“Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.”
— Andy Grove
The Yankees were up by five runs, cruising to what seemed like a sure victory against the Dodgers in the final game of the World Series. Confidence filled the Yankee dugout, and fans were already celebrating the win. But then, a few minor mistakes — a missed catch here, a poorly calculated ground ball run to first base bringing in scoring runs – all snowballed. In the heat of the game, those small errors added up, allowing the Dodgers to tie the score, and ultimately, clinch the World Series win. The Yankees watched a near guaranteed victory slip away due to lapses in focus and precision!
I watched the Dodgers tie up the score and thought about how this scenario highlights an essential leadership lesson: In both baseball and in business, the small details can matter immensely. Every decision, every move, and every momentary lapse can build up to make or break the game – or the business! When we fail to keep a sharp eye on the details, even small missteps can create ripples that result in thousands, even millions, of dollars in lost opportunity. This doesn’t just apply to money. For some businesses, the cumulative effect of small errors can cost something even greater – the trust of clients, the stability of the brand, and ultimately, the business itself.
“We’ve all heard that we have to learn from our mistakes, but I think it’s more important to learn from successes. If you learn only from your mistakes, you are inclined to learn only errors.” – Norman Vincent Peale
I try to consistently tell my team that if everything is going too well over a few days or a week period, we are either playing it too safe, or something’s coming! It’s not meant as a “speak an adversity into existence” talk. But it’s just being realistic! We have to keep our eye on the win, even if we know that we are ahead in the game! We must approach each day like somebody is trying to come after our Win. Because they are!
So what’s the takeaway here? Being up by five runs can make anyone feel untouchable. But it’s a feeling that invites complacency into our lives and leadership. Leaders must maintain a “game-on” mindset throughout, resisting the urge to coast and always staying disciplined in every decision. When we’re consistently detail-focused, taking the emotion out of decision making, we don’t leave outcomes to chance or luck… We make success inevitable.
I’ll land the plane with this: In leadership, there’s no such thing as a truly “small” mistake. Every decision, every action, everything matters. The difference between achieving success and dealing with setbacks often comes down to how diligently we attend to the “little things.” Because in the end, those “little things” are the very foundation of our biggest wins – or our largest losses.
“A small leak will sink a great ship.” — Benjamin Franklin
As leaders, we have to recognize that we are never “so far ahead” that we can afford to let our focus slip. The real winners – the Dodgers in this case – are the ones who stay vigilant, push forward, and seize opportunities to improve, even when the odds aren’t in their favor. Whatever game you’re playing, staying sharp on the details is what makes the difference between coming up short or securing the W!