Growing up in Dover, Massachusetts, sports weren’t just something I did after school… they were a big part of who I was. I played various varsity sports at Dover-Sherborn High School, but basketball is where I learned some of the most important lessons of my life. Being captain taught me more than how to run plays or lead warm-ups. It taught me how to communicate, how to show up for people, and how to push myself far beyond what I thought I was capable of.
Those lessons didn’t stay on the court. Years later, when I launched my own business and began building my career in the technology manufacturing world, I found myself relying on the same principles I developed as a teenager. Here’s how high school sports shaped the leadership style, accountability, and drive that continue to guide me today.
Learning to Lead by Example
When you’re seventeen and someone hands you the title “captain,” it feels like a big responsibility (because it is). At that age, I didn’t have a formal understanding of leadership. What I did understand was that people watched how I carried myself. If I slacked off during practice, why would anyone else work hard? If I complained about drills, what message would that send?
So I learned quickly that leadership isn’t about telling people what to do. It’s about showing up consistently and setting the tone. I wasn’t the loudest person on the team, and I didn’t need to be. I found that being reliable, steady, and prepared was far more powerful. No one wants to follow someone who cuts corners. They follow someone who treats every play, every drill, and every rep like it matters.
That approach carried directly into my career. In the business world (especially in sales) people pay attention to your habits more than your words. When I started at Dynamic Details in 2001, I tried to be the guy who made the extra calls, who followed up with customers faster than expected, and who did the small things that create long-term trust. Later, when I became a partner in my own company, I carried that same mindset into how I work with both my business partner and our customers. Leadership begins with how you behave when no one’s watching.
Accountability Starts With Looking in the Mirror
One thing sports teach you early is that you can’t hide from your own performance. If I missed a free throw, turned the ball over, or didn’t play good defense, there it was, clear as day. And the only way to get better was to own it.
I remember games where I walked away knowing I could have given more, or knowing that a mistake I made cost us momentum. At first, it’s tough to admit that. But accountability becomes easier when you realize that it isn’t about blame- it’s about growth.
That mindset helped me tremendously in my career. I’ll never forget the year at DDI when I fell short of winning the highest dollars booked award. It wasn’t because the market was bad. It wasn’t because of anyone else’s decisions. I simply needed to make more calls and get on the road more often. Instead of getting discouraged, I leaned into that realization. I pushed myself harder, and the next year I hit levels I hadn’t reached before.
In entrepreneurship, accountability is everything. There’s no coach calling the plays for you. There’s no teammate to pick up the slack. If you want something to change, you have to look at yourself first and ask, “What can I do better?” That approach has helped me navigate ups, downs, and every challenge in between.
Drive Comes From Consistency, Not Just Motivation
When you’re young, motivation comes easily. A big game, a packed gym, or a rival school can get your adrenaline going. But the real progress happens during the quiet practices—when no one is cheering and nothing big is on the line.
Back in high school, I learned that improvement isn’t about feeling inspired all the time. It’s about repeating the fundamentals day after day, even when you’re tired or distracted. You learn that consistency builds results.
That same idea shaped how I approached starting RMS Sales years later. Launching a business isn’t a sprint- it’s a long stretch of highs and lows, good months and tough months. There were days when things clicked and others when nothing seemed to move forward. The drive I built through sports helped me keep a steady pace. I learned to not get too high on the wins or too low on the losses. That mindset kept me grounded and allowed me to focus on what I could control; my effort, my preparation, and my attitude.
Teamwork Is About Trust, Not Just Talent
In sports, you learn quickly that you can’t win alone. It didn’t matter how many points I scored if we weren’t playing together as a team. Trusting your teammates means understanding their strengths and weaknesses and knowing when to step up or step back.
That’s exactly how I approach business partnerships today. My partner and I balance each other. We’re honest about what we’re good at and where we need support. Just like on the court, you win more when everyone leans into their strengths and helps fill in the gaps.
Looking back, high school sports gave me far more than a chance to compete. They taught me how to lead with consistency, how to hold myself accountable, how to trust others, and how to stay driven through the long stretches when results aren’t immediate.
Those lessons are woven into the way I run my business, raise my kids, and carry myself today. The court might be behind me, but the principles I learned there show up every single day—and they continue to guide me toward the next goal on the horizon.