It’s easy to focus on the results. The wins. The numbers. The next big milestone. But what if the secret to achieving more is focusing less on the outcome and more on what you do every day?
Two years into his first head coaching job, Dusty May called his wife and told her he didn’t think he was cut out to be a head coach. “I’m just not a very good head coach,” he said. Fast forward, and he’s led Florida Atlantic University to the Final Four, won a national championship at Michigan, and become head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
In this conversation, Dusty shares why he believes championships are a byproduct of the daily work. We talk about how he gets people with different personalities and motivations aligned around a common goal, why he wants his players to make mistakes, and what it takes to build a culture where people get better every day.
If you’ve been chasing the result and losing touch with the work that gets you there, this conversation is a good reset.
I’ve never set out to win one. You always want to win one, but the day by day is much more important than setting a goal. Share on XYou’ll learn:
- Why Dusty sees championships as a byproduct of the daily work, not the goal itself
- How letting go of a career timeline after being demoted at Indiana changed his path and gave him more fulfillment
- Why the best leaders get everyone to value the same things, even when people think very differently
- How always explaining the “why” behind tough decisions keeps players connected, even when they disagree
- The Dean Smith principle that shapes how Dusty gives feedback: “the wins are yours and the losses are ours”
- What a “culture of error” looks like, and why encouraging mistakes with real-time feedback has become a separator for his teams
- How patience, empathy and nonjudgmental teammates helped turn around a talented player with difficult work habits
- Why curiosity and low ego are the traits he looks for first when building a staff
- Why loving the day-to-day may be the best defense against hitting a wall
- How Dusty uses the first hour of every day to work on himself
People / Resources Mentioned:
- Dallas Mavericks
- Florida Atlantic men’s basketball
- Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball
- Bob Knight
- Dean Smith
- Sean McVay
- The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh
- Dynamic Drive by Molly Fletcher
- Jalen Brunson
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Why NFL Coach Sean McVay Almost Walked Away After Winning it All– And the Lesson Leaders Can Learn
- The Hidden Cost of Chasing Outcomes (And What to Do Instead) with Coach Cori Close
- Steve Nash on Get Better Every Day
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review.
