If Joe Maddon Ran Your Attraction…What the 2016 Cubs Would Teach You About Finishing the Summer Strong
- Kari
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 2
**Disclaimer: If you don’t know the 2016 Cubs, stop reading right now and go watch 2016: World Series Champions Chicago Cubs on Prime or YouTube: 📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mOOL-hR1yQ
I’m from Chicago.
The baby of four girls.
The caboose. The son my dad never got.
And like any good Midwest kid, I grew up with the Cubs.
I didn’t just watch the games — I lived them.
From April through October (if we were lucky), Cubs baseball was the soundtrack of every summer.
On the radio in the garage.
On the screen during dinner.
Playing on that static-y onboard the boat radio out on Lake Michigan.
Playing on mute during weddings, birthdays, and family reunions.
Like most Cubs fans, I knew heartbreak before I knew hardware.
So when 2016 finally happened — that miracle of a season — it felt like the world cracked open.
The team was stacked. The city was electric. The culture? Unmatched.
Every pitch felt cinematic. Every win felt like destiny.
Wrigley was rocking. And across Chicago, someone in a Rizzo jersey was yelling, “This is the year!”
But why bring up 2016 now?
Because if you’ve been paying attention, 2025 is starting to feel familiar.
No, it’s not the same team. But something’s building.The chemistry. The grit. The late-season charge.
And if you’re leading an attraction right now, heading into that final stretch before Labor Day — your moment feels just as critical.
This is the time of year when most seasonal teams fade.But the ones who dig deep? They finish strong and set up next year’s win.
If Joe Maddon were your GM right now, here’s how he’d coach your team across the finish line — and start building your next great season.
Joe Maddon’s Leadership Lessons for Attraction Operators
1. Try Not to Suck. (Yes, seriously.)
That was his actual 2016 motto. It wasn’t about being perfect — just better.
Pick up the trash before the guest sees it.
Reset expectations.
Set the tone. Be early. Stay sharp.
August isn’t a wind-down. It’s the stretch run.
2. Develop Your Bench.
Your August MVP? Might still be stocking napkins.
Give them something real:
Lead a pre-shift huddle.
Run with a small guest surprise idea.
Let them shadow a lead or pitch a new promo.
Joe trusted young players before they were ready. Sometimes, that’s when they shine.
3. Win the Vibe Game.
Maddon made fun part of the formula. Pajama travel days. Dress-up themes. Zoo animals in the clubhouse.
Why? Because when the pressure’s on, light wins.
Play walk-up songs at open.
Do a "Shift Superlatives" day.
Let someone else run a meeting — with snacks.
Culture doesn’t just happen. It’s coached.
4. Coach Beyond This Season.
Joe wasn’t just building for October. He was building for next October.
Ask yourself:
Who's ready to be a lead next year?
What systems broke this summer?
What feedback are you waiting to give?
Use these last weeks to test, train, and take notes.
5. Lead Like You’re Down by Two — With Runners on.
Joe Maddon didn’t coach scared. He coached with urgency and trust.
Now's the time to shift your lineup, hype your bench, and stop sleepwalking to Labor Day.
Lead like the game’s still on the line — because it is.
You’re Still in This.
The 2016 Cubs didn’t just win — they believed, right through the rain delay in Game 7.
And this year’s Cubs?
They’re scrappy. They’re rising. It’s not the same team — but it’s starting to feel like one of those seasons.
Think back to your best summer. You’ll see the signs:
The glue people. The rhythm. The team that quietly clicked.
You can build that again.
Reset the vibe. Develop your bench. Lead like it matters — because it does.
Let’s make the back half of summer electric.
Need help rewriting your August playbook?
Comment "Fly The W" and we’ll share a free, season-winning strategy session to help you finish strong — and start next season even stronger.
Classic Maddonisms for Leading a Seasonal Crew:
“Try not to suck.” – Legendary. High standards without high stress.
“Do simple better.” – Clean it up. Execute with care.
“Never permit the pressure to exceed the pleasure.” – Don’t let the grind kill the joy.
“If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” – Every shift should teach something.
“Embrace the target.” – If your park is the one to beat — own it.
“Respect 90.” – Run it out. Every foot. Every shift. Every guest counts.
“Be present, not perfect.” – Especially for your younger leads.
“I want guys who are good clubhouse guys, not just good players.” – Replace “players” with “staff,” and that’s your August hiring filter.