Predicting the biggest sports deal ever

Yesterday, outfielder Juan Soto signed the largest sports contract in history, a staggering $765 million with the New York Mets .

Even if you’re not a fan of the big league, this deal demonstrates the critical importance of identifying, hiring, and nurturing top talent before their potential becomes universally recognized and, consequently, prohibitively expensive.

Juan Soto's journey to becoming a record-breaking athlete teaches us much about spotting early signs of exceptional talent. Several indicators hinted at his future success:

Performance consistency: From his minor league days, Soto displayed consistent performance, rapidly climbing through the ranks due to his standout skills and work ethic.

Adaptability: Soto quickly adapted to higher levels of play, showcasing his ability to learn and improve, which is crucial for early success in any field.

Under pressure performance: His performance in critical games, especially during playoffs, demonstrated his ability to handle pressure, a trait synonymous with future leaders in any industry.

Do you doubt your ability to predict which candidates will become outstanding employees? 

I know you can do it.

Consider the predictive prowess of TV’s legendary The Simpsons, which has an uncanny ability to foresee future events, often with surprising accuracy. Here are 4 of their most astonishing predictions, serving as metaphors for the forward-thinking needed in hiring:

Donald Trump's Presidency (Predicted 16 Years Ahead): In the year 2000 episode "Bart to the Future," the mention of "President Trump" seemed far-fetched, yet it materialized in 2016.

Smartwatches (Predicted 18 Years Ahead): The 1995 episode "Lisa's Wedding" showcased characters using watches as communication devices, long before smartwatches became a mainstream technology in 2013.

Disney Buys 20th Century Fox (Predicted 20 Years Ahead): The 1998 episode "When You Dish Upon a Star" humorously displayed a sign for "20th Century Fox, a Division of Walt Disney Co.," a corporate move that became reality in 2018.

U.S. Wins Gold in Curling (Predicted 8 Years Ahead): The 2010 episode "Boy Meets Curl" depicted the U.S. winning Olympic gold in curling, a feat that occurred in real life at the 2018 Olympics.

If the Simpsons can tell the future, you can too. 

To discover and nurture the 'pre-Soto' talent within your organization, consider these 3 key strategies:

1. Simulation exercises ("Test Drives"): These exercises assess how candidates handle real-world challenges, providing insights into their problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability.

2. Backdoor reference checks: Engaging with former colleagues and managers of your candidates can yield deeper insights than traditional references, offering candid feedback on the candidate's past performance and interpersonal skills.

3. Continuous development: Once onboard, each employee should receive a personalized development plan, involving tailored training programs, mentorship opportunities, and continuous learning paths to facilitate their growth into future leaders.

Identifying & nurturing potential before it becomes universally recognized allows your organization to secure a competitive advantage by developing leaders internally. 

Your #1 job is to discover the undiscovered talent. Before your competitors do. And before the best candidates are out of your financial reach. Put simply, once they’re “on the radar,” they’re out of your budget.

Just as The Simpsons has demonstrated with its predictions, sometimes the signs of great potential are there—we just need to know where to look.

Happy hunting,

Jeff