If you are the best player on your team!
In this motivational monologue, Kelsey Higginson tells athletes that being the best player on a team or in a friend group can actually hinder progress if the surrounding environment lacks challenge. She argues that individuals tend to perform at the level of the competition, expectations, and standards set by the people they train with, play with, or spend time around. Consequently, if a top athlete finds no one pushing them—whether it’s teammates, friends, or a coach—they risk stagnating. Higginson advises concrete actions: seek a new team, find higher‑level training partners, join a different friend group, or hire a coach who demands more, especially during the offseason. By surrounding oneself with people who pursue higher goals, the athlete raises their own bar, leading to continued improvement and growth. The core moral is that you become who you play with or who you hang around.
