Business Can Learn From Baseball's
Mid-Summer Break

To the pundits who decry the annual MLB All-Star game as meaningless or worse, I have one word of advice: Take a moment and breathe.

This summertime ritual celebrated its 82nd anniversary last night amidst cries that it has changed too much. For instance, many fans would love to eliminate the World Series home-field advantage that goes to the league that wins the game, which will be the National League this year. Would they really want to return to the days when that advantage was based on odd or even years? Some fans want even greater changes, like scrapping the whole system and playing the All-Star game after the World Series. Did Babe Ruth or Willie Mays ever play in a November All-Star game?

This fan treats the break as just that, a mid-summer pause to enjoy a collection of athletes with amazing skills from competing teams who seemingly enjoy each other's company. A wonderful contrast to the vitriol and bench-clearing fights of hated rivals, which I must admit I love…did I hear someone say Red Sox-Yankees?

The break in the 162-game season also seems to nicely match the business cycle. The first six months are behind us, which have been better than expected for our firm, but the only thing that really matters now is how you perform the rest of the 2011 season.

This is a time when team managers like Terry Francona of the Red Sox or Fredi Gonzalez from the Atlanta Braves are examining their rosters and what strategic changes they need to make to get into the playoffs. Our firm's mid-year adjustment includes a momentary salute to our team's results, a review of what got us here and what needs to be replicated, what skills or services do we need to enhance, and a focus on growing our business, or what we call Dreamin' and Schemin'.

The All-Star Game is a day-dreamers dream. Ah, to be able to just once gun down a runner at home plate with a pinpoint throw from right field like the Astros' Hunter Pence did last night, or to crush a ball over the center-field fence as Milwaukee's Prince Fielder did to win the MVP award. A joy to behold.

Bring on the second half, and leave the All-Star Game alone.