Yogi’s Sayings

Reading many of the prescriptive articles about leadership styles leaves me amused (hence the Yogi Berra reference) because I find it so contrary to experience and to facts. The eminent chronicler of management theory and practice Peter Drucker long ago pointed out that leadership was more about "doing than dash" - debunking the trait theory based models of leadership. If you looked at the most successful companies in 2016 and you looked at their leadership teams and CEOs in particular I daresay you would find some incredible variations in style and method. For Drucker leadership was about clarifying purpose (mission) and defining methods for achieving the purpose (execution).

But my purpose here in this article is somewhat light-hearted. After all, as a nation, we are dealing with the aftermath of Harvey and Irma. We have shown how we can come together, setting aside our differences, to do the work that needs to be done in order to restore normalcy and stability in the lives of those affected by these catastrophes. I figured we can use a little levity.

I have culled together a short list of observations by Yogi that seem profound (hence the reference to leadership literature) but are just humorous absurdities.

1.     You can observe a lot just by watching

2.     The future ain't what it used to be

3.     We have deep depth

4.     Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical

5.     A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.

6.     He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious.

7.     When you come to a fork in the road, take it

8.     Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours

9.     You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six

10.  I’m not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did

11.  I never said most of the things I said

12.  It's like déjà vu all over again

(Yogi Berra was a legendary N.Y. Yankee baseball player and oft-quoted “Zen Master”)

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