Master and Commander

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

English author Patrick O'Brian wrote "Master and Commander" and other novels that addressed the complexity associated with leadership.

There's no easy way to "shortlist" leadership criteria and yet for simplicity and clarity it's an "ambitious try." 

Set high standards while maintaining compassion. 

As team leaders, commit to setting the example, raising the standards, and always being the best possible teammate. When she was a freshman, now Dr. Victoria Crovo was both the best player and the emotional leader. Being young doesn't prevent you from being a leader. Not being a captain doesn't remove your leadership possibilities. 

Surround yourself with talented people (friends and confidants).

Character and competence are contagious. Developing a "critical mass" of high quality people around you make you better...and them. 

Innovate. 

Invest a small amount of time to compound value. What can you do better as an individual or as a team? In one scene from the movie Master and Commander Aubrey lowers a few boats to tug his ship into the fog which limits the attack from another ship which can't see them. 

Inspire. 

Excellent leadership works to expand their 'toolbox'. Coach Scott Celli works out, has scouted opponents directly, and studies college volleyball looking for edges to put you in a position to succeed. 

Lagniappe. Part of your opportunity and obligation as a student-athlete is to derive leadership principles from sport. The ChatGPT AI take on key leadership principles from "Master and Commander":

Here are five leadership principles that translate cleanly to sport.

1. Competence Precedes Authority

Captain Jack Aubrey commands loyalty because he is exceptionally competent—at seamanship, tactics, and decision-making.

For student-athletes

• Teammates follow those who know their craft.

• Skill, preparation, and consistency create informal authority.

• Titles (captain, starter) don’t substitute for mastery.

Locker-room translation:

You earn influence by being reliable when it matters.

Comment: Leadership in all disciplines intersects character and competence. Character is job one. Competence flows after. 

2. Discipline Creates Freedom

Life aboard ship is rigid—routines, roles, hierarchy. That discipline allows the crew to function fluidly during chaos.

For athletes

• Structure in practice → freedom in games.

• Teams with clear standards react faster under pressure.

• Sloppy habits get exposed when the game speeds up.

Basketball/volleyball parallel:
The most creative teams are often the most disciplined ones.

Comment: Discipline cuts twice - doing what must be done when you don't want to and avoiding what you want when you shouldn't do so. 

3. Calm Is Contagious

Aubrey remains composed in storms and battle. His calm stabilizes everyone else.

For student-leaders

• Emotional regulation is leadership.

• Teammates mirror your body language, tone, and pace.

• Panic spreads faster than strategy.

Late-game truth:
The team often plays at the emotional temperature of its best leader.

Comment - In the words of "Legacy" - keep a "blue head" not a red one

4. Respect the Chain of Command—but Listen

Aubrey respects hierarchy while valuing Stephen Maturin’s counsel. Authority doesn’t mean isolation.

For teams

• Clear roles matter.

• Great leaders listen without surrendering responsibility.

• Collaboration strengthens—not weakens—decision-making.

Student-athlete takeaway:
Seek input. Own the final call.

Comment - Players can benefit by having some input. They're the ones required to execute. 

5. Honor Is Doing the Right Thing When It Costs You

O’Brian’s world runs on honor—not showmanship. Reputation is built quietly, over time.

For athletes

• Effort when no one’s watching

• Owning mistakes

• Protecting teammates

• Choosing team success over personal stats

This separates:

• Hall of Fame character from Hall of Very Good talent.

Comment: You don't need a gym to do pogos and skaters, review old game film, or improve your mental game with mindfulness. 

One line that fits a team wall

Leadership is competence under pressure, character under stress, and responsibility without excuse. 

 

On Writing

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

"Easy reading is damn hard writing." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Writing is easy; all you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." - Ernest Hemingway

"The difference between good writers and bad writers? Good writers know where they're bad." - Dan Brown

Writing well advances your education and career. Communicating simply and clearly pays you again and again. AI suggested, "writing about writing works because volleyball, like prose, lives on clarity, repetition, and decision-making under constraints."

