THE LEADERSHIP BLOG
Reflections on Leadership, Clarity, and Growth
Derek’s blog is where he shares reflections on leadership as it is lived: practical insights, real moments, and ideas leaders can return to when they need perspective. Many ideas shared here connect directly to Derek’s books, speaking topics, workshops, and the Lead on 3 framework. Readers often use these reflections as a place to pause, reset, and refocus.
What 1,800 Cups of Coffee Taught Me about Connection
I've probably purchased around 1,800 cups of coffee from the same place over roughly eight years. My order isn't complicated. Black coffee. One day, a barista looked at the name that appeared with my order and simply said, “Thanks, Derek.” It was a tiny moment, but I noticed it.
The Star of the Team Is the Team
During my time as Coordinator of Basketball Operations at Marquette University, there was a banner associated with our program that carried a simple message:
THE STAR OF THE TEAM IS THE TEAM.
Tom Crean used the phrase, and I've never forgotten it.