Learn from the Firehose of Information Around Us to Become an Unlikely Heroine

A recurrent blog theme is the opportunity to learn across domains. How can players learn from a K-drama ("Misaeng: Incomplete Life") where the hero arrives at a trading company with no domain or work experience?

Think back to your early volleyball experiences - no platform skills, awkward serving, embryonic footwork. As you evolve, you grow skills, game understanding, physical and emotional maturity. If you can do that for volleyball, why not at home, in class, and in your first jobs?

Here's a "hallucination" from Claude.ai about one "hero journey" where the protagonist begins alone, isolated with no allies or mentors. Yet he grows and persists. 

I'm not recommend a watch, but a study of the narrative arc. 

Geu-rae is a great case study precisely because he flips the usual leadership assumption on its head — competence isn't the gate, character is the engine that builds competence over time. Here are the leadership lessons that come out of his journey:

1. Attitude is trainable before skill is.
Geu-rae can't do the technical parts of the job when he starts, but he can control his attitude, effort, and honesty completely. Leaders who wait for someone to be "ready" before investing in them get the sequence backwards. The people worth developing often show the trainable traits — coachability, humility, follow-through — long before they show the trainable skills.

2. Process discipline (his baduk/go background) transfers across domains.
Geu-rae's years studying Go didn't teach him office work, but they taught him how to read a position, think several moves ahead, stay calm under pressure, and learn from a loss without collapsing. The lesson for leaders: don't just evaluate direct experience — look for transferable discipline. Someone's rigor in one domain often predicts how they'll operate in a new one.

3. Psychological safety unlocks effort; contempt shuts it down.
The contrast between Sang-sik (Geu-rae's team lead, who is demanding but fair and invested) and the higher-ups who dismiss Geu-rae for his background is the show's central leadership tension. Sang-sik gets more out of Geu-rae not by lowering standards but by making it safe to fail, ask questions, and try again. Leaders who signal contempt for someone's starting point guarantee they'll never see that person's ceiling.

4. Accountability without excuse-making is a competitive advantage.
Geu-rae almost never blames circumstances. When he screws up, he owns it and adjusts. This matters for leaders because it's rare and it's a strong predictor of long-term development — someone who metabolizes failure into correction improves faster than someone equally talented who externalizes blame.

5. Merit systems have to be built, not assumed.
A recurring theme is that "meritocracy" at the company is aspirational, not real — plenty of decisions run on pedigree and politics, not demonstrated ability. The leadership lesson: fair evaluation doesn't happen by default. Leaders have to actively build structures that let character-and-effort candidates get evaluated on their actual output, or the informal hierarchy will just reproduce itself.

6. Small, consistent wins compound into trust.
Geu-rae doesn't have a single heroic moment that proves himself. He earns credibility through repeated small deliveries — showing up early, doing the tedious task well, not cutting corners. For leaders, this reframes how you build trust in a new or unproven team member: you don't need to wait for the big test; you accumulate evidence.

7. The team, not just the individual, is the unit of development.
Sang-sik's team functions as a genuine developmental unit — people cover for each other, share credit, and absorb newcomers' mistakes without punishing them publicly. Geu-rae improves faster because he's inside a team culture built for growth, not just inside an org chart.

If it's useful, the throughline for a blog piece could be: competence is a lagging indicator, character is a leading one — which would pair naturally with the Duckworth grit material and the Wooden/Stoic patience piece you've already written, since Geu-rae is basically a live case study in both.

The Misaeng to MVB Message:

Misaeng in the game "Go" describes a stone that is not yet fully alive on the board.

MVB 26 has a team full of players "not fully alive on the board." They move along a high character, high commitment arc that creates possibility. 

 

How Coaching Relates to Human Development and Leadership

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

Effective coaches add value in different ways (e.g. teaching, perspective, leadership), including truth-telling.

The question of how excellence, credibility, and stewardship are earned is timeless.

Good intentions do not equal good results. 

A coach's authority comes from the position. A coach's influence comes from earned credibility. Coaching legacy comes from developing people who eventually surpass the coach.

As a coach, I can insist that you call me "Coach," but that earns neither  credibility nor influence. 

The progression from position to legacy mirrors human development. At first, children follow because an adult says, "I said so." As they mature, they gravitate to and follow those who show competence and integrity. Eventually, leadership is not commanding followers but cultivating future leaders who understand both their sport and their inherited tradition.

Players face intersecting challenges - physical, mental, and emotional growth, sport-specific development, and social maturity. Invest some time in considering whom you want to become and the best way to get there.

