 Don't Tire of Doing the SimpleWe are clearly in the highlight era. It started with Sportscenter in the 80s and has been on a roll ever since. Social media has provided rocket fuel to the now booming personal highlight video industry - at a basketball tournament last summer people were purchasing highlight videos for their second grade son … second grade!
As you are fully aware, Sportscenter doesn’t show too many singles. They don’t show the bounce pass for a layup or the lineman doing his job snap after snap. No, no, that’s not what gets you on ESPN. You have to make a great play. Extraordinary. A regular play won’t do. And, I get it. That’s what people want to see. It’s what gets clicks. Why Should We Care? Fortunately for us un-extraordinary people, clicks don’t correlate to excellence. Simplicity and consistency do. Unfortunately, too many people are fooled into believing Sportscenter. We watch them so often now people are beginning to believe the highlights are the mark of excellence, not winning or performing at your best. That’s not where excellence resides. It’s in the dark, early mornings filled with grueling work. It’s in disappointment and the recovery from those failures that caused it. It’s in the consistency of showing up day after day after day with the same determination and hope you started with. It looks nothing like a highlight. Nothing. And, we’re doing a major disservice to those we lead by honoring the highlight over the simple. We must be intentional about recognizing and lifting up the simple, consistent work that leads to excellence. I’m discussing this from a sporting perspective, but it clearly applies to the corporate world. Consider the celebration of the last big sale or promotion at your company compared to the celebration of the employee that hasn’t missed a deadline or a day of work in the last five years. REAL TALK - Action Steps We can’t get tired of doing the simple. The draw is there, and probably always will be. But, excellence requires the daily service of the mundane. When we begin to seek the approval of the highlight we are sacrificing the essence of what excellence is.
Highlights just seem to happen for those that have been faithful to the simplicity and consistency excellence requires. The interesting thing is, they’re not impressed by themselves … maybe because they were there for all the work and failures leading up to that point. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!
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 The Team. The Team. The Team.Some call me old school … I’m ok with that.
Guilty as charged. And, I’m not looking to change that anytime soon. One of the best pieces of advice I received when I was a young coach was to operate by way of standards, not rules. The more rules you have, the more policing you have to do, and the less freedom you have to consider each individual’s situation. I learned very quickly that fair is not equal and equal is not fair. For example, a player late because he overslept and a player late because his mom arrived home late from work so he had to put his little sister on the bus are two completely different situations. We would not treat them the same in our program - fair is not equal and equal is not fair. We do, however, have one rule that is equally applied to all. It’s been disputed, debated, and argued numerous times over the years but remains a steadfast rule for our teams.
If you watch a basketball game this week, take note of how many teams have zero players without one of those items. The number will be small, likely zero. I know. I know. You don’t see what the big deal is. And, maybe it’s not. But, I’m not changing it. Let me explain because I think it applies to all teams, not just a basketball team. Why Should We Care? One of the central aspects of being a part of a team is choosing - yes, choosing - to make personal sacrifices for the betterment of the group. That’s the price you pay for being part of something that can accomplish more than you ever could on your own. The team is not about you. The team is about the team. It seems we have started to attempt to dilute this reality under the guise of individual freedom. Well, it’s not individual freedom. You’re not an individual. You’re a member of a team. By choosing to be on the team, you’ve also chosen to sacrifice some of those individual freedoms. That’s the deal. Welcome to a team. I’ve heard all the claims about how I’m thwarting a player's personal expression, limiting their performance, even stunting their growth. And, I get it seems trivial to most. That’s ok. I’m not asking for approval. Let me ask you a question: What is the tipping point for teamwork? At what point does a team either tip to be all about each other, the team? Or, at what point does the team fail to function as a cohesive group? Do you know the answer? Yea, me either. I just know this rule is a tally mark on the side of the team. We all have to pick our battles based on the significance of their impact. This is a battle I choose to fight for the ‘look good’ police. That’s the most common refute - “Coach, I like the way it looks … look good, play good, right?” No, that’s not right. In a team sport, you play ‘good’ when you play together. You play ‘good’ when you are connected to your teammates. You play ‘good’ when you have deep trust in those you are playing with. You play ‘good’ when you are invested in the team and faithfully do your job. You play ‘good’ when you give yourself to the team. And this is where I have a problem with the … accessories. I think these accessories are ways to separate yourself from the team. Sure, it might be your thing, but this isn’t about your thing. It’s about our thing. Anything pulling against our thing is an issue. Of course this isn’t the final straw or the end all be all. But it’s definitely a part of the bigger picture that is often accepted at the expense of a tiny chink in the armor of team cohesiveness. A bunch of tiny chinks leads to a crack. I’m sure there are similar areas in your profession that correspond to these accessories. REAL TALK - Action Steps So what about the individual? They’re important, right? Yes, the individual is important. Teams are made of individuals. Individuals that accept the standards and norms of the team. Individuals that prioritize the team over themselves. This is the essence of a team. No sacrifice equals no team. Here are a few ideas to help your team place us ahead of me.
