Raise Your Standards

Rules are the baseline—what everyone has to do.
Standards? That’s what champions choose to do.
Great players don’t just follow rules—they set the standard.
Coaches, hold them to it.
Athletes, live it every day.
That’s how winning programs are built. pic.twitter.com/4jwda69Wpa

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) June 4, 2025

Don't be a rule-follower; be a standard-setter.

Doing your chores is a rule. Doing them well is a standard. 

Doing your homework is a rule. Doing exceptional work is a standard.

Being on time is a rule. Being on time, stretched out, and mentally ready is a standard. 

Practicing is a rule. Practicing with focused intensity is a standard.

Showing up is a rule. Seeking to dominate is a standard. 

Doing good work might get you on the court. Excellence keeps you there. 

Choosing excellence as the standard of performance is worth your investment and your parents' sacrifice. 

Lagniappe. Her nickname was "Cakes." Not because she liked to eat, but because she made so many pancake digs.