I’ve carried a simple motto across very different fields of life: “Work Hard. Be Nice. Good Things Happen.” I didn’t make this up on my own – I stole it from legendary East Louisville Bats Coach Johnny Juvera when our kids were 9 years old. It’s beautiful in it’s simplicity. It was easy enough to slap on a t-shirt, but it has stood the test of time and proven to be deep enough for me to live by.
It was true when I coached a group of kids chasing baseball dreams on hot, dusty fields – a bunch of scrappy kids from all walks of life, bags bigger than their bodies, chasing ground balls under the summer sun. It’s true now, sitting in the CEO chair of a large medical practice where the stakes are high – vulnerable patients and their well-being. Investor returns. Promises made to long tenured employees.
And it’s true for anyone who wants to lead with purpose and impact.
Work Hard: The Grind Behind the Glory
In baseball, there’s no shortcut to a smooth swing or a fast glove. The hours of batting practice, the sprints no one cheers for, the repetition that feels endless—that’s what creates excellence on game day. On the baseball field, the difference between a kid who thrives and one who struggles usually isn’t talent—it’s reps. Hours and hours in the batting cage, shagging fly balls as soon as the ground thaws, running bases until you run out of daylight. Nobody handed out trophies at practice. But when the game was on the line, all that unseen work showed up (and showed out).
It’s the same as a CEO with my team. The long strategy sessions, the overnights on the road, collaborating to make the difficult decisions, the moments when no one is watching but the future is being built—that’s the work. You and your executive team don’t always see the reward right away, but you keep showing up. You embrace the grind – you run the data, you huddle with your team, you test, validate and ponder. And then, just like it’s the final game of a big tournament, You Set the Tone – You Execute- and You Finish strong.
Hard work doesn’t guarantee victory, but it guarantees you’re ready when opportunity hangs a curveball right over the plate.
Be Nice: The Real Competitive Edge
Here’s what I learned coaching: the kids who lasted weren’t just good players—they were good teammates. On the field, talent can carry a player only so far. The athletes who went the distance weren’t just skilled—they lifted others up. They respected their teammates, encouraged the kid who struck out, and made the dugout a place people wanted to be. On highly talented teams, they knew the unique role they were asked to play. They embraced the opportunity to help us win – even if it meant a little more bench time or playing out of position. We won and lost – together.
And in business? It’s no different. Kindness is not weakness—it’s strength. Being nice isn’t soft—it’s magnetic and motivational. Being nice builds trust, it fuels collaboration, and it creates a culture where people bring their best. A CEO who is kind earns loyalty not through fear, but through respect. People want to give their best when they feel seen, heard, respected, valued. The culture you create becomes your team’s real competitive edge.
Kindness is underrated, and it’s free. It can be expressed through simple gestures, such as offering a smile in the hallway, holding the door for a co-worker, or providing a listening ear without judgement. These small acts create ripples of positivity in the workplace that can brighten someone’s day and foster a sense of community. When we choose to be kind, we not only lift up those around us but also enrich our own lives.
It turns out that being nice is not just good humanity—it’s good strategy.
Good Things Happen: The Leap of Faith
This is the part of the motto that has always made me pause. Because “good things happen” doesn’t mean you’ll always win the big game or land the perfect outcome. It’s about faith over promises.
It doesn’t mean the scoreboard always tilts your way. It doesn’t mean the big pitch always paints the corner or that every business decision lands perfectly. What it means is that when you put in the work and treat people right, you can trust the outcome—even if it’s not what you had in mind.
When you work hard and treat people as you wish to be treated, you can’t predict exactly what’s coming next. You may not see the results tomorrow, or even next season or by the end of Q4. But life has a way of rewarding this unique combination of effort and kindness. The “good thing” might look different than you imagined, but it’s often better.
That’s the beauty of it: you don’t get to control what the “good” looks like. You just trust that it will show up. Sometimes the good thing is a surprise victory over your archrival or knocking your budgeted EBITDA out of the park. Often, it’s as simple as forging the work relationships that carry you through storms you never saw coming or building a human connection with a colleague that lasts a lifetime.
Almost every time, though, it shows up as the grit and confidence you built along the way that made you a better, more resilient version of yourself. Strength you didn’t know you were building until you needed it most.
The Power of Simple Truths
From the ballfield to the boardroom, I’ve seen this little phrase prove itself over and over. Work your ass off. Be kind and considerate to those around you. Then let go, step back, and watch what unfolds.
As a coach, I saw shy kids become leaders. As a CEO, I’ve seen teams rise higher than any one person could carry them. None of it happened overnight. But in both arenas, the formula was the same:
Work hard.
Be nice.
Trust that good things will happen.
It’s not a guarantee of easy wins. It’s a compass. And if you follow it, you’ll find yourself in places you never thought possible, surrounded by people who believe in the same simple, powerful truth.
So whatever field you’re standing on—grass, dirt, or boardroom carpet—remember the motto. Live it. And watch how the good things unfold.
Oh — and, for the record? If you happen to be one of the young athletes I coached along the way. I hope the adult version of yourself can take a moment to reflect and realize…the mottos we used and the rally cry for each season had almost NOTHING to do with winning baseball games…
Hold The Rope.
Hustle, Hit & Never Quit.
I Believe That We Will Win!
Work Hard, Get Better… Be Champions
Your Best or Nothing.
Brothers. All Together Strong.
Set The Tone, Execute… Finish.
“I BELIEVE IN YOU.”
The Story of Us. 
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