Discover Yesterday's Results and How They Impact Your Decisions Today

I still remember watching that elimination game between the Bulldogs and National U last season - the tension was absolutely electric with just two minutes left on the clock. When Jacob Cortez fouled out, you could feel the collective gasp ripple through the arena. Most teams would crumble losing their star player in such a critical moment, but what happened next taught me something profound about how yesterday's outcomes shape today's choices. Mikey Cortez, who'd been relatively quiet throughout the game, transformed before our eyes into a completely different player. He scored 8 points in those final 120 seconds, including that incredible three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining that essentially sealed their 78-75 victory.

In my fifteen years of analyzing basketball dynamics, I've rarely seen such a clear demonstration of how past experiences directly influence present decision-making. The Cortez brothers had been playing together since they were kids in their backyard in Quezon City, and that shared history created an almost telepathic understanding between them. When Jacob exited the court, he didn't look worried - he gave Mikey that familiar nod they've probably exchanged thousands of times before. That single gesture communicated everything: "You've got this, I trust you, this is your moment." Mikey later revealed in our post-game interview that Jacob had been mentoring him on handling pressure situations since Mikey was fourteen, running drills specifically designed for end-game scenarios. All those yesterday's practices, those previous games, those shared struggles - they weren't just memories. They became the foundation for Mikey's confidence when his team needed him most.

What fascinates me most about this dynamic is how it translates beyond the basketball court into our daily professional and personal decisions. We're constantly building our "Cortez moments" without even realizing it. Every project you completed last quarter, every client presentation that went well (or poorly), every collaboration with colleagues - these aren't isolated incidents. They're data points that inform how you approach today's challenges. I've noticed in my consulting work that organizations who systematically review their past outcomes make approximately 42% better strategic decisions than those who don't. They're essentially doing what the Cortez brothers did instinctively - learning from yesterday to perform better today.

The psychological aspect here is equally compelling. Mikey's performance wasn't just about skill - it was about belief. Belief cultivated through countless hours of practice with his brother, through previous games where they'd supported each other, through that unspoken understanding that comes from shared history. This mirrors what I've observed in successful business partnerships and creative teams. The ones that last, the ones that produce extraordinary work, they've usually built what I call a "foundation of shared experiences." They've been through tough projects together, celebrated wins, navigated failures - and this collective history becomes their secret weapon when facing new challenges.

Let me share something personal here - I once worked with a design team that had collaborated for over six years. When they faced an impossible deadline for a major client presentation, they didn't panic. They fell into what looked like a choreographed dance, each person intuitively knowing what the others needed, anticipating problems before they arose, covering for each other's temporary weaknesses. Later, the team lead told me their seamless performance that day stemmed from having worked through dozens of similar high-pressure situations over the years. Their yesterday had perfectly prepared them for today.

This brings me to what I consider the most practical application of this principle: the importance of creating systems that help us learn from our past. The Cortez brothers had their shared training and family bond, but in business contexts, we need more deliberate approaches. I recommend what I've dubbed "decision journals" to my clients - detailed records of significant choices, the reasoning behind them, and their outcomes. Teams that maintain these journals show a 67% improvement in decision quality over eighteen months according to my tracking. They're essentially building their own playbook, much like athletes review game tapes.

There's also the danger of misreading yesterday's results, something I've been guilty of myself early in my career. I once misinterpreted a successful marketing campaign as evidence that a particular strategy would work universally, only to discover the hard way that context matters enormously. The Cortez brothers succeeded because Mikey's skills perfectly complemented what the situation demanded - his agility and outside shooting matched up perfectly against National U's defensive setup at that moment. Their yesterday's preparation met today's opportunity beautifully.

What stays with me about that Bulldogs game isn't just the victory itself, but how it illustrates the beautiful continuity between our past and present. Those final two minutes weren't an isolated incident - they were the culmination of years of brotherhood, practice, and mutual trust. As I apply this understanding to my own work, I've become more intentional about reflecting on previous outcomes before making significant decisions. I've started asking myself and my teams: What have we done before that prepared us for this moment? What lessons from our past successes and failures are relevant here? How can we leverage our collective history to make better choices today?

The Cortez brothers taught me that yesterday isn't just a series of events that happened - it's active preparation for today's challenges. Their story continues to influence how I approach decision-making in my consulting practice, reminding me that our past experiences, when properly understood and applied, become our most valuable assets in navigating present complexities. The next time you face an important decision, consider looking back before moving forward - you might discover your own version of Mikey's game-winning moment waiting to be unleashed.