The Standard Advantage

Leadership, Legacy & Daily Habits

“Someone’s watching—even when you don’t realize it.”

Someone’s Watching. What Are You Showing Them?

Time waits for no one.
It’s cliché—but it’s also true.

As another year comes to a close, this is usually when reflection sets in.
The wins.
The setbacks.
The lessons learned.

And ideally, it forces a bigger question:

Where am I right now—and what’s it going to take to get where I want to go?

Let me share a moment that permanently changed how I approach my craft.

The Moment I Didn’t See Coming

Early in my career—fresh out of college—I was training athletes at a local gym.

One day, a member named Rick walked up and started asking questions.
A lot of them.

We talked for about 30 minutes:
training philosophy, methods, mindset, standards.

Then he said something I didn’t expect:

“I’ve been watching you train athletes for six months. You’re the one. I want you to train my kids.”

Rick had two multi-sport athletes.
One eventually played professional baseball.
The other went on to play professional basketball.

But that’s not the real takeaway.

The real lesson?

He had been quietly watching everything—for six months.

How I coached.
How I treated athletes.
How I trained myself.
How I handled success and setbacks.

I had no idea.

Why This Matters to You

Whether you realize it or not—
someone is always watching.

A coach.
A scout.
A future teammate.
A younger athlete.
Or someone simply trying to figure out who you really are.

So ask yourself:

What are you showing them?

Are you someone who starts fast and fades?
Someone who shows up only when it’s convenient?

Or are you showing consistency?
Attention to detail?
Effort when no one’s clapping?

Raising the Standard

That moment raised my standard—permanently.

It’s why we treat every athlete the same, whether they’re an All-American or a kid trying out for JV.

It’s why we don’t just write workouts—we build systems, programs, and blueprints.

Because someone is counting on us to deliver our best—
every single day.

Final Thought

Time is running out on 2025.

No more waiting for “next week.”
No more waiting for “next season.”

Raise your standard.
Start now.
And never forget—

Someone is watching.

— Coach Shelby and The Shelby Trained Team