I love teams. How awesome is it that we can do things as a team that we could never come close to doing on our own? Or how about the fact that a team with far less talent could outperform a team with far superior talent? Embrace it or fight it, but the truth is clear: Life is a team sport. Your willingness to embrace the sacrifices required within your team will determine the level of excellence it can rise to. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Lockdown DefenderAs a high school basketball coach, I certainly value defense. It’s the most important part of the game, in my opinion. A good defense can keep you in a game when your offense is struggling, which it will definitely do from time to time.
As much as I love it, there is a time I’ve found a great defense to be detrimental rather than beneficial - when we play it on ourselves. And … we’re alarmingly good at being our own lockdown defender. Why Should We Care? You know the two most dangerous body parts in our pursuit of excellence? The butt and the eye. “But, I …” is typically the first line of defense when we raise our guard. The only thing that proceeds it is the victimhood thought that jumps up at the first sign of subpar performance. It is, afterall, this singular thought that drives all of the upcoming defense mechanisms we will choose to implore. Of course, it’s not the last line of defense. No, no - far from it. When it comes to defending ourselves, we like to point out a tidal wave of impossible odds that no one, not even you, could overcome. Leaving only one logical conclusion: it wasn’t my fault. Responsibility averted, we carry on just as we were. And, therein lies the problem, we’re “just as we were.” No better, no worse. We’re the same. Too often our defense denies us the opportunity for growth. We are built to protect ourselves, to deflect things that might hurt our pride, and surround ourselves with the comfortable. There’s no growth in that. And, no growth means no excellence. We must find ways to avoid putting on this armor in order to become the best version of ourselves. Remaining as we are should not be an option. REAL TALK - Action Steps I certainly don’t have all the answers to this, or anything else, but I’ll share what has allowed me to fight the urge to defend myself.
I’m a defensive guy on the court. But off it, I’m doing my best to defend as little as possible. Sure some people will give you advice that is off-base and even unwarranted. That’s ok, you are the filter. Take what you want and leave what you don’t. But, whatever you do be sure to invite the feedback that is your lifeblood to growth rather than defending against it. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Admire the FrameHave you ever thought about how good someone else is at something?