Lagniappe. Deserve success. 

“Earning and deserving the confidence that you play with because of the work that you put in and then not being afraid of failure,” Steph Curry

Don’t try to be confident.
Be prepared.
Confidence will take care of itself. pic.twitter.com/qeNWDWx76h

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) July 14, 2026

Principles from Lingenfelter (Big AI Assist)

Practice should prepare players for the emotional demands of competition - not just the technical demands. 

Distill coaching lessons from books, videos, podcasts, or lectures. AI can and did help (and I edited heavily):

1. Competition is a skill.

This may be his central idea.

Most coaches teach skills. Lingenfelter says we also need to teach: Competing.

Not everyone knows:

• how to respond after losing three points,
• how to play from ahead,
• how to finish,
• how to recover from mistakes.

Competition itself deserves practice.

2. Cooperative versus Combative

Every drill should answer:

What is today's objective?

Cooperative

Emphasize technique with lots of repetitions, confidence, ball control or placement. 

Combative

Pressure, decision-making, scoring, winning, and emotion.

He's saying: Know why you're doing each. That reminds me of basketball thought: Every drill should have a purpose...to impact winning. 

3. "You haven't taught until they've learned."

This may be my favorite quote from the clinic. It humbles.

Teaching isn't measured by:

• explanations
• PowerPoint
• demonstrations.

Teaching is measured by: Changed behavior. That's medicine, coaching, parenting.

4. Be concise

He asks: "Why stop eleven players to coach one?" If a player made one mistake...can you fix it later?

5. Score everything

This is one of his biggest themes. Keep score to emphasize:

• urgency
• accountability
• engagement

6. Win the first ten minutes

I love it. He calls the opening of practice the rudder. That applies in matches, too.

Fast starts, early communication, find answers out of the gate. He stamps the same idea to practice.

7. Teach failure

Lingenfelter repeatedly says: Fail. Fail often. Fail forward. That fits a favorite concept: Don't miss twice.

Mistakes aren't the enemy. Failure to learn from mistakes is.

8. Small-sided games

This aligns perfectly with modern motor learning.

Smaller games mean: More touches, decisions, communication, and less standing.

9. "Win the gym"

This one conjured Pete Carroll. The objective is to become the hardest-working, most connected team in the building. That's identity.

Coach Scott Celli and I discussed the video. Coaches have to love practice, the process, seeing players improve. Yes, winning matters and adds additional motivation. Winning without playing well doesn't provide the same feedback, the why? 

Lagniappe. Come to practice with intention to improve elements - block footwork, attack sequence, service location. 

Another version of "Shout outs." 

Are you looking for a unique way to end your team/staff meetings on a high note?

A way to conclude that will increase cohesion and camaraderie?

Try an exercise called You, Me, We.

INSTRUCTIONS: Select a member of your team to acknowledge something that a teammate did well… pic.twitter.com/QXa4r09M9U

— Alan Stein, Jr. (@AlanSteinJr) July 14, 2026

Musashi and "The Book of Five Rings"

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely mine. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. Some AI assist.

Learn across time, space, and cultures. One of the great warriors of history was Musashi, master of Kendo (The Way of the Sword) and author of "The Book of Five Rings."

"The Book of Five Rings," written circa 1645 is considered one of the bibles of strategy. Musashi, a Samurai, was undefeated in combat. He believed that most opponents suffered from their lack of strategy. It's a difficult read without frame of reference to swordsmanship. 

Principles that fit:

1. The Long Sword and the Companion Sword

Volleyball Translation: Win with both power and finesse.

Musashi believed a swordsman should be proficient with both the long sword and the companion sword. Each had strengths depending on distance, timing, and circumstance.

In volleyball:

The Long Sword 

• Powerful jump serve
• Hard-driven attack
• Stuff block
• Offensive system

The Companion Sword

• Roll shot
• Tip
• Off-speed attack
• High hands
• Emergency free ball
• Smart serving to seams

Many young players fall in love with the "long sword." Great attackers learn when not to swing hard, to use space and time. 

Sometimes the winning shot is the one that barely clears the block.

Musashi might say:

Use the weapon the situation requires.

2. Observe Before You Attack

Volleyball Translation: Gather information early.

Musashi repeatedly emphasized observation.

A samurai studies:

• stance
• rhythm
• tendencies
• confidence

Volleyball players should do the same.

During the first 10-15 points question:

• Which hitter tips?
• Which setter favors the right side?
• Who struggles with float serves?
• Which blocker leaves the line?
• Which passer is uncomfortable?

