October 16, 1982. County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A twelve-year-old Joe Maier was in the stands watching the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals to tie up the World Series at two games apiece.
As all of us know, that series did not end like we wanted it to. But I remember, with Harvey’s Wallbangers and their seemingly endless lineup of all-star talent, thinking that we would be back to the World Series often and that we would win one soon. Who would have known that it would take forty-four years?
There are a couple of minor similarities between the 1982 team and the 2026 version of the Brewers. But not many. No baseball expert would describe this team as a “murderers’ row.” With a payroll in the bottom half of baseball and a group of mostly unknown characters, the Brewers have become the feel-good story of a lifetime, not only for Milwaukee and Wisconsin, but for the nation as well. They are proof that money does not buy happiness or championships, but purpose, belief and perseverance do.
As I reflect on the unexpected and unmatched joy of this magical run, it does cause me to think about all of the lessons we can learn from this team. And, like the Brewers, how do we use those lessons to win the game we are playing?
Lesson 1 : Money only matters when it’s tied to meaning
The Brewers have one of the smallest payrolls in Major League Baseball. Tampa’s payroll is even smaller. But this year, they were the two best teams by any and all measures. Both teams proved that more is not the recipe for success; better is. It is like that in life as well. Social science is replete with studies about the misery of lottery winners, wealthy families and trust-fund children. Also, there are numerous studies of people who “know they will be happy” if they just get more: more pay, more assets, more success. But then they get there and realize that money is not synonymous with any of those things.
We should learn from the Brewers. When money is simply a measure, more of it leads to no more success, no more happiness or no more wins. However, when money becomes a tool, critically and carefully used to further purpose, it can become the facilitator of all of those things.
The Brewers understand that they cannot go dollar for dollar with the Dodgers and Yankees. But what they can do is build a plan that works for them: intelligent drafting and developing and then showing belief in their process by paying before proof (Jackson Chourio, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara). Likewise, maybe you cannot spend like a billionaire. That does not mean you cannot develop clarity on what makes you happy and spend selectively to maximize your fulfillment: maybe taking children to Disney, buying that lake home up north or even those 100-level Game 1 tickets.
Lesson 2: Patience Pays
This current Brewers team was not built overnight. This team had a long-term plan. It amassed its talent as a small-market team must: slowly, over many years. During those years, different combinations of talent were assembled, tested, disassembled and rebuilt. Some pieces were added that were good on their own, but not good for this team. Others had promise that never quite materialized. There were ups and downs, successes and failures, and so many heartbreaks (take it from someone who was in the stands in 2018 for Game 7 of the NLCS… I still cannot watch Yasiel Puig).
Again, true wealth is built in the exact same way. Get-rich-quick schemes do not work for most people. They are only for the human versions of the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees, those with enough money to allow for impatience and an inordinate number of mistakes. What works is having a plan, sticking to the plan, being patient with conviction and belief in the tough years, and carefully trimming those investments that no longer fit. Just like the 2026 Brewers, a well-honed, patient plan may create winning results, immense satisfaction and meaning.
Lesson 3: Success is found by looking in the mirror, not at your neighbor
One of the reasons the success of this team is so sweet is that—to use the Frank Sinatra line—they did it their way. In looking around the league, the trap so many sports teams fall into is that they focus on others. They envy the success of the Dodgers and then try to emulate their formula (yes, Mets, I’m talking about you). Or they assume that talent that works in one setting will have even more success in a different setting with fewer constraints (Cubs and Counsell, anyone?). Some even make their existence about beating a rival rather than maximizing the potential of their own talent (Red Sox? Bears? Michigan?).
Right now, I want you to pause and do something for me. Go to your current music subscription service. Run a search on this song title: “Comparison is.” How many titles did you find? Over 20?30? Musicians get it. Comparative thinking destroys joy and happiness. Happiness is internal; it comes from spending time uncovering what makes you happy and aligning your time, money and energy to that purpose. Who cares if your neighbor buys a BMW? You are not a car person. Why should your happiness be impacted by a co-worker’s promotion? That person’s success or failure should not impact yours. Be like the Brewers: build your plan for your reasons that can achieve your success and don’t worry about anyone else. Stated another way, do not allow others to own your happiness (or destroy your joy).
Lesson 4: Success is built, not stumbled upon
Finally, one last lesson. The greatest rewards often come from things that can’t be rushed. The reason this city, this state, this country embraced this team is that it is unique, and that makes it special. The Brewers built their own plan, showed amazing patience and did not concern themselves with other teams and their strategies. They did it their way, and because of that, it meant all the more.
Financial planning works much the same way. The most meaningful goals are rarely accomplished overnight. Goals are often pursued through countless thoughtful decisions, made consistently over time. Success grows from preparation, patience and purpose.
It may be another forty years before Milwaukee celebrates a championship like this again. But because it was earned, because it was built the right way, we will always appreciate what happened in 2026.