Some suggestions for better writing: 

1. Overcome the tyranny of the blank page by getting something down. Our creative imagination writes and our critical imagination refines. 

2. Big words and complex sentences aren't usually better. Any Hemingway fan knows that. 

3. "Trust but verify." We're wired to believe what we see, hear, and read. That's how some choose to deceive their audience. A great story may, in fact, be fiction. 

4. Do the research. Read "On Writing" and "Bird by Bird" on vacation or in your spare time. 

5. Shave syllables. In his MasterClass, David Mamet discusses the comedian's task, shaving syllables. 

6. Think about structure. A joke or story has three parts - the beginning, middle, and ending. "What was the last thing George Washington told his men before crossing the Delaware?" "...pause," "Get in the boat."

7. Become a storyteller. "Made to Stick" informs the SUCCESS acronym of the Heath Brothers... simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, stories.

8. Grammar and vocabulary matter. King advises writers to use powerful verbs and limit adverbs. I'm not a grammar Nazi, but avoid these words - really, truly, very - which add nothing. What annoys me? Authors who abuse split infinitives, run-on sentences, and pronouns, e.g. "him and me" shopped.

9. When unsure of how our writing sounds, read it aloud. "Awkward" sounds awkward. 

Note: The Hemingway editor assigned this as "Grade 5" level (good) and one sentence as hard to read (the AI sentence). 

Resources: 

"On Writing" (Stephen King) explores his childhood, career arc, and writing principles. 

Hemingway Editor. Free tool to assess readability. 

"Bird by Bird" (Anne Lamott) informs her process, including "$***** first drafts."

MasterClass, specifically Bob Woodward, Washington Post investigative journalist

"Made to Stick" (Chip and Dan Heath) shares storytelling tips

Artificial intelligence programs (refine not originate)

Lagniappe. Vision quest? 

Lagniappe 2. Can you make serving more game-like? 

Lagniappe 3. "Leaders are readers." 

#LeadersAreReaders pic.twitter.com/VKPU9O37oU

— Bob Starkey (@CoachBobStarkey) February 8, 2026

Leadership Development - Make Friends with the Dead, Abraham Lincoln

"Make friends with the dead." 

Abraham Lincoln's character, competence, and communication marks him by consensus as America's greatest President. Learn from Lincoln.

Authors have written more books (well over 15,000) about Lincoln than almost any other historical figure. Why? Let's examine.

1. Character

His fame spread widely...via Doris Kearns Goodwin, 

• Tolstoy's tale of meeting barbarians and their request. 

“‘But you have not told us a syllable about the greatest gen­eral and greatest ruler of the world. We want to know some­thing about him. He was a hero. He spoke with a voice of thunder; he laughed like the sunrise and his deeds were strong as the rock and as sweet as the fragrance of roses. The angels appeared to his mother and predicted that the son whom she would con­ceive would become the greatest the stars had ever seen. He was so great that he even forgave the crimes of his greatest enemies and shook brotherly hands with those who had plotted against his life. His name was Lincoln and the country in which he lived is called America, which is so far away that if a youth should journey to reach it he would be an old man when he arrived. Tell us of that man.’" 

Lesson - strengthen our character. 

2. Criticism

Lincoln understood the power of criticism. He wrote "Hot Letters" expressing his displeasure, often with his generals. After composing them, he put them aside, writing "Never signed, never sent." That didn't mean that he 'suffered fools' as he replaced underperforming generals. 

Lesson - "Hold fire." Better to "shout praise and whisper criticism." Words matter and can hurt. 

3. Communication 

Lincoln was a master communicator with self-education and exhaustive preparation. He simplified stories and used humor and imagery to make his points. Communication, not coercion, was his style.

Lesson - Others perceive us through our words and our actions. Read and study better communication. 