With no envy or jealousy - only admiration and appreciation? There really isn’t anything hard about it. We see greatness all around us, but how often do we recognize it? The obvious explanation is that we’re selfish, all of us. We think about ourselves - what we’re wearing, what we look like, and what we’re driving. The funny thing is: we think other people are thinking us. They’re not. They’re thinking about themselves. So, stop worrying about what they’re thinking. Now, as for you … In Dan Millman’s book, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, he quotes japanese psychiatrist Shoma Morita as saying: “When passing by a mirror, notice the frame.” Why Should We Care? My daughter, Ally, is the most thoughtful person I know. She is constantly thinking about ways to make other people’s day better. Whether it’s just the right birthday present or a simple handwritten note, it seems she is consistently looking outside herself. Al is 20 years old now, so she’s written me a lot of notes over the years. Like any dad, all of them are special but the one she left on the counter for me to find last year is my all time favorite. Following our state championship basketball game last season we had a pretty cool family night with just the four of us and Coach Leiker, who is an equal part of our family. After all the celebration with the team, former players, and community; we didn’t get back to our house until about 2am. We sat around and talked about the game and events of the night for about an hour before heading to Waffle House around 4am. I know it may seem weird to a lot of people, but coaching basketball is what our family does so it all made sense to us. Of course, plenty more stories were shared throughout the morning. The ‘night’ ended with Gabe going to the gym to get some shots up around 5am. A pretty cool end to an unbelievable night. I woke up the next morning to one of the most memorable parts of the entire season for me. This note from Ally: Dad - To watch all of your and Gabe’s hard work come to fruition was one of the best moments of my life. I’m so happy for both of you. I love you! - Dink She not only looked completely outside of herself, but she had the courage to share it. I wish I could take credit for her ability, and willingness, to look at the frame and not in the mirror. But, she’s far better at it than I will ever be. REAL TALK - Action Steps There is greatness all around us. We just have to look for it and understand what it
There is greatness all around us. We just have to look for it and understand what it is. Greatness isn’t achievement like we are led to believe. No … it’s going for it. We know it’s true. Our body doesn’t lie to us like society does. Have the courage to look for, and appreciate, the greatness in those around you. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Can't or Won'tNick Saban, head football coach at Alabama, made the comment “it takes what it takes” in a press conference in reference to the illusion of choice. His point was that too many people think they have a lot of options when, in reality, there are very few choices on the path to excellence. As Saban said, “it takes what it takes.”
So, the only real choice is will you do what it takes or not? Is it really a question of can or can’t rather than will or won’t? That’s not how we like to think about it. We like to look at it as being a talent or skill we were blessed with or have acquired through our commitment and hard work. We have something that someone else doesn’t have. The opposite is also a reality. When we don’t achieve something or perform at the level we want, we like to attribute it to our lack of talent that we didn’t receive. We just weren’t given the same gifts that others were. Why Should We Care? Well, good news … or bad news. Will or won’t is the question, not can or can’t. That’s good news because it relieves us of the need to be endowed with every necessary talent to accomplish our goals. We aren’t all beginning at the same starting line, but we’re all in the same race. A different starting point doesn’t eliminate us from contention. Sure the path, and challenges, will be different, but the potential doesn’t change. It’s not a matter of can or can’t, but of will or won’t. Will you embrace the process it takes to reach excellence? Will you choose to stay diligent and faithful to the seemingly meaningless, mundane habits necessary to consistently perform at your best? Will you approach your challenges as opportunities to reinforce your conviction to the goal or as threats to your hope and confidence in achieving them? REAL TALK - Action Steps Maintaining our will is critical to our pursuit of excellence. This may seem simple, but it’s not. Choosing an empowering mindset of will over a victim mindset of can’t requires numerous small habits that lead to the big habit of intentional living. Here are a few to get you started.
The question is rarely can we do something. More than likely it’s: are we willing to do what it takes. I’m not saying the answer to that is always yes. I’m saying that’s almost always the question. It’s not can you? It’s will you? For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  The Residual EffectWhere you are now is not a result of the present, but the past. All the benefits you are experiencing, all the troubles you are facing, are the side effects of decisions you made weeks, months, or years ago.
Residual is an adjective used to describe what is “remaining after the greater part or quantity has gone.” This not only applies to the edges of a pop tart, but also to the decisions we make. Every choice we make leaves residue. Every. Single. One. There are no exceptions. A sound understanding of this is clearly a significant aspect of leadership. We all realize that our choices impact far more than just ourselves, or even our teams. Likewise, our past choices impact our future choices. The residual effect of our choices has a major influence on the choice we may have down the road. Why Should We Care? I’m confident most people acknowledge this residual effect in their lives. Some more than others, obviously, but it’s pretty hard to dispute in its entirety. More often, I’ve found people are simply not fully aware of the far-reaching influence it can have. Here are a few examples that come to mind:
REAL TALK - Action Steps I also thought I would include a few things that we too often dismiss as insignificant, but leave a major residue and greatly impact our future self.
What we choose today impacts tomorrow. We would all be better served if we were mindful of that reality in our day to day living. Nothing, and no one, in life operates in isolation. The residue of today’s decisions will determine the choices of tomorrow. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Win The EdgesChuck Noll, long-time NFL coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was quoted as saying “Before you can win a game, you have to not lose it.” Few of those things required to ‘not lose it’ require significant talent.
