Total Team Effort

Recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in a thrilling Game 7.  I am glad that I watched the majority of that game because it had me in throes in my seat.  There were twists and turns and ups and downs and there were times you thought the Jays would win and other times when you thought the Dodgers would eek it out.

But after a grueling extra inning ordeal, the Dodgers finally came out on top and Yoshinobu Yamamoto was deservingly named the MVP of the series.  He pitched a complete game earlier in this series in Game 2, earned 3 wins in the 7-game series, and even pitched in Game 7 after pitching the day before to stave the Dodgers from elimination. 

He was truly superman and his teammates deservedly showered praise on him after the game.  The MVP is certainly a worthy award.  At the same time, no one man can make accomplishments on his own.  Yamamoto had the important backing of his teammates in Game 7.  He was actually on the verge of losing the game multiple times. 

In a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 9^th, Miguel Rojas was able to make a spectacular play stealing a base hit and throwing out the runner trying to advance to home plate.  Andy Pages, the outfielder, made another spectacular catch to get Yamamoto out of that inning.

And of course, Yamamoto’s heroics wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for clutch homers from Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas, and Will Smith to eventually win the game for him.  Yes, he did win the MVP, but it was also a total team effort to get the Dodgers to the finish line. 

So yes, even though Yamamoto should’ve won the MVP, I’m sure he knew that this series was won on the backs of many of his teammates as well. 

And of course, that’s how it is in life as well.  When my business is doing well, I’d like to sometimes think that I did it on my own.  I would (deservedly) give myself a pat on the back for a job well done.  But of course, your business doing well doesn’t depend solely on yourself.  You can never do it on your own. 

You depend on your co-workers to provide you with great advice.  You depend on your accountant to get your finances in order.  You need to help with the nitty gritty documentation work.  You even must depend on outside sources as well.

You need to depend on the market for an environment conducive for consumption.  You depend on the suppliers for providing high quality products.  And you depend on the customer for having the ability to order the said product. 

Personally, in my import/export business, I also depend on logistics and warehouse providers for allowing me to transport the goods and to store the goods in a safe and accessible location.  There are lots of moving parts to running a successful business.

So, the next time you hear a popular song where someone glamorizes themselves and says that they “made it on my own”, first off give them some props for allowing them to share their thoughts and certainly to grow and improve their life.  It is not an easy feat for sure. 

At the same time, you should note that nobody ever makes it all on their own.  We all depend on each other as a total ecosystem.  One where we depend on each other regardless of whether we want to or not. 

For my personal life, I depend on the barista to make my latte.  I depend on the doorman to create a safe environment for me to live in my apartment.  I depend on the cashier at the grocery store to check out my food.  I depend on farmers and growers to provide me with sustenance.  I depend on the YouTube content creators to enhance my financial literacy.  I depend on a lot of people to enhance my life.

It's never a one-man show.  And I think that if more people can come to this realization, they would have a better sense of gratitude of appreciation for the everyday man and woman that helps make their life better.

Next time we curse at the long line at the deli, just note that some people ahead of you in that line could be essential workers that you depend on.  They could be doctors, lawyers, nurses, garbagemen, investors, all people that we can be dependent on in one shape or the other.

Next time someone cuts you off in traffic, think similarly that that person could be someone that you depend on as well.  He or she could be an engineer or a technician trying to build something that can create value for your personal life.  He or she could be a researcher that is working on the next big cure for the incurable disease. 

We are all in it together.  So, when we do succeed in our line of work or if our lives get better over the long-term, just note that many people have a say in helping to enhance your way of life.  And for that, we should all be thankful for the circumstances.