4. Technology

Lincoln was a science nerd. He studied new technologies (such as the telegraph) and used them to advantage to help preserve the Union. He is the only President to have a patent, on a device to help float grounded boats. 

Lesson - Study and implement technology that can help your individual and team performance. 

5. Optionality

Lincoln sought to understand the numerous options available before making decisions. 

Lesson - Be aware of both decision-making effects and secondary consequences.

6. Decisiveness

When it came to making decisions, Lincoln sought advice then acted decisively. Before releasing the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, he heard some in his Administration contest it vehemently. Nonetheless, he moved ahead. 

Lessons - Coaches must implement tough decisions on both people and strategy and navigate hard conversations. 

7. Politics and Teamwork

Lincoln understood that despite his education, he also had limitations. Doris Kearns Goodwin's masterpiece, "Team of Rivals," discusses how he brought political opponents into his cabinet. Seward (State), Bates, (Attorney General), and Chase (Treasury) were integral in moving his plans and management of the Civil War forward. 

Lesson - Surround ourselves with talented people. It doesn't always work. President John F. Kennedy's "Best and the Brightest" blundered through foreign policy including the Bay of Pigs and Vietnam. As a head coach, bringing in complementary skills via assistants can pay dividends. 

8. Trial Periods

Lincoln knew that every hire or action wouldn't work out. He realized the gravity of the saying, "Hire slow and fire fast," for individuals and policies. Many leaders struggle with "sunk costs" or "commitment to publicly shared statements" instead of fixing what's broken. 

Lesson - Every position and role are up for grabs every season and during the season. There is no seniority system as court time and roles depend on performance. 

9. Flexibility

Leaders balance consistency in actions and tone with the ability to change when change is needed. The best leaders inspire confidence through communication and setting high standards for their actions. 

Lesson - Model excellence. Ask regularly as Brad Stevens does, "What does our team need now?" Be open and willing to change when the situation dictates change. Consider Coach Bob Knight's quote, "Just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean that I want you to shoot."

10. Rest and Relaxation

As Commander in Chief in the bloodiest war in American history, Lincoln understood that he needed "down time." He attended over a hundred plays during his Presidency. Obviously, the last worked out poorly. 

Lesson - Finding work-life balance is a challenge for every leader. You cannot lead others unless you lead yourself. Part of your responsibility as a leader is self-care. 

Lagniappe. Many 'buzzwords' exist in coaching today - values, culture, standards. Here's a graphic that shares ideas about standards from well-known coaches. 

Most teams talk about standards.

These 11 coaches and players actually lived them.

Here are 11 powerful standards that build elite culture: 👇 pic.twitter.com/gcSuBSk526

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) February 4, 2026

Lagniappe 2. Book recommendations. Nobody reads everything about everyone...impossible. Two exceptional works worth reading:

"Leadership in Turbulent Times" (Doris Kearns Goodwin) - examines the presidencies of Lincoln, the Roosevelts, and Lyndon Johnson. It's a "Cliff Notes" (almost 500 pages) summary from her "major" works. 

"Lincoln on Leadership" (Donald Phillips) 

 

"The Blog Is a Broken Record"

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

You know the expression, "sounds like a broken record," although many of you have never seen a record player in action. 

"Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to "always do your best" and every day to "show the best version of yourself."

Becoming your best version:

1. "Win the morning; win the day." 

2. "Build better habits." 

3. "Be the best teammate you can be. Teamwork is a choice."

4. Raise your leadership arc. Everyone leads. 

5. Choose to invest your time more than to spend it. 

Lagniappe. Change. 

pic.twitter.com/YEAma9Glrx

— Reads with Ravi (@readswithravi) February 6, 2026

 

Volleyball and Principles from Baseball*

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. Mistakes and errors are mine. The blog is not an official publication of any Melrose institution.

*Adapted from a basketball blog post of mine

Principles and analogies cross sports domains. A podcast by Alex Speier about the Red Sox minor league development system raised points worth considering for volleyball programs. 