Winning often belongs to the team that learns fastest.

3. Timing Over Force

Volleyball Translation: Technique beats effort.

Musashi writes often about timing. The objective isn't swinging harder but striking at the right moment.

Volleyball examples:

• Closing the block late rather than early.
• Delaying the swing against a triple block.
• Waiting another fraction of a second before attacking a poor set.
• Letting the ball descend into your platform on serve receive.

Power without timing rarely succeeds.

"Play with force and timing."

4. Disturb the Opponent's Rhythm

Volleyball Translation: Keep opponents uncomfortable.

Musashi wanted to disrupt his opponent's cadence.

Volleyball teams can do the same by:

• varying serve speed
• mixing float and topspin
• alternating tempos
• changing defensive looks
• attacking different zones

Predictability helps the opponent. Variation forces adjustment. Find answers for that match.

5. Balance and Center

Volleyball Translation: Efficient movement creates options.

Musashi devoted considerable attention to posture and balance. A swordsman leaning too far cannot respond quickly.

Volleyball is similar. There are times for patience and speed. 

Good defenders:

• stay balanced
• avoid overcommitting
• recover quickly
• maintain posture through contact

The best athletes appear fast because they're rarely off balance. Read plays early.

Being early allows balance. Balance allows choices.

No Fixed Strategy

One of Musashi's deepest ideas is that there is no universally correct technique. Be able to play against different players and styles. He warns against becoming attached to any single style. That fits volleyball beautifully.

Some matches require:

• power

Others require:

• patience
• defense
• communication
• emotional resilience

Championship teams aren't committed to one way of winning. They're committed to winning. Don't become attached to your favorite weapon. Commit to solving the problem in front of you.

Lagniappe. The ChatGPT summary:

The Book of Five Rings is divided into five sections - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void - and blends swordsmanship with broader principles of strategy and personal conduct. While different translations vary in wording, these are eight enduring principles that capture the spirit of Musashi's work:

1. Know the Way thoroughly.
   • Master the fundamentals before seeking advanced techniques.
   • Deep understanding comes through consistent practice, not shortcuts.
2. Perceive what others overlook.
   • Train yourself to distinguish appearance from reality.
   • Success often comes from noticing subtle details others miss.
3. Do not become attached to one method.
   • Adapt to the situation rather than forcing a favorite strategy.
   • Flexibility is a greater strength than rigid expertise.
4. Make decisions without hesitation.
   • Once you've gathered sufficient information, act decisively.
   • Indecision often creates more problems than an imperfect choice.
5. Control the rhythm.
   • Every contest, negotiation, or challenge has a tempo.
   • Learn when to accelerate, when to wait, and when to disrupt your opponent's timing.
6. See the whole, not just the immediate.
   • Musashi emphasizes developing broad awareness rather than focusing narrowly.
   • In modern terms, maintain strategic vision while handling tactical details.
7. Train every day.
   • Skill is built through deliberate, disciplined repetition.
   • Character and competence grow from consistent habits rather than occasional bursts of effort.
8. Remain calm under pressure.
   • Emotional control is a competitive advantage.
   • Fear, anger, and overconfidence cloud judgment; composure sharpens it.

These principles explain why the book continues to resonate with athletes, military leaders, executives, and coaches. Although written for samurai nearly 400 years ago, its central message is timeless: victory belongs not merely to the strongest, but to those who prepare thoroughly, observe clearly, adapt intelligently, and act with discipline.

As someone who has discussed coaching philosophy before, one Musashi idea is especially applicable to sports:

"Know your strengths, know your opponent's strengths, and know the rhythm of the contest."

That mindset applies equally well to volleyball, baseball, business, and medicine: master the fundamentals, observe carefully, adapt continuously, and execute with confidence.

Volleyball - "Cooking with MVB"

Michelin three-star chef Thomas Keller ("The French Laundry") reminds viewers (MasterClass) that "cooks cook to nurture people."

That dovetails with my belief that "coaches coach to nurture people." Coaches derive immense satisfaction not just by winning but through seeing our players develop into quality adults.

Cooking, like sport, is about the pursuit of excellence. I don't know whether the MasterClass link will work...and frankly this sandwich (four types of cheese) goes beyond my capacity. But the principles work:

1) Quality ingredients

2) Imagination (creativity)

3) Flavors (consider "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat")

4) Time and temperature

And I wouldn't use clarified butter or pickled mustard seeds, but I might add some sauerkraut and sliced tomato. And I don't have "sandwich weights." 

