Hold the Standard

What started as two kids wanting to play basketball became a lesson that lasted a lifetime. Hold the Standard is the story of how a school custodian named Mr. L taught me that doing a job right means more than simply finishing it. Through repetition, patience, attention to detail, and refusing to accept shortcuts, he showed me that the standard includes everything we do before, during, and after the job. It’s a simple story about sweeping and mopping a gym floor—but the lessons are about responsibility, discipline, coaching, and doing things right even when no one is watching.

Sorting Tomatoes is a story about how a seemingly simple job in a small sub shop became a lifelong lesson in standards, details, responsibility, trust, and coaching. At 19, I thought I was simply being taught how to sort tomatoes correctly, but years later I realized my coach was teaching me something much bigger—how to handle responsibility, perform under pressure, take pride in doing things the right way, and recognize potential in myself that someone else already saw. Sometimes the smallest tasks become the biggest lessons, and sometimes the people we think are simply teaching us a job are actually helping us become who we are capable of becoming.

A year ago, I almost drowned in a rip current. This is a very personal story, and the experience had a profound impact on me and my family. I’ve thought a lot about whether to share it, but I believe some of our most difficult experiences can become some of our greatest teachers—and by sharing them, maybe someone else can learn something without having to experience it themselves. That day taught me that sometimes trying harder can actually make things worse, that stopping doesn’t mean quitting, that prayer and asking for help are signs of strength, and that we have to learn to respond instead of simply react. I also realized that life has riptides too—change, uncertainty, fear, health challenges, career transitions, and circumstances we simply can’t control. This article is about what happened to me in the ocean, but it’s really about what happened afterward: the reflection, the lessons, and learning how to use a difficult experience as fuel to move forward. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it, and maybe something I learned will help you navigate one of the riptides in your own life.

By: Bobby Pancake

Pursuit was never intended to be a solo journey. We often spend time thinking about our calling—our purpose, our direction, and the reason behind what we are pursuing. We ask ourselves, “Why am I pursuing this?” But once we begin to understand our why, another important question follows: 

Who are we pursuing it with?

By: John Foster

Coaching in today's society is moderately different from in years past. As a coach in today's world, you are told you have to be careful what you say, how you say it, and even how you say it. 

The "today coach" is worried more about emotions than the act of leadership. However, when you examine the position of "coach," its definition according to is "to motivate an individual or a team to improve their performance and skill." If you are not willing or able to be coached, you may be on the wrong team or, as a coach, have the wrong player(s).

By: Bobby Pancake

The start of a new year brings goals, resolutions, and good intentions—but what really matters is direction. That is why our 2026 theme is Pursuit.As Abraham Lincoln wisely said, “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.”That is what pursuit requires—focus, effort, and discipline.

By Coach Hughes:

In my experience, both personally and while coaching others, I’ve noticed that many of us hesitate to try new things or set goals. When I ask myself or others why, the answers I hear too often is… "BECAUSE":

By Coach Hughes

We can all relate to the feeling of being pulled in various directions—juggling different responsibilities while trying to manage life's chaos. During a recent personal coaching session, I shared with my coach how overwhelming this past year has been.

By: Chris Stripto

Success, in its many forms—whether personal, academic, or professional—is often perceived as a straightforward path, but in reality, it is more nuanced and complex.

Accountability is a core trait of effective leadership, involving responsibility for one’s actions and those of the team. It fosters trust, which is essential for organizational growth.

When discussing self-improvement, physical exercise is often emphasized, but the importance of mental training is frequently overlooked.

There are various roles in life beyond professional jobs, where mentors serve as guides akin to bosses. Mentors help navigate personal challenges, and being a mentor to others is equally fulfilling.

We live in a digital age dominated by emojis and likes, yet handwritten letters offer unique mental and emotional benefits.

The text explores how we often find ourselves caught in a cycle of running away from our past or chasing future happiness, leading to chaos and a loss of direction.

Kyanna Isaacson emphasizes that effective communication is a crucial yet challenging aspect of leadership. She believes that miscommunication often stems from leaders avoiding difficult conversations.