Tax Season

Last year around this time, I hit a low point. I will not sugarcoat it. Tax season gutted me.

I thought I was winning. I had provided for my family. I had watched our savings grow. Then, in twenty-four hours, a massive tax bill wiped it out.

The worst part was knowing it was entirely my fault.

I ignored the details. I did not set up the LLC (despite Erin constantly reminding me to get it done). I did not use business cards to track expenses. I did not set aside the cash. I got lazy with the details, and it cost us.

This year, that exact source of pain is a point of pride.

I did not run from the mistake. I attacked it head-on. I built the right accounts. I tracked the numbers. I planned ahead so I was ready when the bill came due.

There is a lesson here for your program.

Your athletes will fail. They will have a bad season. They will get injured. They will make mistakes. When the pain of that setback hits, they have two choices. Hide from the reality, or attack the root cause.

Regret is useless if it does not change your behavior. Pain is not a punishment. It is a catalyst.

The Lessons

Own the failure. You cannot fix a problem if you are busy blaming the circumstances. Take the hit. As much as it sucks.

Build the system. Motivation does not pay the tax bill. Discipline and structure do.

Use the regret. Let the sting of coming up short be the exact reason you elevate your standard tomorrow.

Stop making excuses for the details you are avoiding. Do the uncomfortable work today so you do not have to pay the price tomorrow.

Keep the Fire Burning,

Leech