The 'L' Can Stand for Loss or Lesson—You Choose

Daily Coach co-founder, "Coach" George Raveling, was recently featured in Big Think—the thought-leadership platform that explores bold ideas and innovation insights from top minds across business, science, philosophy, and technology.

In this thought-provoking interview, Coach Raveling delves into the core principles of the service mindset and tackles the age-old question: Are great leaders born or made?

Drawing from his tenure leading Nike’s global basketball division, he shares invaluable lessons from CEO Phil Knight on the art of vision-driven leadership—and why he believes there is profound beauty in the losses we experience. His insights highlight how our response to failure can be the key to unlocking future success.

For this week's Saturday Blueprint, we’ve curated some of our favorite moments from the conversation.

🔗 Read the full feature here: Leadership Masterclass: Nike, Jordan, and James Baldwin

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Are great leaders born or made?

The answer lies in knowing that we are all born to lead. What makes us great is the courage to step into that role and the willingness to nurture it through our journey. Too often, we fail to trust ourselves and our own story, which limits our ability to trust others and to lead effectively. But the truth is this: every one of us is a leader. The first step is to believe it — to embrace the fact that we are born with the ability to guide, inspire, and serve others.

Leadership begins with self-belief, and from there, it can evolve into something transformative. True leadership starts with empowering others to see their own potential and pursue their dreams with greater conviction. Belief isn’t just a slogan on the wall or a phrase in a mission statement — it’s the driving force behind human progress, mental breakthroughs, and extraordinary performance. Belief fuels everything.

You mention that Phil Knight — co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Nike, Inc. — is a master of the art of filtering the signal from the noise. What other exceptional business/leadership qualities did you pick up from Knight?

Mr. Knight stands as one of the greatest visionaries and most dynamic leaders our society has ever known. Joining Nike after my coaching career and brief stint in sports commentary was nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — a masterclass in life, leadership, human behavior, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. Leading Nike’s global basketball division allowed me to witness firsthand the art of vision-driven leadership and what it means to shape the future before others even imagine it.

The lessons Mr. Knight imparted continue to resonate with me to this day. From his iconic philosophy that “There is no finish line” to his unwavering belief that settling for the status quo stifles growth, his words have shaped my approach to both leadership and life. “Life is growth. You grow, or you die,” he would say. And perhaps most profoundly, he reminded us that, “Sometimes, knowing when to give up — when to try something else — is genius. Giving up doesn’t mean stopping. Don’t ever stop.”

As a young man you “devoured biographies of great leaders” — which writers had a lasting impact on you?

My grandmother once shared a powerful story with me: “George,” she said, “back in the days of slavery, plantation owners would hide their money in books and place them on the shelves. Their banking system wasn’t like it is today, and they knew the slaves wouldn’t take the money because they couldn’t read the books.” I asked her, “Why couldn’t they read, Grandma?” She replied, “Because they weren’t allowed to. If someone controls your mind, they can control your body. That’s why.” Her words struck me deeply. From that moment on, I made a vow: I would never allow ignorance to become a chain. I would never be in a position where someone could control my mind — or my body — because of what I didn’t know. I committed myself to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, understanding that intellectual freedom is a form of power, and that respect is often earned through the depth of your mind.

James Baldwin nurtured my love for reading and for the flow of words that breathe life into existence. He taught me the beauty of stories — the kind that don’t just sit quietly on a shelf but demand to be read, felt, and lived. Through his work, I found the courage to embrace the complexity of my own story and the conviction to honor the stories of others. Baldwin’s legacy is a reminder that books hold more than just words — they hold liberation, transformation, and the keys to worlds waiting to be explored.

Were there instances in your career where trying to apply sporting lessons to the business arena proved disastrous?

Leadership, like life and sports, is a journey filled with triumphs and trials. Along the way, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes — some that proved disastrous. Moments where I didn’t trust my intuition, myself, or the situations I was tasked with leading. In those moments, we take the “L.” But here’s the thing: the “L” can stand for a Loss, or it can stand for a Lesson.

There’s incredible beauty in the losses we experience in life and leadership. Yet, we live in a society that often stigmatizes failure, defeat, and setbacks — urging us to fear them rather than embrace their potential. The truth is, these moments of adversity are chapters in our story, not the conclusion. When things fall apart, we’re left with a choice: Will we use the obstacle to find a way forward, or will we let it become an excuse? Our response is always within our control. And that, in itself, is the essence of what makes both leading and living so profoundly beautiful.

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1  Big Think, “Leadership Masterclass: Nike, Jordan, and James Baldwin”