"Come with Me" the Sam Jackson Rule

Samuel L. Jackson has been "The Guy" on set. Few athletes get to be "The Guy." The Guy has both the game and the presence to invite teammates to “come with me.” 

What “come with me” means

• Clear intent: You project, “I know where we’re going.” No hedging, no hesitation.

• Emotional anchor: You carry a steady tone - calm under stress, energized on cue - so others follow your tone.

• Rhythm and pace: You control tempo - when to slow down for emphasis and when to deliver a punch.

• Credibility: You punctuate the moment, right now.

Behaviors that create it

• Stand tall: Square shoulders, eye contact, audible first sentence/call - command the room.

• Name the objective: “Here’s the goal; here’s how we’ll get it; here’s your role.”

• Reduce cognitive load: One cue at a time; be the voice on the court.

• Close strong: “Come with me: make the first pass, then set me.”

Pitfalls to avoid

• Vagueness: “Let’s be better” isn’t enough. Be specific. 

• Over-explaining: Keep it simple.

• Mismatch of tone: Match the message to the tone.

Shifting standards: Never move the goalpost. Stay in control. Quick checklist (use pre-huddle)

• Share one thing we’re doing next? "We're getting side out."

• Frame why it matters in a sentence. "It's our time.

• Oversee roles and finish with action.

Lagniappe. From Clint Hurdle in "Hurdle-isms" “You're playing a game. The greatest game ever invented! There's no place for fear. It will hold you back. Go play like you were in the backyard when you were a kid.”"