bcg blog

Be Before Do

It’s 2008 and the Graham Falcons are taking the floor in the Boys Basketball Regional Semi-finals against the Alter Knights at Wright State’s Nutter Center. For Alter, it’s just another year under legendary coach Joe Petrocelli, winner of numerous state championships and nearly thirty regional appearances. For the Falcons, who are not led by a legendary coach that has been to multiple state tournaments, it is new territory - the program’s first-ever trip to the elite eight.

Prior to the regional tournament, teams have approximately a week to prepare. The challenge, other than the best competition they’ve faced all season, is that the regional semi-finals and finals are only one day apart. Some would view the focus to be clear - win the next game, which is understandable. The Falcons approach it a little differently, though - they’re trying to win the whole thing. Of course the next game is important, but the goal is to win the last one.

With this mindset shift, a critical decision quickly becomes apparent: invest all of your time into preparation on all of your potential opponents or double down on yourself. Neither choice disregards the other, but the clarity of the commitment will direct the focus and be apparent to the team leading up to the biggest game of their careers. They double down.

The focus would not be on the perennial power they would face in the regional semi-final or the likely finals opponent with the seven-foot future NBA Draft pick. It would be on themselves. Who they would be in the moment took priority over anything they, or their opponents, would do. 

I’ve been very fortunate to coach several teams that have fully embraced this mindset. Each one has met, or exceeded, their potential. The 2008 Falcons were the first. 

Why Should We Care?
Transformational leaders understand that identity drives behavior more powerfully than strategy ever could. When we focus primarily on what our people need to do - hit revenue targets, manage conflicts, execute plans, or just run the play - they often find themselves reactive, anxious, and passive. They are dependent on circumstances beyond their control. When they shift their focus to who they need to be in each moment - composed, decisive, supportive, courageous - they access a source of power that no external situation can diminish. 
This principle becomes especially crucial during high-stakes moments. When facing a crisis, giving difficult feedback, or making unpopular decisions, leaders who ask "What should I do?" often get trapped in analysis or make fear-based choices. But leaders who ask "Who do I need to be right now?" tap into their core values and authentic strengths, enabling them to act with clarity and conviction regardless of uncertainty. They understand that their team is watching not just what they do, but how they show up - their energy, their confidence, their integrity under pressure. 
For individuals pursuing excellence, this shift from doing to being unlocks a freedom that achievement-focused thinking alone cannot provide. Instead of being at the mercy of external validation, market conditions, or other people's responses, you can anchor your sense of success in qualities that remain within your control. This doesn't mean outcomes don't matter - it means your confidence and effectiveness aren't held hostage by them. When you know exactly who you want to be in challenging moments, you can perform at your highest level regardless of stakes, opposition, or uncertainty. Excellence becomes less about perfect execution and more about consistent embodiment of your best self.

REAL TALK - Action Steps
The transition from doing-focused to being-focused leadership requires intentional practices - especially when pressure mounts. Here are a few you can make a part of your leadership system:

• Define Your Identity 
  
  • You can’t be intentional about things you are unaware of. We have to first know who we want to be before we can be it. This isn't about becoming someone you're not - it's about intentionally accessing the best version of who you already are when it matters most. Your core values are a great place to start!
    

• Create Reminders
  
  • Potential energy is worthless. It’s action that is required. We can know, but if we don’t do it doesn’t really matter. Set three alarms on your phone that prompts you to pause and assess: "Who am I being right now?" Notice whether your current way of showing up aligns with who you want to be. The goal isn't perfection - it's developing the ability to choose your way of being rather than defaulting to whatever your mood or the circumstance suggests.
    

• Prioritize Lead Measures
  
  • Start evaluating your effectiveness through the lens of being rather than just doing. At the end of each week, instead of only reviewing what you accomplished, assess how you showed up. Create a simple rating system for your core values and track trends over time. This shifts your development focus from external results to internal controllables.
    

The most influential leaders understand that lasting excellence flows from the inside out, not the outside in. 

Checkout Surrender the Outcome on Amazon and order The Score That Matters with Ryan Hawk & Brook Cupps. The latest blog from Blue Collar Grit can be found here!