Mindset Shift #7: If It Is to Be, It’s Up to Me

Before I get into mindset shift #7, I wanted to invite you to a FREE webinar I am doing Thursday November 13th at 12pm EST called How to Be Great at Recruiting, Even During Your Busy Season. Click the link to register or get the replay. 

Hey Coach — real talk time.

 You ever catch yourself blaming everything and everyone for why things aren’t clicking?

“The admin isn’t going to let me do that.”

 “My assistants don’t follow through.”

 “The recruits don't want to commit because of our facilities.”

 “The conference schedule is brutal.”

I used to have a highlight reel of excuses.

Some of them were true, sure — but they weren’t helping me win.

The season that changed everything for me?

 It wasn’t because we got better players or an easier schedule.

 It was because I stopped waiting for someone else to fix it.

That’s when I learned this truth the hard way:

  If it is to be, it’s up to me.

Why this matters

There’s always going to be something out of your control — weather, refs, budget, admin who don't want you to spend the money, the athlete who forgets her cleats (again).

But when you spend your time blaming, you give away your power.

And when you take ownership — for your time, your mindset, your culture — you get that power back.

It’s not about doing everything yourself.

It’s about owning what you can control and refusing to wait on what you can’t.

A story from the trenches

I remember one season when recruiting was slow.

 I told myself it was because “they are all waiting on money.” Or we can't recruit here because . . .<insert your reason>

 Classic coach excuses.  I used them all. 

Then one day, I looked in the mirror and said, “You know what? Maybe the problem isn’t the market… maybe it’s me.”

So I changed my approach.

I found my recruiting leverage points.  Figured out what wasn't working and fixed it immediately.  Doubled down on what was working.  Got creative. Followed up faster.

Within two weeks, things started shifting — not because the recruits changed, but because I did.

Effectiveness Before Effort

When you take ownership, you stop wasting energy on what’s out of your hands.

You get laser-focused on what you can do — and that’s where leverage lives.

You don’t have to grind harder.

 You just have to lead yourself better.

Ownership is the bridge between effort and effectiveness.

 It’s what turns intentions into results.

Imagine this version of you

You stop waiting for others to step up — and you lead by example.

 Your staff feels your energy shift.

 Your players see your consistency.

 You don’t just talk accountability; you live it.

That’s how teams change.

 That’s how programs rise.

 That’s how you win your day — and your week.

So, Coach — where in your day are you waiting for someone else to make the first move?

Take it back.

 Lead it.

 Own it.

 Because if it’s to be, it’s up to you.

Win the day,

Mandy Green

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.