Dreams, Work, and Character

“Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them.” – Carmelo Anthony

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— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) May 16, 2025

Everyone wants to fulfill our dreams. Fewer people have the will to work to achieve them.  

1) Mistakes kill dreams. My basketball saying is that "turnovers kill dreams." What are some volleyball equivalents? 

• Excessive service errors. Everyone has service errors. Championship teams limit these. 
• Rotation errors. These are "unforced errors." 
• Lack of communication. Talk. Call the ball. Energize teammates. 
• Loss of focus. Never allow a cut to turn into a blood transfusion requirement. 
• "Mental mistakes have no redeeming qualities." - Bill Belichick

2) Dream big. It's great to make the team. That's not enough. Match your work to your ambition and contribute to success. 

3) Work fuels the dream machine. "Repetitions make reputations." 

"Better people make better volleyball players." - Karch Kiraly  

"There are two ways to play...one is avoiding failure and the other is approaching success and letting it rip." - Karch Kiraly 

Lagniappe. Kiraly has won Olympic gold indoors, in beach, and as the US coach. He shares opinions on character, via ChatGPT

1. Character Drives Team Culture

Karch often says that team culture eats strategy for breakfast. He believes that character—not talent—is the foundation of a strong culture. For him, character shows up in how athletes handle adversity, how they support teammates, and how they pursue continuous improvement.

“We need people who want to be great teammates as much as they want to be great players.”

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2. Response to Adversity

Kiraly emphasizes the importance of how players respond when things go wrong, not just when they’re going well. He looks for athletes who show resilience, humility, and accountability.

“We talk a lot about being your best when your best is needed. That often means responding to stress with poise and to failure with determination.”

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3. “Give Us the Right People”

In many interviews, Karch has noted that the national team looks for "the right people" over just "the best players." This means athletes who elevate others, commit to the grind, and leave their egos at the door.

“We’re not just trying to win matches—we’re trying to build a team full of people who make each other better every day.”

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4. Leadership and Selflessness

Karch praises leaders who lead by example and by service. He has highlighted the importance of servant leadership, where players with strong character think first about the team’s needs.

“We’re looking for people who ask, ‘How can I help?’ Not just, ‘How can I play?’”

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5. The Everyday Champions

Kiraly values the "everyday champions"—those who show up consistently, put in the work when no one is watching, and stay connected to the team’s purpose. Character, in this sense, is about what you do daily, not just in the big moments.

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Summary:

Karch Kiraly sees character as a competitive advantage. He believes:

• Character shapes a team’s identity.

• It’s revealed in pressure, not created by it.

• It’s as coachable and essential as any technical skill.

• Teams built on character sustain excellence.

Lagniappe. Study video. It's not always the biggest hit but the well-placed ones that succeed. Watch the end of Melrose at Winchester 2023...