“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. He is considered successful in our day who gets more out of life than he puts in. But a man of value will give more than he receives.”
― Albert Einstein

Whatever team you’re on, family you’re in, or customer you’re serving, always add value. Focus on adding value instead of doing the minimum to get by.

Add value as a father or mother.

Add value as a brother or sister.

Add value as a son or daughter.

Add value as a teammate or coworker.

Add value as a coach or player.

Add value in sales and service.

Add value as a leader or guide.

When you focus on adding value at all times, the people around you will flourish and you will become the best version of yourself.

“May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.”
― Roman Missal, EV 14

May you experience the light of the Lord in your mind, heart, and soul today and always!

“A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life.”
― John Wooden

Bad coaching can make a good player look bad, but good coaching can’t make a bad player look good. Oh, sure, good coaching can utilize limited skills and maximize potential. It can develop and draw out the best in a player, but it cannot fundamentally change a player’s abilities.

Good coaching is part of the equation, but the coach doesn’t make the plays. The coach doesn’t run, skate, or jump. The coach doesn’t pass, catch, swing, or shoot.

On the other hand, a bad coach can drag down the whole team. He can make the game much more difficult for his team. He can fail as a leader, a strategist, a motivator, and a mentor.

When you build a team, you need talent and coaching. You need star power and role players, and both need to be utilized and put into a position to succeed.

Oh, and, this post isn’t about sports.

“At the end of the day, I want to be the best teammate I can be.”
― P.K. Subban

Elite teams are not just a collection of talented people, but rather a cohesive unit where each member is dedicated to the team’s success. Teamwork, mutual respect, and a shared sense of purpose are essential for overcoming obstacles and achieving difficult goals.

Individual skills are important, but they are amplified when combined with the power of a well-functioning team. Good teammates compensate for each other’s weaknesses, leverage their collective strengths, and push each other to perform at their best.

“A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.”
― Francis Bacon

When opportunity knocks, some people hide in a corner.

Other people say, “Go away.”

A few answer the door out of curiosity.

But leaders aren’t at home. They didn’t wait for opportunity to arrive. They’re getting after it right now and creating their own opportunities.

“People talk about pressure. Yeah, there’s pressure. But I just look at it as fun.”
― Derek Jeter

Some people face the pressure and run away.

Some people face the pressure and freeze.

Some people face the pressure and fight back.

But some people face the pressure and get stronger, shine brighter, and emerge transformed. They use it as fuel to push boundaries and break barriers. They redefine their limits and achieve remarkable feats.

“Somebody said that it couldn’t be done…”
― Edgar Albert Guest, It Couldn’t Be Done

Do what you can’t.

Do what you’re afraid of.

Do what you’re not qualified for.

Do what’s impossible.

Do what’s difficult.

Do what challenges you.

Do what pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Do what others say can’t be done.

“There are good days and there are bad days, and this is one of them.”
― Lawrence Welk

Often, at the end of the day, I find myself metaphorically battered, beaten, and bloody, but still standing.

Those are good days.

Those are the days when the world keeps hitting, but I stay in the fight. Sometimes I fall, but I get back up. I take the hits and keep moving forward. I refuse to quit.

Those are good days.

“Some people worry that artificial intelligence will make us feel inferior, but then, anybody in his right mind should have an inferiority complex every time he looks at a flower.”
― Alan Kay

Once upon a time, assembly language programmers feared Fortran. Then Fortran programmers feared C. Then C programmers feared Java and Ruby. (Nobody feared BASIC or PHP programmers.)

In each case, the best of the best kept their jobs because the old tech didn’t just disappear. Those who adapted found new jobs because the new innovations drove demand through the roof. The rest became “back in my day” curmudgeons.

Now we face modern innovations like no-code platforms and artificial intelligence (AI). Once again, many people are worried about job security. However, history has shown that every technological shift brings new opportunities.

So, become exceptional in your core skills. Develop fundamentals that transcend the era, like leadership and communication. Learn to adapt and adapt to learn. Move forward and embrace change.

“The fall of dropping water wears away the Stone.”
― Lucretius

Our ancestors understood that flowing water is a source of life. Stagnant water is death.

Like a life-giving stream, you can be a source of life for your family and friends.

But only if you don’t stop moving forward.