The Value of a Good No. 2

Spring is upon us, summer is nigh, and Major League Baseball is under way!

This time of year brings back fond memories of growing up with an obsession for America's national pastime. I remember spending any allowance money I could get on baseball cards. My brother and I would trade with each other and friends. We learned early on about market arbitrage, often exploiting less-savvy kids' undervaluation of hot new prospects or special edition Topps, Fleer, or Donruss cards.

This is also a year in which my Houston Astros are finally coming into the season as reigning World Series Champions. 2017 saw so many great players contribute to the Astros' championship, but one guy who surprised me was Brian McCann, the catcher. McCann shined in the World Series both offensively and defensively, but his leadership and guidance of the pitching staff was most noteworthy.

McCann was lauded by his teammates for his ability to help glue the team together.

"His knowledge first of all, but what he sees in the box, what he relays to me, what we talk about between innings," Dallas Keuchel said of what he's liked about throwing to McCann. "Just everything you could possibly want from a catcher, he's got. He's also caught a lot of quality pitchers in his time"

David Ross, a former teammate of McCann expressed a similar sentiment about McCann being a team "glue guy": "You have to be aware of what’s happening with everybody around you — how they perform and how to get the most out of them. It seemed like Brian was always there to tell me, 'Hey man, great swing,' or, 'Bro, you’re one of the best at the exchange. I’ve never seen a guy as quick as you.'..and it always seemed to come right when I needed to hear it most."

For my not-so-baseball-savvy readers wondering about the title of this article, baseball assigns each position numerically for the sake of scorekeeping and statistics. Pitcher is No. 1, and Catcher is No. 2. ;)

Finding a Good No. 2

When I wasn't trading cards, I was playing baseball, and I often pitched. Pitcher can be a very lonely position. Imagine the weight of forty thousand fans on your shoulders every single play of the game. Take the fans away, and you still have your teammates counting on you to deliver. It's very analogous to being a leader, particularly an entrepreneur. You must deliver results on every play, every day. Replace the forty thousand fans with forty thousand dollars of your friends' and family's investment in your startup or forty thousand shareholders of your corporation, and replace your teammates with your startup team or employees. It can be a lot of pressure. It can feel lonely on top of that mound.

As a former pitcher I can tell you that my performance greatly depended on the quality of the catcher behind the plate. As long as I was throwing well and hitting my spots, it didn't really matter who was back there. However, when things started to go south is when a good catcher would make all the difference. In baseball, a good catcher knows his pitcher better than the pitcher knows himself. He can tell when the pitcher's typical stuff isn't working or when he's getting tired and can make the right calls accordingly. A good catcher is both strategist and psychologist.

The same is true in entrepreneurship. As a leader, you need to find a good No. 2 - someone who can spot your gaps and fill in for you, who can be an objective advisor with your best interests in mind, and who will be the Morpheus to your Neo (Ref. The Matrix). Your No. 2 can be a co-founder, a vice president, or anyone who works with you on a daily basis. Rocky innings are sure to happen, and a good catcher who can see what you can't could save the game for you.

Being a Good No. 2

Unfortunately, my personal baseball analogy dies on this one, because my skinny legs never garnered enough faith in me as a catcher from my coaches (even when my dad coached me!). However, you should note that you won't always be in the No. 1 position. Many times you will have the opportunity to play the No. 2 position in life and in business. I am currently serving as a No. 2 for a client, and it's awesome to be contributing to a winning team by helping this pitcher perform better, believe in herself, and throw her best stuff.

A good No. 2 can make or break a leader when things get rocky in business, so as a No. 1, think about who you put in that position, and also consider how you can act as an all-star No. 2 for someone else. Being No. 2 is an opportunity to lead the leader, and if you approach it correctly, it's a great way to prepare yourself to be No.1.

So the next time you watch the Astros or your own favorite team, pay close attention to that No. 2 position. You might just witness some serious leadership.

That's the value of a good No. 2.

-Matt

Above: Catcher Brian McCann gives the eulogy for Carlos Beltran's glove in center field at Minute Maid Park on July 17, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Beltran had not played outfield since May 16. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)