For the Grilled Cheese

• 2 slices hearth-baked (crusty) sourdough bread cut from a 2-lb loaf, about ¾-inch thick per piece
• ⅓ cup melted ghee or melted unsalted clarified butter
• 3 to 4 thin slices (about 2 oz) aged gruyère or Comté cheese
• 3 to 4 thin slices (about 2 oz) medium Wisconsin yellow cheddar (or another medium yellow cheddar)
• 2 oz bandaged sharp white cheddar (such as Neal’s Yard, Fiscalini, or Murray’s Bleu Mont Dairy), grated
• 2 oz medium white New York cheddar, grated
• ½ small yellow onion, thinly shaved or sliced
• 1 large leek, rinsed thoroughly, cut in half lengthwise, and thinly sliced into half-moons (white and pale green parts only)
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp pickled mustard seeds
• 1 tbsp whole-grain mustard 

Sometimes the difference between "good" and "excellent" is more effort coupled with more imagination. 

MasterClass link to GOAT (greatest of all time) grilled cheese

Focus - Separating Ordinary from Extraordinary

Judge yourself by the quality of your process, and improve that process by listening more than you speak.

We learn by knowledge intake and processing, which occurs via perception more than production. 

Develop focus 

Consider this story... 

The punchline: 

eager parishioners asked him what the Pope was like.

The tailor replied with hyper-specific professional focus: "He's a forty-four, medium."

Focus in volleyball

• Listen intently to coaches
• Work to understand the game plan - the big picture and the details.
• Be able to repeat the lesson in your own words.
• Communicate well in practice to prepare for game conditions.
• Make sure that both you and your teammates are on the 'same page'.
• Teamwork can best talent. 

Another true focus story: Alabama football coach Nick Saban and another coach were in a bar talking football, having a beer, and drawing up plays. A robbery ensued. When police came to interview customers, they asked Saban about the robbery. He answered, "What robbery?" 

The Merits of Open Practice*

All opinions expressed are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. *Adapted from a 2017 basketball blog post. 

"See with your eyes, not with your heart." 

The debate continues...should practices be open or closed? I share my thoughts...nothing ever arrives on stone tablets. 

First, I coached middle school (girls) and it's about development of the person and the player. You want our handbook, playbook, drills, philosophy, or to come and film practice, be my guest. 

Second, opportunity matters. I've had parents who tracked (there's an app) every second of playing time in games. That's helpful, because it lets me know if ANY player isn't seeing the floor (aside from foul trouble and injury). 

My ego can't be about 12-14 year old girls winning basketball games. When kids get into the college of their choice, succeed academically, or drop me a note thanking me, that's the WHY, the result of their process. I don't control what happens the second they've finished the middle school season. The high school coaches couldn't care less about my opinion, nor should they. It's their show and they own the results. "Control what you can control." 

Third, the teaching isn't just about basketball. I discuss preparation (e.g. Sun Tzu, The Art of War) - "Every battle is won before it is fought. I share the history of unequal matchups (Malcolm Gladwell, David and Goliath - did Goliath have a pituitary tumor?). I seek to empower women (Arlene Blum Climbs Annapurna from Michael Useem's The Leadership Moment) with an all-woman crew. I emphasized self-instruction (Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of Maine helped win Gettysburg). I taught that underdogs win victories (Robert E. Lee at Chancellorsville). 

The girls heard about Anson Dorrance's "competitive fury". We can talk about Nick U'Ren and the Warriors' championship in 2015 (the video coordinator changed history) or why developing listening skills matters. 

Every coach teaches alcohol and drug prevention and forging self-respect and healthy relationships. A parent who is a boys high school coach called it what it is, "a holistic approach'. 

Disadvantages. There is potential for distraction of players looking to parents for approval. I haven't seen parents coaching their children during practice. Parents can question coaching methods...leadership always comes under scrutiny. That simply comes with the territory. In my opinion, it is better to be questioned for what we do than what someone conjectures that we do. 

Advantages. Transparency reveals practice planning, division of practice time, attention to fundamentals (e.g. shooting, applying and handling pressure), attention to detail, individual and group instruction, conditioning within basketball activities, and role of assistant coaches. My assistant coach was named this year's High School's female athlete of the year. 

Open practice informs commitment, discipline, and effort of everyone involved. Coaches aren't allowed to have low energy days or low engagement practices. Open practice shares the philosophy, culture, and identity development of within the program. 

