You Asked For This
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What does it mean to chase greatness?
Welcome to the Ryan League podcast where we keep it short and sweet. And today we are going to be talking about something that a lot of people don't realize when they set their sights on greatness. I recently saw a clip of the Boston Celtics head coach, Joe Mazzulla. And in this interview, he said something that really stuck with me. The host was talking about Jason Tatum, his best player.
What mindset shift did Coach Mazzulla highlight?
And this is what the interviewer said. He said, it seems to me like Jason has to deal with a lot of criticism. But before he could even finish his thought, Coach Mazzulla interrupted him and he says, gets to. He gets to deal with a lot of criticism. And I just thought, man, like that is such an interesting way of seeing that. That's a massive mindset shift right there. Mazula went on to say, we talk about this with him all the time. And then he used this phrase and it really stuck with me. He says, speaking about Jason, he said, you asked for this. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you asked for this. You asked for this when you said you wanted to be the best player in the NBA, on the best team in the NBA. And I thought in that moment, yeah, that's it.
What is the fine print of ambition?
That's the fine print of ambition. Because when you're chasing greatness, when you declare to the world, I want to be the best, you're also saying, bring me the really good problem. You don't just get to sign up for the accolades. You're signing up for the late nights, the tough decisions, the public scrutiny. You're signing up for the days when you are questioning yourself but still have to show up like you own the room. Most people don't realize what they're actually signing up for when they say, I want to build a business. They see the success stories, the financial freedom, The glossy Instagram post of someone working from a beach somewhere. But behind the scenes? Come on, man.
What challenges come with entrepreneurship?
A thriving business comes with good problems. The kind that keep you up at night. You're responsible for payroll, even when cash flow is tight. You're making decisions that affect people's lives, their families, their careers. You're constantly solving problems. Problems you didn't even know existed when you first started. Growth isn't just exciting, it's exhausting.
What responsibilities do leaders bear?
But you asked for this when you said you wanted to be an entrepreneur. Leadership has a whole different weight. When someone says, I want to be a leader, I don't think they fully grasp what they're walking into. A C-suite leader isn't just calling the shots. They are carrying the burden of every decision, every failure, and every person who depends on the organization's success.
How does leadership change as you rise?
The higher you go, the lonelier it gets. You don't get to vent down. You don't get to make emotional decisions. You don't get to take a break from being the person people look to for direction. But you asked for this when you said you wanted that promotion. Or maybe you say, I just really want to make an impact. That sounds noble. But when you gain influence, when your platform grows, so do the expectations. A large following means you can't just say whatever you want whenever you want. Your words are scrutinized. You don't just get applause, you get criticism. You get misinterpretation.
What are the pressures of having influence?
And the pressure to keep creating, to keep showing up, to keep inspiring, to keep posting, even on the days when you feel like you got nothing in the tank. People don't see the weight of constantly being in demand, the pressure to maintain relevance or the exhaustion. of being accessible to so many people all the time. But again, you asked for this when you said you wanted to make an impact. Then there's writing a book. You want to write a book? You should. I think you should. Yeah, yeah, for sure. You should do that. But just so you know, there's levels to this thing. Writing the book is actually the easiest part. Getting it on a shelf is Getting people to actually buy it, promoting it, marketing it, doing the press runs, the interviews, the book signings. It's a full-time job.
Oh, and once you're an author, people expect you to write another one. You're no longer just a writer. You're a marketer, a salesperson, a brand. But remember, you asked for this when you said you wanted to be an author. Oh, and then for me in my world, oh my goodness, they're speaking. Let me tell you what I hear all the time. I want to be a speaker just like you.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What does it mean to chase greatness?
0:00–0:25
2
What mindset shift did Coach Mazzulla highlight?
0:25–1:16
3
What is the fine print of ambition?
1:16–2:01
4
What challenges come with entrepreneurship?
2:01–2:25
5
What responsibilities do leaders bear?
2:25–2:51
6
How does leadership change as you rise?
2:51–3:32
7
What are the pressures of having influence?
3:32–8:32