Chasing Greatness: Lessons from Coach Kara Lawson

Greatness isn’t an accident, nor does it happen overnight. It’s built through relentless dedication, skill development, mastery refinement and a willingness to endure a process that often goes unseen and undervalued.

Duke Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kara Lawson—a trailblazer in the sport as a player, commentator, and coach at both the high school level and with the Boston Celtics—captures this truth about greatness:

"If you want to be great, you have to start somewhere. I might’ve been born to lead. I wasn’t born great. You develop into your greatness."

Competence: The Foundation of Greatness

Greatness begins with competence. Lawson reminds us that skill and expertise are non-negotiable: "Before you can be great and before you can lead, you have to be very, very competent in what you’re being tasked with doing."

For us as leaders, this means mastering our craft before expecting others to follow our vision. Competence builds trust—not only in ourselves but also in those who rely on our guidance. Repetition leads to competence, and competence fosters confidence. This principle applies whether we're leading a team, crafting a strategy, coaching others, or leading ourself.

Competence is the price of admission to leadership. Mastering the basics and fundamentals must come first.

The Incubation Period: Growth Before Greatness

Lawson emphasizes that greatness is a journey, not a sprint: "There’s this period, it’s like an incubation period, that we all are in... You want to get to the end or to the promised land... But there’s a period of development that takes hours and hours and hours."

During this incubation period, the focus should be on learning, unlearning, relearning, developing skills, and building resilience—not chasing recognition or rewards. Rushing through this phase can lead to costly mistakes and missed opportunities for growth.

In a culture that glamorizes overnight success, it’s crucial to resist the temptation to skip steps. Instead, commit to the process, understanding that true greatness takes time, effort and patience.

Avoid the Comparison Trap

One of the biggest threats to life and leadership is the temptation to compare ourselves to others. Lawson warns: "What takes people out of that period early is that they’re so concerned that someone else’s incubation period was shorter... What you’re being prepared for is different from what someone else is being prepared for."

Like our stories, our journeys are unique. Comparing timelines or achievements leads to frustration, resentment, impatience, and poor decisions that undermine potential. Focus on your own development and the needs of those you lead, while leaning deeper into self-trust and self-belief.

Remember: comparison is the enemy of our progress and the thief our joy. Your path to greatness is yours to write.

Coach Lawson’s insights provide a powerful blueprint for leaders, coaches, executives, and high performers striving for greatness. Here are five actionable takeaways to help us put her wisdom into practice:

1. Master the Basics: Greatness begins with competence. Invest in becoming exceptionally skilled at your craft.

2. Embrace Development: Trust the incubation period and avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time.

3. Focus on Your Journey: Resist comparing yourself to others. Your path and story are uniquely yours.

4. Stay Consistent: Dedicate yourself to daily practice and purposeful habits.

5. Trust the Process: Have faith in the timing of your growth. Avoid rushing your discovery and transformation.

Greatness isn’t about titles or accolades—it’s about the intentional effort and dedication to becoming the best version of ourselves. As Coach Lawson reminds us, the journey is just as important as the destination.

Keep stacking the days, putting in the work and chasing greatness. When the time is right, you’ll be ready to seize the moment and the opportunity.

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