In September of 2017, the New England Patriots traded 5th- and 7th-round draft picks for Cassius Marsh, a pass-rushing specialist from the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots had appreciated Marsh’s talents dating back to his days at UCLA. He was versatile, could rush the passer and play on all four special teams.

Upon his arrival, Marsh was indoctrinated into the New England system, forced to focus on his specific job, being on time, putting the team first and speaking for himself. Two months later, the Patriots released him, making him a free agent. Marsh on his way out the door offered his assessment of the team’s culture:

After Marsh’s words created a media sensation, Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman took matters into his hands by writing on the whiteboard as players entered the locker room a simple message:

Winning is Fun.

Winning is also hard work. Winning requires the entire team to take the hardest path, never settling for the easy road. Winning requires focus, concentration and mental toughness to repeat small but important tasks day after day without complaining. And when someone on the team doesn’t “buy in,” he/she is no longer part of it, regardless of their acquisition cost.

The Patriots released Marsh because he wasn’t a fit. They valued their overall culture more than their investment in one player’s services. Marsh wasn’t willing to pay the price to win.

The Patriots’ system is not for everyone — they know this, which is why they cast away those who don’t blend into their culture. There is little joy in the process. The joy comes from the results. Most of life isn’t Little League, where everyone gets a turn at bat and plays three innings. The world of professional sports is highly competitive, and if being a champion were easy, then everyone would do it, and perhaps Marsh wouldn’t be on his sixth NFL team since leaving New England.

Our organizations must be built around people willing to go the extra mile for fun, not those who expect it along the way.

Fun happens after we win.