Maybe I’m Just a Carpenter with One Tool. But I think it’s the right one.

Maybe I’m just a carpenter who sees every problem as a nail and every solution as a hammer. But reflecting on this past week, I can’t help but think that the answer to so many of our challenges, on the court, in our communities, even in our country, is simple: we all need to be better teammates.

In a week when hate again spilled into violence, people talk about toning down the rhetoric, listening to “the other side,” or reminding ourselves that we’re working toward the same things. I see it more fundamentally. Whether it’s addressing division in our nation or trying to win an ACC championship, it always comes back to what makes a great teammate.

We started workouts with our new team this week…my favorite time of year. The energy is raw, the possibilities wide open. And our success won’t come down to talent alone, but to how well we can STORM together:

Show up with energy and focus.
Take care of relationships.
Own our power and responsibility.
Raise others up.
Maintain our mission.

That’s the framework. And it applies to basketball as much as it does to life.
Being a good teammate means staying locked in on shared goals, putting in the work as an individual, and being empathetic enough to understand where others are coming from. It means preparing for your opportunity and accepting the responsibility to give your best because the team depends on it.

Later in the week, Stanford’s new Athletic Director John Donahoe reminded us of the same truth. He shared how his roots in servant leadership were planted during his time at the GSB. His challenge to us was flip the org chart. Athletes at the top, coaches and administration beneath them. Leaders must be teammates first, always.

And then the week ended last night with a tremendous Stanford football win. The Cardinal faithful saw the product of months of hard work, commitment, and trust. Led by Andrew Luck and Coach Reich, the team executed in all phases and gave us a great ACC home opener.

From the grind of practice to the thrill of victory, the lesson is the same: we rise and fall together as teammates. Striving for individual success is important, but it’s never enough. To achieve anything lasting we need to raise others up, invest in relationships, and stay focused on the bigger picture. We are all interdependent.

Maybe I’m just a carpenter with one tool. But I think it’s the right one.