Strengths and Deficiencies

Baseball systems may lean into strengths or deficiencies such as hitting (scoring) or pitching (run prevention). Similarly, in volleyball, teams may overemphasize offense or defense and become "unbalanced." Unless a player has extreme talent or plays a specialty position (e.g. libero), she cannot compensate for lack of all-around skills (attack, block). 

Recently, NCAA hoop coaches Danny Hurley and Geno Auriemma acknowledged that they recruit offensive players, expecting that they can train them to play adequate or better defense. "Heart and hustle" by themselves will not beat talent and experience. 

Player Development

In an era where talent acquisition (free agency, trades) or retention (signing) has become expensive, there's value to be had by player development. In baseball, the Red Sox have found prototypes (e.g. size, extension) and added velocity, bad speed, and/or launch angle to raise player performance. In volleyball, players have a myriad of skills to develop, ranging from attack/block, serve/receive, and pass/set.

Development varies. For example, on the Celtics, Neemy Queta's development has transcended most expert's expectations. 

Another analogy fits primary and secondary skills. A pitcher might have an electric fastball but lack pitch shape or command needed. Similarly, in volleyball, players need a "GO TO" and "COUNTER" scoring approach. Craft and versatility matter. All big hitters are not "scorers."

Tools versus Performance

Size and athleticism may not immediately (or ever) transfer to effectiveness, depending on a player's commitment, aptitude, and improvement arc. A player like Derrick White was lightly recruited, and started on a room-and-board stipend at D2 Colorado-Colorado Springs. He matured into a D1 player at Colorado, was a late first round choice by the Spurs, and emerged as an NBA and Olympic Champion. He leads NBA players in plus-minus since December. 

White was not the "toolsiest" player in the Association, but has become a leading contributor if not recognized as an All-Star. 

Kayla Wyland was the best "freshman team to varsity starter" Melrose has developed. Coach Scott Celli has a keen eye for identifying players likely to make the leap from high potential to high performance. 

Measurables

Some classify potential by having a minimum two out of three of size, athleticism, and skill. In "The Undoing Project" by Michael Lewis, he shares that the predictables for NBA draft success are 1) performance in college, 2) elite program, and 3) age at time of the draft (younger is better). Cooper Flagg, recently turned 19 emerging Mavericks superstar, represents an obvious example. 

Sabine Wenzel was more than a player with height. She had solid athleticism with a spike touch exceeding ten feet and excellent block timing to augment her physical makeup. 

Floors and Ceilings

Player potential can fall under a variety of "rubrics" including "floors and ceilings." Ideally a player has both a high floor and high ceiling. Assessing youth players, I used an analogy of lottery pick, first rounder, second rounder, and 'street free agent'. 

It's irrational to expect to win big without occasional lottery picks (potential college scholarship players) and lots of first rounders. Some parents think their child is in the former categories. Time establishes floors and ceilings. I contend that many players can rise one category but few rise two.

Player development plus exceptional player commitment are essential for the players who achieve "escape velocity" to rise even one category. 

These are 'crude' and 'qualitative' categories but may help coaches and fans fashion clarity in player evaluation.

Lagniappe. The older I got, the less I yelled. If yelling were the mark of great coaches, they'd all scream. Few exceptional coaches do. 

"I never yelled at my players much.

That would have been artificial stimulation, which doesn’t last very long.

I think it’s like love and passion.

Passion won’t last as long as love.

When you are dependent on passion, you need more and more of it to make it work.

It’s the…

— Coach Mac 🏀 (@BballCoachMac) February 4, 2026

The Power of Friendship

Become more than the sum of your parts. Use the ‘Power of Friendship’ to “do hard things.”

In volleyball, friendship is a force multiplier because the game demands interdependence. Every point links trust: a passer puts the setter in good position, the setter trusts the hitter will be there, the hitter believes the defense has coverage and continuity if the swing is dug. 

