Saturday, September 20, 2025

Contribution Over Credit

“It’s amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit.” – Anonymous

Carolina coach Dean Smith made it a point to praise reserve players who contributed to winning. He knew that 'star' players always got a disproportionate amount of media attention. 

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra once pointed out that “there is always a pecking order.” Star players usually receive the lion’s share of the credit. But when a team struggles, those same players often shoulder an outsized share of the blame for not doing “enough.”

Hall of Fame baseball manager Earl Weaver reminded us that perception rarely matches reality: “You’re never as good as you look when you win or as bad as you look when you lose.”

Sports magnify both praise and criticism. The best players and coaches learn to navigate those swings by balancing intensity with composure. They focus on what they can control: the next play, their effort, and the details that build trust within a team. That discipline—staying present, working together, and chasing excellence without obsessing over credit—creates the best chance for success and the fewest regrets.


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