Hey Reader,

I took a lot of pride in wearing number "4" in high school football.

When I knew I was graduating, I wanted whoever wore it after me to hold themselves to the same standard I had. I wanted #4 to mean something at our school - like other numbers meant for players who had moved on.

As I grew older, I reflected on the same concept in various roles in life.

From my fraternity's social chair position (which was a poor run, honestly) to being a freshman camp facilitator, and even my first job, I wanted whoever followed me to have a "harder job" than I had.

Part of it was my ego. I wanted to know that I did good work and that I was missed when I was gone.

Part of it was pride in doing good work. Maybe I thought it made me special, that I couldn't be replaced.

But as I've grown older - whether I'm looking at a speaker who attends a client event the year after me, or in any interaction with someone - I intentionally strive to go above and beyond.

So that someone who has to follow has to do more than they expected to meet the bar.

Maybe secretly I still don't want them to meet the bar I set.

But I think it's an attitude shift - making it harder for those following not because you're out to get them, but because you want excellence to be the standard.

I started out wanting to be irreplaceable. Now I want to make the replacement impossible to ignore.

Just like the All Blacks.

​

The All Blacks Standard

There's a principle at the heart of the All Blacks culture from James Kerr's book "Legacy."

It's simple but profound:

"Plant trees you'll never see."

Every All Blacks player understands their job isn't just to perform well. It's to leave the jersey - the position, the standard, the culture - in a better place than they found it.

Think about that for a second.

You're not just trying to match what the previous guy did. You're trying to make it so much better that whoever comes next has to raise their game just to keep up.

This isn't about ego. It's about stewardship.

Most of us are jersey-wearers, not jersey-improvers.

I see this everywhere:

The sales manager who takes over a struggling team and celebrates getting them back to "acceptable" performance. Mission accomplished, right?

Wrong. The next manager inherits mediocrity disguised as success.

The project leader who delivers on time and on budget, then moves on without improving any systems. They met expectations. But they didn't make it easier for the next person to exceed them.

The parent who raises good kids but doesn't improve the family systems, traditions, or standards for the next generation.

We get comfortable with "good enough" because good enough gets us through today.

But here's the thing:

Good enough today becomes the ceiling for tomorrow.

​

The Standard-Setter Mindset

Standard-setters operate from a simple principle: "Leave it better than you found it."

This mindset changes everything:

• Your effort level increases because you're not just performing - you're setting precedent
• Your attention to detail sharpens because future success depends on current standards
• Your leadership improves because you're thinking beyond your tenure

When you focus on raising standards, you don't just improve your performance.

You improve everyone who comes after you.

Think About It:

• If you're in sales, are you setting the bar so high that your replacement has big shoes to fill?
• If you're a leader, are you modeling excellence that becomes the new normal?
• If you're a parent, are you improving family traditions for the next generation?

Every role you hold is temporary. Every standard you set can be permanent.

The best leaders don't just reach the top.

They build better ladders for everyone climbing behind them.

​

Your Move This Week ✅

Identify one role you currently hold - at work, at home, on a team, in your community.

Then choose one specific area where you can raise that bar this week.

Not for recognition. Not for applause. For the person who will follow your lead.

Maybe it's:

• Documenting the processes you've figured out so your replacement doesn't start from scratch
• Developing a team member to exceed your current capabilities
• Creating systems at home that make family life run smoother for everyone

If you left your current role tomorrow, would the next person thank you for the standard you set, or struggle with the mediocrity you maintained?

That's not a comfortable question.

Trust me, I've had to ask it of myself multiple times.

But here's what I've learned:

The most fulfilling careers aren't built by people trying to get recognition for what they've done. They're built by people who get satisfaction from what they've made possible.

Your current role is temporary. Your impact doesn't have to be.

Plant trees you'll never see. Leave the jersey in a better place.

I'm cheering for you, Reader,

Say hi 👋 on Instagram or LinkedIn​

---