Ubuntu lives in every rally - I am because we are. A libero lays out for a pass not for personal glory, but because the team depends on her. The closer the bonds, the more reliable movement. Players stop thinking about themselves start thinking about us. 

Mudita shows up the moment a teammate gets hot. On great volleyball teams, a hitter’s success doesn’t create resentment - it builds resilience. Teammates celebrate kills they never touched and aces they didn’t serve. The bench erupts as joy is shared currency. Joy calms fear: fear of being replaced, fear of relegation, fear of irrelevance. Freed from comparison, players swing with confidence, set better, serve tougher. Individual success sustains team pressure.

Damon and Pythias inhabit volleyball’s quiet sacrifices. The hitter who tips instead of rips because it’s the right shot. The middle mostly passed over all match so the outside eats. The setter assumes responsibility for a bad ball despite an errant pass. 

Acts of loyalty show your success matters as much as mine. Over time, trust compounds. Players take smart risks knowing they belong in the circle of trust. Coverage tightens. Communication grows. Effort expands because that's what friends do.

Real friendship manifests courage. Teammates challenge each other without demeaning. Players correct mistakes. Teams meet momentum surges with connection not panic. Eyes meet, hands clap, shoulders stay square. The speed of trust is faster. 

Bonded teams apply constant pressure. Opponents aren’t facing six girls, they’re facing one system, one heartbeat. Rally after rally, the group owns the match, not the individual. Coach Gregg Popovich reminded players to "pound the rock." It may take a hundred hits to break, keep pounding. 

Working out together, lunching together, hanging out together bonds teammates. Friendship - shared meeting, shared vision, and shared sacrifice has immeasurable power.

Lagniappe. Be first. 

There’s a BIG difference between CHASING GREATNESS, and merely avoiding mediocrity!

~ via @CoachKurtHines pic.twitter.com/QyRzeAvuvy

— Coach the Coaches (@WinningCoaches) February 5, 2026

Congratulations to Dr. Victoria Crovo

Congratulations to MVB great, Victoria Crovo, who recently received her doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine. Great job, Dr. Crovo. 

 

Failure Is Our Companion

This sounds really familiar. Where have I heard this before? 😀 https://t.co/u94i7yvpgG

— Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11) February 5, 2026

Failure is our companion in sports. The top hitters in baseball bat over .300. For most of last season, only SIX players hit .300 or more. That meant failure over 70% for every other hitter. What key gets worn on a keyboard? DELETE. 

Coach Vrabel shares key points about self-talk. Exceptional players move ahead despite failure. Courage isn't the opposite of fear; courage is moving ahead despite fear.

Failure is our teacher. As a high school baseball pitcher, I was on the varsity as a sophomore. After about four games (not playing), I asked to be 'demoted' to JV. "I can't improve without playing and I'm happy to play JV." The opening varsity game of the next season, I pitched a one-hitter and lost to Stoneham. Our excellent centerfielder lost a ball in the sun allowing a run to score on the only hit. Failure is simply part of the tuition for sports education.

Players become frustrated with their minutes, role, or recognition. That's human nature. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra tells players, "There is always a pecking order." The guys at the end of an NBA bench were stars on every team they played on before. 

Lagniappe. Many of these tips allow you to play with more force. 

Parallels - Coaching and Playing

Impactful leaders obsess over 3 things:

Talent - attract stars, amplify teams
Clarity - everything from vision to values
Systems - principles compounded by culture

Falling short? Overwhelmed?
Go back to the basics.

— Dave Kline (@dklineii) February 1, 2026

"Experiencing the volleyball program" has value far beyond learning individual skills and team play. 

Coaches and players expand their talent. 

Coaches and players develop systems for improvement. 

Coaches and players develop identity and "role clarity." Learn "this is who we are" and "that is how we do it."

Team sports teach principles that persist through your life.

