining What's Possible

Faced with two painful decisions, I took back control of my life by stacking little wins through keeping promises to myself. Eventually, I gained momentum and Life rewarded me by bringing my wife Kristen into my life. She saw me for who I truly was, not just a baseball player.

 

Change is a challenge. It's the pain that drives us to "Step to the Plate". I worked relentlessly, making gradual progress every day, and after years of trial and error, I achieved my goals. The pain was a worthy sacrifice because it aligned my true self with my life's vision, leading me to become the person I was born to be.

 

By stepping into my new identity I have redefined what's possible. My transformation not only allowed me to achieve remarkable success, but it also led to incredible opportunities that I never knew existed. I have formed rich and rewarding connections with people who will last a lifetime, and my business continues to grow and thrive. Through balance and focus, I am constantly refining myself as an individual, ensuring that my journey always leads to new heights of personal and professional excellence.

 

My passion and life mission are to share what took me 30+ years to learn with those struggling like I once did. Having been where they are now, I understand their struggles deeply. I've been created to guide you through the transformation you need to unlock your full potential and become the hero to your own story.

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