The most important job that anyone in leadership has is to create a true winning culture. This is true in football and in life.

Most recently, with Northwestern, coach Pat Fitzgerald has returned to college football. He takes over a Michigan State program that is looking to be, at a minimum, more competitive in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.

The Spartan newcomer, as shared on X by the Brandon Walker Football Show, is attempting to lay the foundation right away.

He made a critically important distinction. It is sometimes possible for slight differences in vocabulary. There is an important difference here, however, in coach Fitzgerald’s words.

To him, the team is not going to be run and governed through rules. Instead, he wants the players to abide by certain standards. Going about one’s business with this shifted mindset can make all of the difference.

The former allows for loopholes and for exceptions to be made that, in reality, water down any and all progress that has been made up to the point in question.

The alternative approach is a way of life. Constant improvement and evaluation become essential components on both the micro and macro levels.

Going from a ‘clocking in’ mentality and being satisfied with doing the minimum to embracing everything difficult about being a part of a team and arriving as the best possible version of yourself is, in fact, the only way to ensure that everyone can be in the best possible position to win.

This, of course, does not guarantee anything. MSU is still playing in the Big Ten after all. Compiling wins is still incredibly difficult. This vision being spelled out, though, by coach Fitzgerald is what all must strive for every day and within every moment of their lives.