Stay Ready for the Next Pitch
By Steven Neighbors: Director of Adams Hub, President of Strategic & Operational Solutions, Inc.
Compiled by Asher Lucas and Ruby Santacruz
Today, I want to share insights on creating a safety net for failure while pursuing success. Nearly every successful entrepreneur has faced setbacks, and those experiences often become key lessons for future achievements. A good entrepreneur doesn’t go “all in” without taking stock of challenges and risks.
Using a baseball analogy, you don’t swing at every pitch, and even the best hitters miss sometimes. What truly matters is having a backstop — a solid structure behind you that catches the misses and keeps you in the game.
“Whether it’s managing cash flow, building a strong support team, or diversifying revenue streams, a well-prepared entrepreneur can face challenges head-on.”
Think of a baseball backstop as more than just a net. Its poles are securely planted, and the net itself is designed to absorb impact and prevent the ball from rolling out of reach. In the business world, these components represent the critical elements of your safety net: preparation, adaptability, relationships, and integrity. Together, they allow you to take risks, swing with confidence, and keep moving forward even if things don’t go as planned.
The first step to building a backstop is preparation, which means understanding the risks before you swing, and creating a plan for different outcomes. Preparation is not about expecting failure, it’s about ensuring you have the tools to handle whatever comes your way. Whether it’s managing cash flow, building a strong support team, or diversifying revenue streams, a well-prepared entrepreneur can face challenges head-on.
No two pitches are the same in business or in baseball; being adaptable allows you to adjust to new challenges and opportunities without losing momentum. Every entrepreneur will face unexpected events, whether it’s market changes or product delays. Your ability to pivot when necessary, without losing sight of your overall vision, adds strength to your backstop.
In baseball, a strong team works together to back each other up. In business, your relationships, employees, customers, investors, mentors, and community members, form the web of support that holds everything together. These relationships are built on trust, open communication, and mutual respect. When you treat every stakeholder with integrity, they become part of your backstop — ready to step in and help when you need it most.
Character is the concrete foundation in which the poles of your backstop are set. It’s the core of who you are and what your business stands for.
Integrity, honesty, and a commitment to doing right by others creates a foundation that holds steady under pressure. Challenges reveal a company’s character, and it’s those moments of adversity that show whether you deserve to stay in the game.
Your backstop doesn’t prevent challenges, it empowers you to swing for success with confidence, knowing that even if you miss, you won’t lose your footing. Every miss is an opportunity to learn, grow and refine your approach. With preparation, adaptability, strong relationships and unwavering character, you can step up to the plate time and time again.
Your journey is not defined by a single swing, it’s defined by the backstop you build. By investing in a strong foundation and staying true to your values, you’ll not only stay in the game, you’ll be ready for the home runs that await you.
