447: Champion Yourself First | Justin Simpkins Part 2

Part 2 goes deeper. Justin opens up about his podcast Grit and Growth, his book Significance Over Success, and - most refreshingly - his own personal struggles. He talks candidly about a season where he stopped growing, chased comfort, and watched anxiety move in. From there, the conversation becomes a genuine exploration of what it actually takes to lead others well: you have to champion yourself first. The episode wraps with a practical question all three hosts tackle - what's the one thing a time-strapped volunteer coach should prioritize to build real culture with their team?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

→ Sport doesn't automatically build character - you have to be intentional. As Justin puts it (drawing on Joe Ehrmann): sport developing character is the greatest myth out there. Left on autopilot, it often builds the opposite. Intentionality is what makes the difference.

→ You have to champion yourself before you can champion others. Justin got real about a period where he stopped growing, stopped his habits, and hit a wall. The lesson: when your personal foundation erodes, everything else follows - your program, your family, your leadership.

→ Awareness alone isn't enough - you have to act. Referencing Jim Collins' five levels of leadership, Justin highlights a striking stat: 70% of leaders stall at level three. They become self-aware but never follow through with tough decisions. Awareness is step one, not the finish line.

→ Significance is about care, not championships. The Latin root significare - to care deeply for those in your charge - became the heartbeat of Justin's book. The question isn't how many games you won. It's how the people you coached felt under your care.

→ Significant moments stack up. Culture isn't built in one big speech. It's built by stringing together small, present, intentional moments - sitting with a struggling athlete, a genuine hallway greeting, asking a good question. Every moment either adds to or subtracts from the foundation.

→ Co-create your team standards first. When asked what a time-limited volunteer coach should prioritize, Justin's answer was clear: build the team manifesto together. When athletes help set the standards, they own them - and coach-as-police becomes a lot less necessary.

Impactful QUOTES

"Sport should develop character - but it doesn't. It's the greatest myth out there. In fact, it often develops all the opposite things."

"Integrity will always cost you something, but peace is the return." - Becky Scott, Olympic gold medalist (as shared by Justin)

"You have to champion yourself first so that you can champion others."

"I don't know who won March Madness. But I do know when I had a coach who made me feel cared for. I remember that."

ACTION ITEMS FOR LEADERS

✓ Check your habits, not just your schedule. If you're feeling pressure or anxiety, ask: have I let my foundational habits slip? Before you look outward for the source of the tension, look at what you've stopped doing for yourself. Grace first for yourself.

✓ Co-create your team manifesto. Whether you have 2 hours a week or 20, this is the highest-leverage starting point. Gather your team and build your standards together. Let them own it. Then use it as the compass you return to all season.

✓ Ask better questions. Instead of giving speeches, get intentional with the questions you're asking. What does determination look like in today's drill? What's one way you can make a teammate feel like they matter today? Good questions do more heavy lifting than most coaches realize.