“Most people quit right before they’re about to win. You’re never as far away from your dream as you think you are
– usually, you’re one more decision, one more effort, one more step away.”
–Ed Mylett
There’s a moment in every leader’s life when the game feels over. You’re behind in the count, momentum’s gone, and it feels like no matter what you try, the comeback just isn’t in the cards.
But that’s the thing about leadership – there’s always another pitch!
Game 7 of this year’s World Series was one of those moments. The Dodgers were down 4 – 3 against the Blue Jays. The crowd in Toronto was electric, and the Jays looked like they were about to finish the job.
By the seventh inning, even the commentators were framing the story: “Ohtani’s due up again in the ninth – if the Dodgers can just get to him, they might have one last shot.”
And the Blue Jays’ dugout knew it too. They were strategizing around that final at-bat… terrified of what Shohei Ohtani, the biggest name in baseball, might do with the game on the line.
Everyone expected Ohtani to be the hero. That’s what he was brought to L.A. for – a two-position player built for the biggest stages!
But the game didn’t write the script everyone expected.
In the top of the ninth, with one out, it wasn’t Ohtani. It was Miguel Rojas – the quiet veteran, the glove-first shortstop who rarely makes headlines.
*Crack* A solo home run to left field. Game tied, 4-4.
Momentum flipped instantly.
Belief returned!!!
Then, two innings later, another unlikely name delivered – Will Smith.
Top of the 11th, two outs, and the count even.
*Crack* A solo homer that gave the Dodgers their first lead of the night.
In the bottom of the 11th, the Blue Jays got a runner on. The tension was suffocating.
Ground ball to short. Flip to second. Over to first. 6-4-3 double play. Ballgame.
The Dodgers were World Champions.
And the man everyone thought would decide the game never even got that one last swing.
*The Leadership Parallel Here*
We’ve all had those “Game 7” moments in leadership. Days when it feels like the score is against us, and there’s no way to turn things around.
Or seasons when we’re ahead early and start to coast, convinced the victory’s already ours.
Both are dangerous.
Sometimes we lose focus because we think we’ve already won. We start depending on the “superstars” in our organization… the obvious go-to people. We expect them to make the big plays. Meanwhile, someone quieter, someone overlooked, is waiting for a chance to contribute.
Other times we lose faith because we think we can’t win. We look at the scoreboard – the missed goals, the turnover, the fatigue – and we mentally check out before the game is even done.
But leadership isn’t just about the scoreboard. It’s about believing the next pitch could change EVERYTHING!
Rojas didn’t try to be a hero – he just stayed ready. Leaders who stay calm and consistent under pressure create the moments that shift everything.
Another good lesson here is never overlook the quiet contributors.
Everyone expected Ohtani to carry the team. Instead, it was the steady, reliable players who turned the tide. In leadership, it’s often the behind-the-scenes people who keep the organization alive when pressure hits.
Momentum favors the one who refuses to fold. The Dodgers didn’t celebrate too soon… they stayed locked in. When momentum turns your way, don’t relax – push HARDER.
Champions finish with precision.
That final double play wasn’t luck. It was YEARS of practice, discipline, trust, and muscle memory. Great leaders prepare their teams to execute cleanly under pressure.
I’ll land the plane with this…
Every one of us faces a ninth-inning moment.
You can give up when things look impossible.
You can relax when things look safe.
OR…. you can stay locked in until the very last out!
The Dodgers didn’t win because of hype or headlines. They won because of resilience, preparation, and belief – from every man in the dugout, not just the superstar.
So whatever battle you’re facing – whether it’s a struggling team, a rough season, or a personal life setback – remember this:
Ed Mylett said this once “Most people quit right before they’re about to win. You’re never as far away from your dream as you think you are – usually, you’re one more decision, one more effort, one more step away.”
You might just be one *swing* away from changing everything. Stay in the game. Because it’s not over until it’s over!