I think understanding this is the first step on the path to excellence. Far too often we become affixed by the allure of the most public, or popular, aspects of our job. That’s not where you don’t lose … You don’t lose by being faithful in the details of the foundational aspects of your job. As a coach, the winning play at the end of a game is on Sportscenter. It’s celebrated and lifted up as the difference in the game. But, that’s not where you don’t lose. You don’t lose based on your habits and behaviors in practice leading up to the game. You don’t lose based on your mental preparation and your willingness to buy into your teammates. You don’t lose based on your discipline to apply what you did in practice to the game. What Noll is talking about is considered ‘The Edges’ by most people. To the people striving for excellence, it’s the core. The core has to be priority number 1 and it needs to be clear to your team that this is the case. Why Should We Care? The pursuit of excellence isn’t a crowded path, but it’s a narrow one. It takes what it takes. There are no passes, no excused absences, and no good-enoughs. Everyone on this path takes care of the core. That is no longer the separator. That’s the ticket for admission at the highest level. The leaders of these teams understand Noll’s warning and lead accordingly. So, the question becomes, how do we separate ourselves? How do we continue the pursuit of excellence? This is where the true edges begin. They don’t just become A factor. They become THE factor. The thing that distinguishes excellence among teams is their ability, and willingness, to win the edges. REAL TALK - Action Steps They probably aren’t what you think. They’re simple. They require little, to no, talent.
Not losing has to be first. We need that foundation. Don’t try to skip it and don’t forget about it. The things necessary to not lose are critical to revisit consistently. ‘The Edges’ can be thought of as more of a how than a what. As we continue to develop, ‘The Edges’ will take shape and become the difference. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Dream Big. Live Small.I love dreamers.
People that accept no limitations for what they can do. People that dare to do what others say can’t be done. They’re inspiring. I believe the dream, or vision, is the first step of leadership. Leaders see things differently. They don’t accept the status quo, or relegate the future to what has always been done. No, no, no … leaders expect to make a difference, or else, why lead? We all know it’s ‘the different’ that changes the world. The ‘weirdos’ that are crazy enough to try something that everyone has always said is impossible. Those are the people that leave an impact. The same is true for leaders of teams. It may not be world changing, or it may be, but it still requires a big dream and the courage to try to make it a reality. Why Should We Care? If the dream, or vision, is the first step of leadership; then the next thousand steps belong to humility and work. Living small is grounded in humility. Lack of humility robs us of the desire to improve. It tells us over and over that we’re good, or at least better than the next guy. Why would we work at something if we already think we’re good enough? Work is always the process. It’s ironic that we all know this to be true, yet when we look at the successes of the people around us we are so quick to attribute their success to a lucky break or a preordained gift from above. One of the last things we concede is that they must’ve worked at it. The people around us experiencing excellence may have been given a gift all right, but it wasn’t what you think that’s led to that excellence. Sure, others may have been blessed with a knack for numbers or remarkable athleticism or an ability to connect with others, but the gift that’s led to excellence is almost always a willingness, a desire, to work. That’s what living small is. There is no overnight success. It’s not a thing. The big dreams that we encourage those we lead to have can only become reality by committing to the day to day work. We must embrace the sacrifices that this work demands or move on to a different dream. There is no other way, so stop looking. REAL TALK - Action Steps It’s the combination of the two, dreaming big and living small, that creates excellence. One without the other leads to mediocrity and frustration
The only combination that leads to excellence is dreaming big and living small. A pursuit of something that seems out of reach, almost unattainable ... but maybe. Combined with a work ethic that constantly whispers, “we need to be better ... we can be better ... we’re getting better.” For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Giving ThanksThanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
Yes, it’s basketball season, but that’s not the only reason. Thanksgiving is pure, at least in it’s celebration. Primarily because it isn’t diluted with the expectations of buying, or receiving, gifts. It’s simply a time to share gratitude and appreciation for each other. It seems to me that we need to practice thanksgiving more regularly than once a year. Why Should We Care? As a leader, I think it’s critical to have systems in place that allow team members to openly share their appreciation for each other. If it’s left to chance, expressing gratitude seems to fall victim to ‘I didn’t have time’ quite often. I’m a big advocate for gratitude journals and writing down three things you are thankful for each day. It’s one of my daily routines. I love Thankful Thursdays when our team sends a text of gratitude to three people they are thankful for, reminding them why they are grateful for them. Better than a text is a handwritten letter, of course. However, nothing beats a face-to-face thank you. It’s awkward and awesome at the same time. Saying “Thank You” or sharing gratitude is one of the habits Daniel Coyle identified as consistently appearing in the interactions of elite teams. I believe the reasons for this are numerous, but here are a few that standout on the teams I’ve worked with.