Open practice means sharing; I learn from kids and their families, too. The more parents know about basketball and coaching techniques, the more they can share the experience with their families. We all have coached multiple children in families. Sharing produces trust which engenders loyalty.

Networking results among parents and families. They participate in other activities (sports or otherwise) together. Some socialize. Maybe some develop business relationships; the opportunities are there. 

Openness produces accountability. We create an expectation of a higher tempo practice for greater efficiency. The accountability is mutual between coaches and players. There's no excuse for foul language. Parents have eyes even when they view their children through the prism of parental love. It's rare for players to excel in practice and struggle consistently in games. More eyes over more time produce more reasonable expectations.

Openness reinforces "message discipline". Parents who repeatedly hear, "the ball is gold", "share the ball", "sprint back", "don't back down", "talk", "no paint", "it's not your shot, it's our shot" have the chance but not the obligation to give constructive feedback to their children. 

The reality is that few parents have the time or inclination to watch basketball practice, even when welcomed.

I was truly blessed in over fifty years in the game to have mostly positive experiences with parents. When they didn't feel that way, that didn't mean they were wrong. 

Many coaches are absolutely against open practice. Transparency isn't a panacea - communication and observation do not equal acceptance. 

As Brad Stevens notes, "we get back more than we give." And I realize that I was a developmental coach, but the game is an "open source in an open domain". The secret sauce is sharing.

Lagniappe. Summer camp wraps up. Click photos to enlarge. 

Coach Ryan Celli will again handle the JVa duties. 

Coach Scott Celli enters his 27th season. 

Learning Volleyball

Volleyball is a thinking person's game. Simple is hard. Some will say, "Everyone knows that." Response? It's what we learn after we know everything that matters. 

1. Good teams win more points. 

"Active winning." Positive scores are points you win. They also arise from opponent errors (communication errors, shanks, mishits - e.g. downballs hit into the net.

Negative scores arise from points the opponent wins and from our errors.

How do you succeed? Control what you can control. 

• Win more points.
• Lose fewer points. DME - fewer poor decisions, mistakes, and errors. 

2. Where do you score positive points? 

• Aces
• Attacks 
• Block kills

Sustainable competitive advantage means continually putting opponents into negative situations...make them do what they don't want to do. 

3. Team coordination is paramount. 

• "Classic coordination" is "pass, set, hit."
• Less obvious is front row players getting 'hands on' attacks to allow defenders a better chance to "keep the ball up." 
• In some sense, you have two quarterbacks (QB) on the court - the setter who directs the offense and the libero who directs the defense. What makes a great QB - decision-making and accuracy. 

A recent conversation arose about coaching volleyball. I do not know enough about volleyball to burden myself and others. But this guy does. 

Lagniappe. Great stuff. Hint: watch at 1.5 to 1.75 normal playback speed. "Culture comes from consistency." 

The Path Is Becoming Clearer

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

 

F Troop would be impossible today, although it was every bit as much a parody of the cavalry as the Hekawi. Studying American history requires reading such as the story of the rise and fall of the Comanche, told in Empire of the Summer Moon. One reviewer described it as a story about technology, the mastery of the horse by the Comanche and the emergence of the Colt 45 as the equalizer. 

The volleyball offseason journey continues.

Summer camp ends

Summer League at Winchester High School continues

Tryouts at MVMMS start 24 August 

Preseason scrimmages:

• At Lynnfield
• Vs North Andover
• Play Day at Winchester High School against top area teams

2026 Varsity Schedule (seven non-league games)

Conversations with the Coaches:

Coach Scott Celli and assistants are excited for the possibilities.

The ML12 will look different this season with the regular season then "play ins" (my term) with the final two games using seedings of 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12 before the playoffs. 

Coach plans to use the preseason scrimmages to allow the players to earn spots in the lineup as an open competition. 

Without Sabine Wenzel (graduated), the team should be far less predictable as the offense is likely to become far more diversified. 

With a "new look" club, strategy may also change. 

The team, although young (returns 13 players with only three seniors), has experience as the sophomores have played together for four years. 

It's unknown how many players will be on the initial varsity roster - tryouts, not an arbitrary number, will define that. 

Ryan Celli, now a teacher at MHS, will have a big role in molding the JVa club. Last year, three players had in-season promotion. 

First year varsity assistant Gia Vlajkovic (a.k.a. The Unicorn yet also reminiscent of "The Password") will be a tremendous asset. Like Ryan, she brings an All-Scholastic resume to the team, having led MVB to sectional titles both as a setter and an outside hitter.