Trust that you already know how to do this

Hey Coach,

As coaches, we all have favorites.

And what I tell players all the time is this: you need to know that coaches have favorites, and your job is to become one of them.

Let me tell you a story about how Clare became one of mine.

When I left PGC and started SAVI, I recognized very quickly that there were things I was not good at.

Details. Ongoing tasks. Follow-through. Managing timelines. Capturing and documenting important information.

So I did what any sane person would do…I publicly shared my weaknesses. 🙂

No, really. I posted on Twitter to thousands of people, saying, “I’m bad at these things, and I need to hire someone who’s good at them to help me.”

I got over 100 responses.

I gave an assignment to those 100 people.

Two did the work.

I hired one of them.

And boy am I glad I did, because she works the same way she played basketball.

Defensive stopper, charge-taker, relentless rebounder.

Clare is now our Director of Operations…

And still one of my favorites. 😊

I think she’ll quickly become one of your favorites, too.

This week’s letter is written by her.

Take it away, Clare…

Hey Coach,

To me, Stuff Good Coaches Should Know is more than basketball.

Good coaches should know how to lead not only others but also themselves. And not just on the court, but off it as well.

Here's the uncomfortable truth I had to face years ago: I was better at leading my team than I was at leading myself.

I could design practice plans, hold players accountable, and keep a program running. But my own life? That felt chaotic. I'd try morning routines that looked great on paper and lasted about a week. 

Meditation. Gratitude journals. Elaborate rituals that just didn't stick.

Then about 4 years ago, I had a realization: I was already using a framework that worked. 

I just wasn't using it on myself.

SAVI isn't just our brand or basketball curriculum. It's how we think. How we solve problems. How we build consistency. And if it works for teams, why wouldn't it work for me?

So I stopped trying to add new habits and started applying the principles I already believed in.

As someone who loves to journal, I began asking myself four questions built on the SAVI framework. 

What is one must-do for the day? (Simplicity)
Not what's loudest. What actually matters. 

This one line forces me to decide where my focus belongs before the day decides for me.

What is one thing I'm grateful for? (Adversity)
Not a list of things I should be grateful for. What I genuinely notice and experience. 

This doesn't make hard days disappear; it just helps me meet them better.

What one habit can I track today? (Victory)
Sleep. Water. Movement. Reading. Whatever feels important that month. No moral score attached. Just awareness. 

This helps me keep promises to myself.

What’s my current identity statement? (Identity)
This grounds everything else. It reminds me that habits and goals only matter if they're rooted in the person I'm committed to becoming. 

One sentence per day, like: "I am a joyful leader who models patience and respect." Or "Problem-solving with poise is a strength and a passion."

I don't believe there's a perfect morning routine or a correct way to journal. 

I also know journaling isn’t for everyone.

But this is the first format I've found that feels simple, sustainable, and impactful.

It’s something anyone can benefit from, whether you write it down or just consider these questions throughout the day.

Most of us aren’t missing a system. We already have one. It’s the same framework we teach our athletes through our coaching.

We just need to use it for ourselves.

SAVI didn't just give me an approach for basketball. It gave me a way to organize my days, my thinking, and honestly, myself. And for me, that's been a quiet but meaningful win.

One of the reasons I believe so deeply in SAVI is that it's not just a coaching framework. It's a framework for life.

What’s the framework or system you’re using to reach your goals?

Hit reply, I’d love to hear about it.

Cheers, 

-Clare