This past week, I had one of those moments where life on the baseball field and life in business collided.
As the manager of my men’s league team, I found out our final doubleheader was canceled—not because of weather, but because both opponents chose to forfeit. Both teams had recently lost to our squad by several runs, and the two managers decided not to field a team, assuming the outcome was inevitable. My team paid for 24 games, but only got to play 22. And the kicker? Those two forfeits “gave” us the regular season championship.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m proud of my guys. We came together as a brand-new team in the offseason, and in our very first year, we won the regular season title. As competitors, we didn’t want to back into it. We wanted to earn it, pitch by pitch, inning by inning.
When Silence Hurts More Than the Answer
I reached out to the league commissioner, hoping for some acknowledgement or at least a refund for unplayed games. Instead, I got nothing—no response. That stung—not because I expected him to fix it, but because silence often feels worse than a tough answer. When silence replaces communication, it erodes trust.
Lead Loudly, Even When the System is Quiet
Here’s what I chose to do: I communicated every step of the way with my players. I wanted them to know I was advocating for them, that I wasn’t just going to shrug when they were deprived of two games they paid for. And you know what? They appreciated it. Sometimes leadership isn’t about solving every problem—it’s about showing people you’ll stand up for them when it matters.
Baseball and Business: It’s the Same Game
And as I reflected on all this—the forfeits, the silence, the conversations with my players—I realized: this is exactly what entrepreneurship feels like.
- You don’t control everything.
Competitors, customers, and even your team sometimes make choices you can’t predict or influence. - Silence from people in power happens.
Just like I didn’t hear back from the commissioner, you may not hear from investors, franchisors, boards, or regulators when you want clarity most. The real test is: how do you keep leading anyway? - The cost of forfeits is real.
We paid for 24 games and got 22. In business, you’ll sometimes pay for resources, commitments, or contracts that don’t deliver. The question becomes: do you build accountability into the system, and how do you protect your team when that happens? - Forward-looking hope matters.
Even if we don’t control outcomes, we can still choose to play full out in the games we do get. That’s the entrepreneurial mindset—control your effort, not the external scoreboard. - You choose how to show up.
You can ignore it, or you can be authentic, stand up for your people, and model the kind of leadership that builds trust.
How I’d Coach You Through This
Here’s how I’d coach you through this if it were your business:
- Communicate openly and often.
Don’t leave your people guessing—let them know where you stand, even if the news isn’t what they want to hear. - Advocate for your team.
Sometimes it’s not about winning the battle—it’s about showing your people you’ve got their back. That’s what builds loyalty. - Reframe the setback.
Disappointment doesn’t erase success. Find a way to honor both—the win and the lesson—because that’s where real culture is built.
Your Challenge This Week
As entrepreneurs, we can’t script every outcome. But we can always control how we respond. We can model authenticity, celebrate our people, and use disappointment as fuel instead of letting it diminish us.
👉 Where in your business do you feel like you’re “backing into” a win instead of earning it?
👉 How can you reframe that disappointment into an authentic message that honors your team and strengthens your culture?
Sometimes the real victory isn’t the trophy or the scoreboard. It’s the way you lead when things don’t go according to plan. Champions aren’t defined by perfect seasons. They’re defined by how they lead when the game doesn’t go their way.