• Collaboration - working better with others
• Preparation - "preparation drives performance"
• Sacrifice - giving so that others flourish
• Leadership - making others around you better
• Urgency - leverage "the power of now" 
• Enthusiasm - "nothing great is ever accomplished without enthusiasm"
• Grit - the capacity to keep going even when you don't feel like it
• Playing with force - mental and physical toughness

Winning is hard. That's why people value it so much. Teams flourish not by playing for their community, school, family, or even yourself. The "winning experience" means playing for the girls next to you. That's the reason to practice hard, communicate, dive on the floor - showing how to care for each other. 

Lagniappe. Simple game...put the ball down and "keep the ball up." Keep more up with dolphin dives. 

Lagniappe 2. Libero saves...what MVB players come to mind for making diving saves? So many. J-Mac (Jill MacInnes), Amanda Commito, GG Albuja to name a few. You can't make great saves without great athleticism. 

Lagniappe 3. Amanda Commito... another underrated high performance athlete. 

Everyone Leads

pic.twitter.com/pSjqGhKi9w

— Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11) January 31, 2026

Choose one of the many ways to lead. Lead by: 

• Example - be the hardest worker
• Encouragement - support all teammates all the time
• Energy - lift the tone in the room
• Focus - be fully engaged, coachable, ask good questions
• Reliability - be the person others want on their team, their workout partner, the one everyone wants the ball hit to. 

 

The Best Time

pic.twitter.com/24tVq1gmXZ

— Deep Psychology (@DeepPsycho_HQ) February 1, 2026

"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now."

People accrue the most benefit from a change in habits the earlier they start.  

• A one percent improvement daily earns a 37-fold gain annually.
• Build a winning morning routine.
• Start saving for the future. 
• Maximize your strength, quickness, and conditioning. 
• Have a mindfulness program for focus and mental health. 
• Read outside of required reading. 
• "Do five more"...five more minutes of work, of writing, reflection, appreciation. 

Lagniappe. What non-required book(s) are you reading? 

Lincoln on Leadership by Donald Phillips - arguably America's greatest President with over 15,000 books written about him. 

The Leader's Bookshelf - curated by ADM James Stavridis - 50 books about leadership summarized 

Once an Eagle - by Anton Myrer an epic tome (over 1,300 pages) comparing and contrasting the leadership of two future fictional Generals - one committed to service, his men, and winner of a Congressional Medal of Honor for valor in WWI and the other a political animal who's a Staff Office hero. 

Useful Foreign Expressions

"I can go faster alone, but we can go farther together." - African Proverb

Enrich your vocabulary to enrich your experience and that of others. A few words from other languages illustrate. Often there is no substitute word in English. 

1. MUDITA... from Sanskrit, an ancient language. It means, "Your joy is my joy." Learning to celebrate the success or good fortune of others is a useful skill. It's easy to envy others or be jealous. We experience more happiness when we share in others' success. 

2. UBUNTU...from Swahili. The Celtics used Ubuntu during their 2008 NBA Championship. It means, "I am because we are." This celebrates the connectedness or interdependence inherent in community...and teams.

3. SAWUBONA... from Zulu. It is a greeting meaning "I see you" or "We see you," recognizing the uniqueness, worth, and experiences of another. It implies a deeper connection than a mere, "hello."

4. GEZELLIG...from the Dutch. Gezellig has no exact English translation but reflects warmth and togetherness. It got some attention in the series "Ted Lasso." 

5. AMAE...from Japanese...meaning a quiet trust that others will continue to care for you. It implies emotional safety. How teams come together after both winning and surrendering points reflects AMAE. An error does not remove your mutual trust. 

6. SISU...from Finnish...unshaken perseverance and resilience despite adversity. Grit isn't always self-sustaining. Connection can fuel it. 

The best teams have a special bond that outsiders can't necessarily see or haven't experienced. It's the ability to rally because we care about each other and we are in this together. 

Lagniappe. "I try to reach the ball even if it seems hopeless." 

Brilliant Advice

 Do these and prosper.

• Read more
• Write it down
• Network
• Say "yes" to learning opportunities