Here are a few systems we have in place to say “Thank You”.
Saying ‘Thank you’ is one of those Slight Edge habits that Jeff Olson writes about in his book. They’re easy to do and easy not to do. Choosing to do it can change your team. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Proud of What?A little different tilt to my message this week, but hopefully you can find something beneficial to take away from it.
Our son, Gabe, accepted a scholarship offer to Indiana University to play basketball this week. He’s been incredibly fortunate to be in this position and is grateful for the opportunity and the trust Indiana’s coaching staff has shown in him. However, to say I’m proud of Gabe for this wouldn’t be accurate. Prior to his announcement he wrote letters to me, his mom, and his sister. All were heartfelt and personal expressions of his appreciation for our investment in him, but a line in the letter to me stood out. He said, “Almost everything I do in life is in an effort to make you proud.” I don’t think this is an uncommon feeling for kids. I know it’s not for me. I’m 45 years old and still want to make my dad proud. It’s one of the best things you can hear as a son or daughter - a parent sharing that simple encouragement: “I’m proud of you.” However, it does raise an urgency in me to be sure he knows what I’m proud of him for. Because, it’s not a scholarship to Indiana. I’m proud of him for being faithful in his work ethic when the results weren’t there ... yet. I’m proud of him for playing his last AAU season with a broken finger and his last high school season with a fracture in his ankle ... and never using it as an excuse to not perform. I’m proud of him for prioritizing his team over his numbers. I’m proud of him for being in the gym at 5:30am the morning after winning a state championship. I’m proud of him for choosing to wear #0 in high school to honor one of our former players that didn’t have the opportunity to play in his last HS game. I’m proud of his bench celebrations when he wasn’t big enough for his feet to reach the floor and his appreciation for those former players that did it the right way. I’m proud of him for crying in the living room after a tournament while telling us that he was feeling pressure to perform and that he felt like he could never play well enough … and that he just wanted to be able to wear sweatpants to church again. I’m proud of him for becoming intentional with his life ... finding his faith, core values, and his purpose - then measuring his success on his fulfillment of Selfless, Devoted, and Neoteny instead of society’s definition of success. I’m proud of him for getting up at 5:30am in Las Vegas as 6th grader to go workout before his AAU games later that day ... while everyone else was sleeping. I’m proud of him for going for it when he went to the North Coast Blue Chip tryouts - asking Bronny to play 1 on 1 during a water break, just to see how he measured up. I’m proud of him for working out three times a day in preparation for the North Coast Blue Chip tryouts in 4th grade. I’m proud of him for giving his lunch money to the kid in front of him in line that couldn’t afford their lunch at Cline Elementary. I’m proud of him for standing by his dream of playing in the NBA when kids in his 3rd grade class laughed at him. I’m proud of him for playing the game the right way. It’s not the scholarship I’m proud of at all. It’s the process he’s embraced that makes me smile. I would be proud of him if he never took another dribble. Basketball has served its purpose in his life. He’s devoted. He knows the value of hard work and sacrifice. He’s selfless. He prioritizes his team over anything personally. He lives with neoteny. He smiles … a lot. There is child-like curiosity and joy he brings to the toughest challenges. Gabe has trusted the process and surrendered the outcome. I’m proud of the process, not the result. Go Hoosiers. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help! |
About bcI'm a teacher, coach, and parent seeking excellence while defining success on my own terms. Archives
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