🧭Why You Should Be Setting Standards over Rules

Jay Bilas on the standard

Setting standards over rules

Last week, Pat Kelsey called it "Standards over Circumstances."
Most people live on the Mountain of Average. The best refuse to settle there.

This applies to sports. It applies to business. And it applies to life.

Most people think they’ll rise to the occasion when the moment comes. They won’t. They’ll fall to the level of their preparation.

That’s why successful people don’t rely on motivation. They rely on their standard and their habits. The best don’t wait for the perfect moment. They build a system that holds them accountable every day.

That’s what separates greatness from average.

Why standards matter more than rules (or talent)

Rules are imposed and followed out of obligation—standards are chosen and lived with intention.

Rules demand obedience - standards demand ownership.

The best don’t rely on external enforcement; they hold themselves accountable every day.

That’s why the best teams, businesses, and organizations hold themselves to a higher level of accountability than anyone else.

But this isn’t just about teams or organizations - it starts with you.

If you don’t define what you want, someone else will define it for you. Your standard is your foundation. It reflects your ownership, your intention, and your commitment to action.

✅ Ownership → You must take full responsibility for what you allow and what you expect from yourself.
✅ Intention → Setting a standard is a conscious decision—it doesn’t happen by accident.
✅ Action → A standard isn’t just something you talk about—it’s something you demonstrate every day.
✅ Consistency → Your standard is only as strong as your ability to hold yourself to it, especially when no one is watching.

Your personal and professional growth depends on what you tolerate, what you reinforce, and what you refuse to accept. The common thread across all successful people is they hold themselves to a higher standard than anyone else.

That’s the difference. Don’t just talk about standards— reinforce them every single day.

Story time: Coach K and the Olympics

When Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) took over the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team, he knew something had to change. The team had talent but lacked cohesion, accountability, and a shared commitment to excellence. Instead of imposing a list of rules, Coach K worked with the players to create 14 standards.

🚫 No rules. Only standards.

The team established principles like:
✅ Look each other in the eye.
✅ Tell the truth.
✅ Never make an excuse.
✅ Never have a bad practice.

Coach K didn’t dictate these principles. The team did. By making them part of the process, he created a culture where every player held themselves and each other accountable.

This wasn’t about following orders—it was about owning the standard. And because of that, the team bought in, built trust, and dominated the competition.

The lesson? Great teams don’t rely on rules—they live by standards.

Standards you can set for yourself and your team

✅Effort Over Excuses → No matter how I feel, I give my best in everything I do.
✅Discipline in the Details → I commit to doing the little things right, even when no one is watching.
✅Ownership in Actions → I take full responsibility for my choices, my mindset, and my results.
✅Growth Over Comfort → I push myself to improve daily instead of settling for what’s easy.
✅Character Always → I stay true to my word, my values, and the commitments I make.

How to create and reinforce the standard

1️⃣ Define the non-negotiables

High standards aren’t vague. They’re crystal clear.

✅ What are your non-negotiables?
✅ What are your non-negotiables for your team, organization, and family?
✅ Are they written down, communicated, and reinforced daily?

If not, your standard is just a suggestion.

2️⃣ Don’t Talk - Live It

The best leaders don’t hold a motivational meeting every time the standard slips. They call it out. They correct it. They move forward.

You’re not calling someone out, you’re calling some up.

3️⃣ Hold yourself to the standard

Before you demand effort from others, ask yourself:
✅ Do I give 100% even when no one is watching?
✅ Do I live the standard I expect from others?

If not, why would anyone else?

4️⃣ Make the standard automatic

Wire it into everything you do.

✅ Routines → Every day, the same level of preparation.
✅ Self-accountability → Players holding each other responsible—not just coaches.
✅ Built-in expectations → Effort is not optional. It’s expected.

The best teams don’t just have a standard. They become the standard.

5️⃣ Reflect and adjust

Standards aren’t static—they evolve as the team grows. Great teams don’t cling to outdated rules. They adapt while maintaining their core principles.

How to apply this today and takeaways

• If you’re a coach: Reinforce the standard daily—not just when things go wrong.

• If you’re a leader: Make the expectations so clear and consistent that they become automatic.

• If you’re a parent: Set non-negotiables for effort, character, and accountability.

• If you’re an athlete: Stop waiting for motivation. Create a standard and start holding yourself to it today.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What are my non-negotiables for myself and my team?

• Do I have a clear standard, or do I let circumstances dictate my actions?

• Am I reinforcing the standard, or do I just talk about it?

• When pressure hits, do I stick to the standard or make exceptions?

The best don’t adjust their standards to their emotions, pressure, or circumstances.

They reinforce them—every day.

Because at the end of the day, the standard is the standard.

Favorite Posts I Found This Week

Free Mental Fitness Links 👇

For athletes and performers:

• Elite mental performance coach explains the ONE trait of all champions

• The 5 habits of excellence

• Dan Campbell giving a motivational speech on hard work

• UCLA HC Cori Close explaining what she tells her players about adversity

• Mike Leach explaining the power of hard work

For coaches and leaders:

• How Kelvin Sampson built the UH basketball program from nothing

• Diana Taurasi defining great leadership

• The 7 C’s of team resilience

• The 8 things that bring a team together

• 5 ways to lead with heart

What I am reading and listening to:

📚 Book: INNER EXCELLENCE: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible life by Jim Murphy

🎥 Video: Coach K’s 4 Steps to Overcoming Self-Doubt - Glue Guys Podcast

🎧Podcast: Kelvin Sampson on How to Build a Winning Culture | Game Changers Podcast

Want More?

1. Feel free to view all of our FREE resources online here and our growing content library!

2. Interesting in advertising? Fill out this survey and we’ll get back to you soon!