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This week’s message may hit differently than the usual time management tips you’re used to from me.
I want to talk about redefining success in coaching and building a career that supports your life—not one that consumes it.
But first, let me ask:
Have you ever stopped to think about how much is enough? Enough wins, enough work, enough growth.
It’s a question I started asking myself a couple of years ago, and it completely changed how I approached both my career and my personal life.
My Wake-Up Call
There was a time when I said yes to everything. Recruiting trips, offseason clinics, summer camps—if it could help the program, I was in.
At first, it felt amazing. My calendar filled with opportunities, and I felt like I was “grinding” my way to success. Things shifted for me quickly when I was exhausted and almost fell asleep driving back from a recruiting event late one night with my 6-month-old in the back seat.
The travel caught up to me. The emails never stopped. My stress levels spiked, and the things I actually cared about—my family, my health, my friends, my hobbies—felt like they were slipping through the cracks.
I realized I was chasing a moving target. No matter how much success we had, it never felt like enough.
One day, I asked myself a life-changing question:
“What am I really coaching for?” And more importantly:
“What would happen if I stopped chasing more and started focusing on enough?”
Defining Your “Enough” as a Coach
For me, the answer started with a simple exercise.
I sat down and asked myself: What would a fulfilling coaching career look like? Not just one where I survived season to season, but one where I truly thrived.
This became my “enough” number—not in win, but in lifestyle goals.
It wasn’t about racking up endless championships or working myself into exhaustion. It was about creating a coaching career that supported my life, not consumed it.
Here’s what my “enough” looked like:
- Quality time with my family
- Maintaining my health and energy so I could show up as my best self
- Making a meaningful impact on my players
- Hitting my recruiting goals without burning out
Everything beyond that became a bonus—not a reason to sacrifice my life for more.
Breaking the “Grind Culture” Mentality
The pressure to constantly do more is everywhere in coaching. Social media is full of stories of coaches outworking their competition—grinding through the offseason, attending every camp, and working long into the night to hopefully get that slight edge.
But what those stories often leave out is the cost:
- The relationships strained or lost
- The health issues ignored
- The emptiness of hitting a milestone that doesn’t bring real joy
Here’s the truth: success isn’t a race to see who can grind the hardest. I believe it’s about aligning your work with the life you want to live.
Building a Freedom-Based Coaching Career
Once I defined my “enough,” everything changed.
Instead of working endlessly, I started working intentionally. I created boundaries and focused on what mattered most:
- Time: I limit my work hours during the week. My evenings are for my family, and my off seasons include true rest.
- Health: I prioritize sleep, exercise, and managing stress.
- Joy: I make time for hobbies and experiences that fuel me.
- Impact: I focus on projects that align with my values and genuinely help others.
This isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most.
Is Your Coaching Career Supporting Your Life?
If you feel like you’re stuck on a never-ending hamster wheel of recruiting, practices, and administrative tasks, here are three steps to start shifting toward a freedom-based coaching career:
- Define Your “Enough” Number: Get clear on what success looks like for you. Is it a certain number of wins? A better work-life balance? More time with your family? Let that vision guide your decisions.
- Set Clear Boundaries:
- Establish work hours and stick to them. Don’t let the job take over your entire life. Delegate tasks where you can and make time for yourself.
- Focus on Alignment: Be more intentional with your to-do list. Before you start working, ask yourself: “Will this list of to-do’s make my life better—or just keep me busier?”
Warning Signs You’re Chasing Too Much
Not sure if you’re caught in the “more, more, more” trap? Watch out for these red flags:
- You feel guilty when you take time off.
- You measure your success by wins alone.
- You can’t remember the last time you had a true day off.
- You keep telling yourself, “I’ll be happy once we [insert milestone].”
- Your success feels hollow instead of fulfilling.
I’ve been there. I can promise you: the grind isn’t worth losing the life you’re working so hard to build.
Redefining Success as a Coach
True success isn’t about how many championships you win or how many hours you work. It’s about building a coaching career that supports the life you want to live.
For me, success looks like:
- Being present with my loved ones
- Waking up excited about the day ahead.
- Building something meaningful without burning out
- Living a life that feels rich in every sense of the word
You only get one life. Make sure the career you’re building leaves space to enjoy it.
Here’s to 2025—and doing things a little differently.
I am here to help you succeed in 2025,
Mandy Green
Here are some ways I can help you this year.
To leverage your time: High Performance Coach and Recruiter
To leverage your staff: Assistant Coach Accelerator,
To leverage your recruiting system: Recruiting Made Simple
How to stay consistent with social media for recruiting purposes: Social Story Recruiting
The Busy Coach Planner is something I think every college coach should have on their desk for the start of 2025. Grab one here and start fresh, organized and dialed in next year.
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