You have to be even better as a coach than as a player in

In the words of Karch Kiraly, champion both on the sands of volleyball courts and in the halls of leadership, we find a truth about discipline, vision, and the art of letting go: “You have to be even better as a coach than as a player in dropping what happened, good or bad, and moving on to the next one, because there is always a new matchup to prepare for.” This is not merely advice for sport, but wisdom for all who would lead. For the coach bears not only his own burdens but the weight of many, and his task is not to dwell in the echoes of the past, but to prepare the way forward into battles yet to come.

The essence of this teaching is found in the command to drop what happened—whether triumph or defeat. The player may rejoice in a victory or lament a failure, but for the coach, such indulgence is perilous. The leader must train his gaze not on what has been, but on what is coming. For there is always a new matchup, a new test, a new adversary awaiting. The past, whether glorious or bitter, is but a stepping stone; the true strength lies in moving swiftly to the next challenge with clarity of mind and freshness of spirit.

The ancients tell us of generals who mastered this art. Alexander the Great, after conquering one city, did not remain in celebration, nor did he wallow long in hardship when repelled. His focus was always on the next campaign, the next horizon. His greatness was not only in conquest but in preparation. So too does Kiraly declare that leadership, whether in sport or in life, requires the discipline of the mind—to lay down both pride and grief, to let go of what is finished, and to embrace what lies ahead.

History also gives us the example of Abraham Lincoln. After numerous defeats in politics, after losing elections again and again, he did not remain chained to failure. Instead, he carried the lessons forward, discarding bitterness, and pressing on. When at last he rose to the presidency, his strength was not in clinging to his past losses, but in his power to move on and prepare for the new battle of uniting a fractured nation. Like the coach in Kiraly’s vision, he had to keep his eyes fixed on the greater match before him, not the disappointments behind him.

Kiraly also reveals another truth: the responsibility of leadership magnifies the need for resilience. A player can afford a moment of self-indulgence; a coach cannot. For the team looks to him for direction, stability, and preparation. If he lingers in regret or celebration, his people lose focus. Thus, the leader must be stronger than the follower in the art of moving on. The burden is heavier, but so too is the calling. Leadership demands swifter recovery, greater vision, and a steadier spirit.

The lesson for us is clear: whether you lead a team, a family, or a community, you must master the discipline of release. Do not bind yourself to past victories, nor allow defeats to poison your resolve. Instead, ask always: what is the next challenge? What is the next opportunity to grow, to serve, to strive? In this practice lies the strength of leaders who endure and the wisdom of those who build lasting legacies.

Practically, this means cultivating a rhythm of reflection and release. Reflect briefly on what has been, learn what you must, and then set it down. Celebrate without clinging, mourn without despairing, and then prepare. Create in your life a forward-facing spirit that sees the next horizon before it is visible to others. In this way, you will not only guide yourself but inspire those who follow you.

So let us remember Karch Kiraly’s wisdom: true leadership is the art of moving on. The past, whether sweet or bitter, must not hold us captive. For life itself is a series of matchups, one after another, and only those who release yesterday are strong enough to face tomorrow. Embrace this discipline, and you will walk not as one chained to memory, but as one prepared for victory yet to come.