Monday, November 12, 2012

Is being a Cubs fan hurting my business?

David Nealis


Is being a Cubs fan hurting my business?

 

It's not easy being a Cubs fan!

If you don't know who the Cubs are they are Chicago’s (baseball) National League team.

They tend to play so poorly that we call them “the Loveable Losers”.

In 2012 they lost 101 games and they won 61. And it wasn’t just this year that was off, as a matter of fact they haven't won a World Series championship in over 104 years. Since 1908, generations of Cub fans have suffered. 

The Cubs are often out of the chance to go to the World Series by the end of July.
Often half way through the baseball season you can hear Cubs fans repeat the very popular saying “well we always have next year" - I've heard and repeated this very saying since I can remember.  

As a child sitting in the car with my father, going home after a Cubs game, I would repeat after him and say “yeah Dad, we always have next year". This ritual was repeated year after year with friends and family; we have repeated the same mantra “well we always have next year" for generations.
 

My fear is that that Cub’s mantra is working its way into the other decisions I make.
For example; while working, occasionally I run across that likeable loser, who is looking for his next thing. I am sure you know the type; he has several years in the industry, he  knows some people, but he just seems to always end up not producing anything.  

When I meet these people it seems my need to cheer for the underdog over takes my business sense and I give them a chance. That Cubs fan mentality of "maybe this year will be different" seems to translate to “maybe this time this guy will be successful”. It has never ended well; they always seem to keep making the same mistakes that they have made year after year. They, like the Cubs, live in a world used to and/or expecting to lose all the time. 

I don't want to give up hope for those under dogs of the world, but after several disappointments and a life time of being disappointed as a Cubs fan; I think it's time to watch more Yankees games!

 Should I feel guilty for being no longer willing to work with likeable losers? Or am I just suffering from a case of the Cubbie Blues?
 
I think I have closed the door on being willing to work with likeable losers, but as for the Cubs well we always have next year.
 

1 comment:

Tom Foley said...

I too can't divorce the Cubs like I did the Bears. It might be hurting your business though. If your business were more like the Cubs, however, you would hire people way past their prime (the aging superstars the Cubs always get, like Soriano) and the untested rookie.