Leadership — Erik Hardy

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The Truth

Your players are watching you tie your shoes.

It's 5:45 AM. You're the first one in the gym, fumbling with your coffee, checking your phone one more time before practice. Your star player walks in and sees you straightening up the equipment room that the janitor missed. No big deal, right?

Wrong.

That moment—when you think nobody's paying attention—that's when culture gets built. Not in your opening speech about "doing things the right way." Not when you post motivational quotes in the locker room. But when you live the standard before anyone else shows up.

Every coach talks about accountability. We preach hustle, attention to detail, and putting the team first. But here's what kills programs: asking players to live standards that we only enforce, not embody.

Your character in the small moments becomes their culture in the big ones.

The question isn't whether your players are listening to your words. The question is: Are they learning from your actions when you think they're not watching?

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The Mirror

What did you do yesterday that you hope your players noticed?

(If nothing comes to mind, that's your answer.)

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This Week

Your Challenge:

Pick the first 10 minutes of every practice this week. Be the example of everything you want to see from your team—energy, focus, preparation, attitude.

No speeches needed. Just live it.