With the MLB playoffs upon us I find myself in my favorite time of the sports year: MLB playoffs and an NFL season that’s more than a month underway. Exciting times for an American sports fan!
This got me thinking about the connections between the leaders of the teams in this year’s playoffs and the leaders of the business world: you.
The players have been there, standing in the batter’s box, the crowd buzzing, the stakes high. They’ve trained, studied, and sacrificed to be one of the best. But so has the pitcher, the guy on deck, and the entire lineup on both teams. So, what sets some apart?
Sound familiar?
MLB players, welcome to the world of executives in job search!
When you’re competing at the top, the margin of difference isn’t in your resume or the amazing “stats” it contains. It’s in your intangibles, the natural gifts that you bring to a company that they simply have to have.
Here’s what five team leaders in this year’s MLB playoffs might say about what makes for success…if I could actually arrange to interview them!
Aaron Judge, Yankees, OF: I’ve hit some big home runs, but what people remember is how I lead when the cameras aren’t on: in the clubhouse, on the road, after a loss. In your search, it’s not just about your wins ‒ it’s about how you show up when things don’t go your way. Character isn’t a bullet point; it’s the quiet force that makes people want to follow you. (Hitting a bunch of homers helps, too!)
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers, DH/P: I pitch. I hit. I do both because I refuse to be boxed in. Executives who stand out are the ones who defy categories. They see across silos and connect dots others miss. What separates you? Maybe it’s your ability to be the CFO who understands marketing or the COO who speaks fluent tech. Lean into what makes you unique.
Bryce Harper, Phillies, 1B: I play with fire, sometimes too much. But I own it. Authenticity isn’t weakness…it’s a superpower. In interviews, don’t just recite wins. Share the strikeouts, pivots, and lessons. People hire humans, not highlight reels. When you’re honest about your failures, your fears, your growth, that’s when people lean in. That’s when they trust you and remember you.
Mookie Betts, Dodgers, SS/OF: I’m not the loudest in the clubhouse, but I’m consistent. I show up and deliver. I adapt to provide what’s needed. I’m the star who can do it all…every day. In your search, consistency is your currency. Follow up. Stay sharp. Be flexible. The executive who keeps showing up humble but hungry is the one who gets the call.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays, 1B: I carry a legacy, but I’ve carved my own path. You might have a big-name company on your resume, but what’s your story? What’s your signature move? Your unique value isn’t your pedigree ‒ it’s your personality, your perspective, your natural talents that you can trace back to your earliest days.
So, when it’s all said and done, what separates you?
It’s not just your stats. It’s your soul. It’s how you lead when no one’s watching. How you bounce back after rejection. How you bring others along. How you deliver while staying authentic, coachable, and kind. It’s your unique story.
The job market is like a stadium, and people are watching. Take your best swing, run through the bag, and remember your edge isn’t being the best. It’s leaning into the story that no one else has but you.
Now step up to the plate…the next pitch is yours.
