Something high performers get that others miss
A leader’s influence isn’t always about grand speeches or dramatic gestures—it’s often found in the smallest shifts in perspective. In this clip we saw on Instagram, Joe Mazzulla demonstrated how a single reframing of a challenge can reshape an entire mindset.
In the clip, Mazzulla is discussing Jayson Tatum’s treatment by the media. The interviewer suggests that Tatum has to deal with criticism, but Mazzulla corrects him: Jayson gets to deal with it. That distinction is subtle but profound. This isn’t an unfortunate burden—it’s part of what comes with chasing greatness. Tatum isn’t being singled out unfairly; he’s stepping into the territory reserved for the best.
Turning Pressure into Proof
What makes this moment powerful isn’t just the wording—it’s the philosophy behind it. Challenges aren’t interruptions; they’re signposts. Media scrutiny, heightened expectations, and relentless judgment don’t mean something is wrong—they mean everything is going exactly as it should.
Mazzulla isn’t dismissing the pressure Tatum faces. He’s reframing it as validation. If no one cared, there would be no criticism. If the spotlight didn’t shine, there’d be nothing to navigate. Tatum’s challenge isn’t avoiding scrutiny—it’s learning how to wear it well.
Owning Our Circumstances: A Core Coaching Philosophy
Mazzulla’s response aligns with a critical aspect of our coaching methodology: owning our circumstances and seeing them as gifts, rather than believing we are at the mercy of them. We all face challenging situations—some more visible than others.
For example, Phil lives with MS, which has left him without the function of his left leg and reliant on a wheelchair. He could engage with this fate from a “got to” stance—woe is me, why did this happen?—or from a “get to” stance—I get to engage with life in ways that others my age and younger, who have met their end, no longer can.
The shift from have to to get to is simple in language but transformational in impact. It moves us from resistance to ownership, from frustration to gratitude, and from burden to opportunity.
No Room for Complaints
The Celtics aren’t looking for sympathy. They chose this path. A successful season means more attention, more resistance, and more people waiting to see them stumble. That’s the cost of being in the fight. Instead of wasting energy resenting it, they’re leaning in, owning the reality of where they stand, and embracing what comes with it.
Controlling the Narrative
Mazzulla’s response is a masterclass in leadership. A coach isn’t just responsible for the game plan—they shape how a team processes its environment. The way challenges are framed determines how they’re faced. A leader who sees obstacles as roadblocks breeds frustration. One who sees them as confirmations of progress builds resilience.
The Moment Says More Than It Seems
We’re not here to anoint Mazzulla as the next great coach—this is just one clip. But it offers a glimpse into a mindset that separates the good from the great.
Winning teams don’t just react to the pressure around them—they define it on their terms. And in that moment, with just a few words, Mazzulla showed exactly how that’s done.
