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POST 2 – “The Sacrifice of Leadership” Why I Stopped Going South I was 23, coaching young men just a few years younger than me. Respect wasn’t automatic. I had to earn it. And I learned something fast: You can’t lead people who see you as their equal in every space. So I made a quiet decision. While my players were heading south - South Beach, Brickell - I went north. Not because I was hiding… But because I didn’t want to be seen in a way that made leadership harder. Some might call that overthinking. I call it sacrifice. Because leadership isn’t just what you say, It’s how you carry yourself. And sometimes, that means giving up a version of yourself so your team can rise into theirs. I was still rough around the edges, a product of early 2000s Miami. But when I stepped on that court or into that classroom, something had to shift. My students noticed. “Coach, you’re different in class than on the court.” In class, I was cool, motivational, engaging. On the court, I was intense, focused, demanding , almost intimidating. They weren’t wrong. But I wasn’t being fake. I was being intentional. The goals were different. In class: personal growth, self-discipline, finding purpose. On the court: unity, sacrifice, preparation for battle. Leadership, I realized, is like stepping on stage. Sometimes, before you walk out, you whisper to yourself: “Scene one.” Then… action. You become who they need. That was my sacrifice. And to this day, I still ask myself: Was I being strategic, or not being authentic? Maybe both. Maybe leadership isn’t about choosing between authenticity and strategy… Maybe it’s about aligning your values with what the moment demands. Either way - I didn’t go south. Because I knew I couldn’t afford to lead from the crowd. Leadership Reflection Leadership is how you carry yourself, even if it means giving up a version of yourself so your team can rise into theirs. It’s not about being fake. It’s about being intentional. Because respect is the currency of leadership, and sacrifice is often the price you pay to earn it.