Yesterday’s home run doesn’t win today’s game. Yesterday ended last night. What got you in the room won’t keep you in the room. Been there, done that. The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror. The greatest hindrance to future success is current and past success.
These are all well-known axioms about the importance of leaders continuing to focus on the future and not becoming complacent and resting on their laurels. After Tuesday, May 17th Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi would agree with each of these well-known sayings.
Eovaldi was the team’s starter for their game against the Houston Astros. Things began well enough as he breezed through the opening inning, needing only five pitches to get three outs. But his fortunes were about to dramatically change.
As shown in the video below, Eovaldi proceeded to give up five home runs, yes five home runs, in the second inning. The five home runs tied a MLB record for the most home runs given up by a pitcher in a single inning.
The following are three lessons leaders can learn from Eovaldi’s historically bad evening:
Past Performance Doesn’t Guarantee Future Performance
Past performance is the best indicator of future performance, but it doesn’t guarantee it. You still must perform. Eovaldi had a very successful first inning, but that guaranteed nothing for the second inning.
In fact, here are some good reminders for all leaders:
- Just because you gave a good speech doesn’t mean your next speech will be good. You must be as well-prepared as before.
- Just because you made a good hire doesn’t mean your next hire will be a good fit for the organization. You must do just as much due diligence.
- Just because you made a good decision doesn’t mean your next decision will be as smart. You must be just as insightful.
- Just because you had a good meeting doesn’t mean your next meeting will be as positive. You must connect with others just as effectively as before.
- Just because you had a good marketing campaign was doesn’t mean your next one will expand your customer base. You must be just as creative, if not more.
- Just because you had a good game doesn’t mean you will perform well in the next one. You have to practice even harder.
- Just because you were profitable and grew the organization last year doesn’t mean you will this year. You must work even harder.
Leadership is an oval track. Every day, every week, every month, every quarter, every year, you start back at 0 all over again. You must prove yourself all over again.
There Are Indicators When Your Success Is Just Temporary
While Eovaldi’s statistics appeared respectable, a deeper look would have revealed trouble was already brewing. Statcast numbers showed he was being hit much harder this year than last. Also, Eovaldi had already given up the most home runs in the American League prior to the game. He was prime for a difficult outing.
There are leaders reading this post who know their organizations are not healthy. Even though the bottom-line numbers currently look solid, a closer look under the hood would reveal unhealthy tendencies. Unless serious changes are made, they know success is only temporary and a cliff is approaching.
Failure Is Never Final
Eovaldi had a rough outing. There is no getting around it. But in less than a week he will be back on the mound again. We all love a good redemption story and I’ll be rooting for him.
Perhaps you have had a difficult season in your leadership. Maybe it is time to learn from your failure and “get back on the mound” as well. I’ll be rooting for you also.
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