by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
You know I love hard work. We all do. We’re up early, staying late, grinding every day. But I’ve learned something the hard way—and I see it happening to a lot of coaches…
Hard work alone doesn’t always fix the problem.
Here’s the deal: Some of us are giving Level 10 effort to Level 3 problems. Like spending hours making practice plans look perfect… but the team has no chemistry. Or working on social media… but struggling to recruit the right players.
And then, sometimes, the biggest problems—the ones keeping you up at night—only get a Level 2 effort. That doesn’t work.
It’s Time to Check Yourself
Quick question:
What are the THREE biggest problems with your program right now?
I’ll give you some examples to spark ideas:
✔️ Team doesn’t click—no chemistry
✔️ Can’t get top recruits because of budget or brand issues
✔️ Player development feels stuck
✔️ Assistants aren’t helping like they should
✔️ Fundraising is weak, resources feel tight
Got your three? Good.
Now… be honest:
How much effort are you really putting into fixing them?
If the locker room has zero leadership… but you’re spending hours tweaking plays? You’re putting your energy in the wrong place.
Stop Chasing Small Wins That Don’t Move the Needle
I know the easy stuff feels good. New logo? Cool. Social media posts? Fun. Fancy practice drills? Sure. But… are those things solving your BIGGEST problems?
It’s like those fitness trainers we’ve all seen—they’re jacked but broke because they only work on their workouts, not their business.
You gotta ask yourself:
Am I working hard on the right stuff?
Or just the stuff I like?
The Discipline Test (This Is the Secret Sauce)
Here’s how I keep myself in check—and how I help other coaches do it:
- Write down your top 3 BIGGEST problems.
Not little stuff. The real challenges. - Score yourself. Are you giving them Level 10 effort? Or are you dodging them and keeping busy with easier things?
- Spot distractions. What’s stealing your time but not fixing your core issues?
- Adjust. Start pouring energy into the hard stuff—even if it’s uncomfortable. That’s where real change happens.
Want examples?
If your team has buy-in issues:
- Are you building relationships?
- Having honest talks with leaders?
- Or avoiding tough conversations and hoping for the best?
If recruiting is the pain point:
- Are you improving your pitch?
- Building real connections with prospects and alumni?
- Or blaming the budget and hoping talent magically shows up?
Let’s Be Real: Discipline Is About Focus
Coaches love to talk about being tough. But true discipline?
It’s not waking up at 4 AM just to say you did.
It’s solving the RIGHT problems… with the RIGHT effort… every single day.
So before another season flies by, stop and ask yourself:
- What are my Level 10 problems?
- Am I giving them Level 10 effort?
Because success doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing what matters most.
To connect with Mandy Green and have her help you with your coaching and recruiting efforts, send her an email at mandy@dantudor.com.