Alas, my beloved Dodgers came up short in the 2017 World Series. Hats off to the Houston Astros who played like champions. They should enjoy their accomplishment. At the same time, the Dodgers can hold their heads high as they battled through a long season and came within one game of winning it all. Just as the rest of the league, the Dodgers and Astros will now turn their focus to next season and the hundreds of games between spring training and the next fall classic. The important thing to keep in mind is that there is always another season waiting for them, as long as a team or an individual doesn’t give up. It is critical to making sure that they survive to play another game.
Leaders need to keep this in mind. Sometimes we win, but sometimes we fall short. There is only one champion each season, but as long as you continue to play, there will be the opportunity to take the title the next time around. It’s that way in baseball and it is that way in life. Leaders who refuse to give up can survive all kinds of challenges in their organization, in their careers, and in whatever else they face. The point is to refuse to quit. Organizations can be rebuilt, careers reinvented, chaos calmed, and lives strengthened as long as one has the resolve to stay in the game.
My favorite movie is Rocky. In the series, the audience is inspired by the sheer never-give-up attitude of the main character. Rocky faced all kinds of adversity, but as long as he didn’t quit, eventually the theme song would begin and he would find a way to win. A great quote from the original movie was said by Rocky’s manager, Mick, who barked, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.”
As leaders, sometimes we get hit pretty hard. We don’t always win. Just like Rocky and my Dodgers, sometimes we lose. However, there is always another match in which to box or the next baseball season to play, as long as we have the persistence to never give up. (Start the music.)
Have you taken some big hits this year? It’s okay. Spring training will be here soon.
Lead well