Hardball in Leadership: No Excuses, Just Results

Whiners Don’t Win—Leaders Do

If your comfort zone is begging for 2–4% raises each year and hoping for a part-time job at Walmart after retirement, this post isn’t for you. This is for those who want to take the lead—and propel their nonprofit or philanthropic organizations to new heights.

Why Everyone’s Playing Softball Instead of Hardball

Lately, it seems like everyone is avoiding hardball. Playing it safe has become the norm. The cautious majority panics when a crisis hits—yet they’re often the ones who create their own storms and then complain when it rains. You hear them saying things like:

• “This is unfair.”
• “I can’t believe he did that.”

It’s the language of the playground, not the boardroom. These are the B players who hire C players, who in turn hire D players—leading nonprofit and philanthropic organizations into mediocrity where complacency thrives. There’s no such thing as “unfair”—life happens.

Hardball vs. Softball: The Leadership Divide

So, what sets winners apart from whiners? Hardball players play to win—and they take their teams with them. In contrast, softball players stand around like spectators. If they’re in the game at all, they’re just playing—not playing to win. They’re the ones who believe trophies are commodities to be handed out to everyone.

Imagine if the NBA, NFL, or MLB had this same attitude. Would championships even exist? Even in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, results matter. Yet, the soft training language and the proliferation of self-help books promoting “easy” improvement reinforce a status quo mindset. That’s not how you reach the top.