Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Clues Left Behind Along the Trail of Success

Top players thrive on competition. They want to be the best. They don't put in the time; they put in the work

  • Relentless by Tim S. Grover
  • Success is a Choice by Rick Pitino
  • Why the Best Are the Best by Kevin Eastman
Lagniappe. Highlights from Why the Best Are the Best from ChatGPT

Kevin Eastman's Why the Best Are the Best shares powerful lessons from his experience as an NBA coach and executive, emphasizing habits and mindsets that separate elite performers from the rest. Here are five key highlights:


1. Your "E-Word" Defines You

Eastman stresses the importance of effort, energy, enthusiasm, and excellence. What he calls your personal “E-word” defines how you show up every day. Great performers consistently bring their chosen E-word to every situation, regardless of circumstances.


2. Success Leaves Clues

The best are constantly observing and learning. Eastman believes excellence is a trail—those who reach the top often leave behind a "breadcrumb path" of habits, routines, and decisions. High performers seek these clues, study them, and adapt them into their own process.


3. Don't Cheat the Drill

Small details matter. Eastman emphasizes the compound effect of daily habits. Cheating the drill—cutting corners in practice or preparation—adds up over time. The best don’t skip steps; they embrace repetition and discipline.


4. Be a Lifelong Learner

Greatness requires humility. Eastman highlights that elite performers and leaders are voracious learners. They ask questions, read constantly, and surround themselves with people who challenge them to grow. “The best are the most curious,” he says.


5. "You Get What You Demand"

Eastman believes leadership is about setting high standards and holding people accountable. Championship cultures don’t settle. Whether in sports, business, or life, the best organizations demand excellence—and their people rise to meet it.

"Success leaves clues..." is a favorite. ChatGPT picks breadcrumbs. Think about other types of clues - tracks, organizational DNA, fingerprints, footprints, or on British crime dramas...CCTV. 

What clues are you leaving signaling your work?

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