Stop Trying to Be the Favorite
May 11, 2025
This one might ruffle some feathers, but I’m saying it anyway:
Stop trying to be the favorite.
I know the pull. I’ve felt it, too. The need to be the coach’s go-to. The desire to be the “easy” player, the one who never causes waves. I used to chase it hard—approval, praise, being liked. And for a while, it looked like it was working.
But inside? I was drained.
Burned out. Frustrated. Constantly second-guessing myself.
Because no matter how many compliments I got, it never felt like enough.
Then I learned something no one teaches you early on:
Being liked doesn’t make you a leader.
I had to shift my mindset. I stopped playing for approval and started showing up for impact.
That meant:
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Leading without being loud.
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Encouraging others, even when I wanted their spot.
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Putting the team first, even when no one noticed.
That’s when I really grew.
So if you’re a young athlete reading this, here’s my challenge to you:
Stop chasing popularity. Stop playing small to stay safe.
Start becoming the kind of player people trust, follow, and remember.
Not for the stats—but for the standard you set.
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