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📌 What’s inside:

As the year winds down, we spent some time looking back at the BETTER Letters that resonated most with our readers.

These aren’t our “favorites.”
They’re the ones you opened, read, shared, and talked about the most.

In many ways, this list tells the story of the year — what coaches and athletic leaders were wrestling with, questioning, and working to improve.

Here are the five most-read BETTER Letters of the year.

1. The Popovich Standard: Leadership That Lasts

May 8

Why it resonated:
This post reminded leaders that the most durable cultures aren’t built on tactics or slogans — they’re built on the quality of the person leading. Viewing Gregg Popovich’s legacy through the lens of humility, consistency, and relationships gave coaches and ADs permission to slow down and refocus on what truly lasts.

At a time when leadership often feels louder and more transactional, this one landed because it pointed back to something simpler — and harder: lead yourself first.

The core idea:
Culture doesn’t come from systems alone.
It comes from leaders who know who they are, live their values, and model the standard every day.

If you missed it:

2. How to Train Your Leadership Like an Athlete

August 21

Why it resonated:
This post highlighted a pattern many leaders recognize in themselves but rarely name: treating leadership development as a casual exercise rather than serious training. By using the tennis analogy and the concept of deliberate practice, it reframed growth as requiring precision, feedback, and accountability, not just good intentions.

Too many coaches work hard to “get better,” yet still see the same issues recur on their teams.

The core idea:
Leadership growth doesn’t come from doing more.
It comes from doing the right things, on purpose, with feedback.

Just like elite athletes, leaders improve the fastest when they target weaknesses, receive immediate feedback, and practice intentionally.

If you missed it:

3. Lead Yourself First - PowerBook One

October 2

Why it resonated:
From ideas to application. Our clear, actionable framework for ADs and Coaches to start with themselves.

At a time when many leaders feel pressure to fix culture “out there,” our PowerBooks reinforce one key truth: culture doesn’t start with the team — it starts with the leader.

Close to 500 coaches have now downloaded our free digital powerbook.

The core idea:
You don’t build culture by talking about it.
You build it through your habits, decisions, and consistency.

You are the culture — whether you intend to be or not.

This post resonated because it gave leaders something rare: a practical starting point that didn’t require changing everyone else first.

If you missed it:

4. Leadership Builds Culture Builds Performance

June 26

Why it resonated:
An attempt to clarify a confusion most coaches live with: everyone talks about “culture,” but they’re often talking about two different things. By separating relational culture (connection, belonging) from performance culture (standards, accountability), leaders understand why copying great programs can feel so frustrating — and why culture work often stalls once games begin.

The metaphor of leadership as the crust made the idea tangible: leaders don’t sit beside culture — they shape the environment that holds everything together.

The core idea:
Culture isn’t a single lever.
It’s the tension between connection and standards—and leadership holds both.

When leaders show up clearly and consistently, they create a culture where people feel valued and challenged — and performance follows.

If you missed it:

5. 5 Things Great Coaches Do in December

December 4

Why it resonated:
Tired, stretched, and trying to finish strong without burning out. Instead of offering a new framework or big idea, focus on what truly matters during one of the most chaotic months of the year.

For many coaches and ADs, December can be a month not to “push through,” but to manage wisely and set momentum for what comes next.

The core idea:
December isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing the right few things — reconnecting with people, clarifying priorities, celebrating progress, and setting a steady pace.

Small wins now create clarity and energy in January.

If you missed it:

🔍 The Pattern Emerges

• Leadership starts with the person, not the plan.

• Culture is built through consistency, not slogans.

• Growth requires intention, not volume.

• Retention, trust, and performance are earned slowly.

• The smallest leadership decisions often have the biggest downstream impact.

In other words, what resonated most this year wasn’t more information — it was clarity.

Clarity about who leaders are.
Clarity about what actually shapes culture.
Clarity about where to focus when everything feels loud and demanding.

These posts didn’t tell leaders to try harder.
They helped them see more clearly.

🏁 Closing Reflection: What We’re Taking Into the New Year

If this year taught us anything, it’s this:

The leaders who make the biggest impact aren’t the ones chasing the next idea.
They’re the ones returning, again and again, to the fundamentals.

They lead themselves first.
They practice intentionally.
They build cultures on purpose.
They value people over noise.
They manage moments instead of reacting to them.

As we head into a new year, our commitment at BETTER remains the same:

To help leaders slow down enough to lead with clarity — and build cultures that last.

If these five letters resonated with you, you’re exactly who we’re building for.

Pre-Order The Full Book: Lead Yourself First!

When you pre-order, you’ll get:
✅ Immediate access to the next two PowerBooks as soon as they’re released
🗒️ A downloadable implementation guide for PowerBooks 1 & 2
🎥 Access to our monthly leadership webinars inside the BETTER Community
📗 A physical copy of Lead Yourself First when the full section is complete

🛠️ Want to Build Elite Culture?

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