Hey Coach,
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been breaking down the article I shared—“10 Success Mindset Shifts Every Coach Needs.”
We’ve talked about what it really takes to win the day and win the week—not by doing more, but by doing what matters most.
This week, let's dive into Mindset Shift #4: Change is a Matter of Choice, Not Calendar
I believe most coaches don’t struggle with effort—they struggle with choosing the right things to work on.
You’re already putting in the hours. You care deeply. But if you’re honest, it feels like no matter how much you do, there’s never enough time.
Maybe you’re not making as much progress as you want, it's frustrating.
You tell yourself things like:
“Once the season slows down, I’ll get organized.”
“Once recruiting’s over, I’ll take care of myself.”
But here’s the truth: coaching never slows down.
There’s always another season, another trip, another athlete stopping by, another reason to wait.
That’s the trap I fell into for years.
When I was coaching, I kept waiting for the calendar to give me space. I’d tell myself:
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“I’ll eat better after the season.”
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“I’ll fix my mornings once recruiting slows down.”
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“I’ll get organized when the semester ends.”
But the season ended… and another one started. Recruiting slowed down… and then ramped right back up. There was never a “better time.”
Finally, I realized: change isn’t a matter of timing—it’s a matter of choice.
Why this matters for you
The calendar won’t magically create space for you.
The schedule won’t suddenly get easier.
You can’t wait for “when things calm down,” because coaching never does.
If you want different results, you have to decide to work differently—starting now.
And this is where the real productivity breakthrough happens:
Effectiveness beats effort.
When you focus on the right things, in the right order, using the right systems, you create leverage.
You stop grinding harder—and start winning smarter.
That’s how you get better results with less effort.
That’s what leverage looks like.
Here’s how to start today:
1. Name one change you’ve been promising yourself you’ll make “later.”
2. Decide to start today—even if it’s small or messy.
3. Fit it into your real life, not the fantasy version of your schedule.
Change doesn’t start on January 1st—it starts the moment you choose.
Imagine this version of yourself
You start building the habits that future you will thank you for.
You feel calm and in control—even during the chaos of the season.
Your players and staff see you leading by example, not by excuses.
That’s how you win the day—and eventually, the week.
If you keep waiting for the “perfect” time, you’ll be waiting forever.
But when you choose now, you take back control.
The power to change isn’t on the calendar—it’s in your choice.
So—what choice are you ready to make today?
Win the day,
Mandy
P.S. If you missed the full list of all 10 Success Mindset Shifts, you can read it here: [link]
P.P.S. Busy Coach helps college coaches work smarter—so you can win at work and at home.
If you liked this message, please forward it to another coach who might need to hear it this week. Let’s help more coaches work smarter and live better.
Bonus: A Quick Big-Picture Wrap-Up for Effectiveness and Leverage
Okay Coach, you’ve come this far—let’s zoom out for a second and see how this fits into the big picture of becoming massively productive.
Most people chase productivity backward. They start with effort, then efficiency, and finally—if they ever get there—effectiveness.
That’s the wrong order.
The right sequence is:
1. Effectiveness first (Do the right things)
2. Efficiency second (Do those things faster or smoother)
3. Effort last (Because when the first two are in place, you won’t need as much effort)
When you lead with effectiveness, you naturally create leverage. You’ll spend less time doing more—and more time getting better results.
That’s how you win your day, your week, and your career.
Here’s how Busy Coach can help you leverage your time and resources:
To leverage your time: High Performance Coach and Recruiter
To leverage your staff: The Assistant Coach Accelerator
To leverage your recruiting system: Recruiting Made Simple
To stay consistent on social media: Social Story Recruiting
To plan with clarity and focus: The Busy Coach Planner — grab one here and start 2025 fresh, organized, and dialed in.
