I hope you had a meaningful Memorial Day- a time to reflect, remember, and honor those who never made it home.
For our family, it’s become tradition to mark the day by doing “The Murph”- a workout in memory of Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy.
This year I tackled it with my 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, alongside family and friends. If you’re not familiar, The Murph is a tough workout – but it’s really about something more: service, sacrifice, and shared adversity.
Now, for context- my kids aren’t exactly running enthusiasts (honestly…neither am I these days). They haven’t been eager to train for my triathlon. But that morning, with cousins around and the memory of my best friend Dennis Zilinski (KIA, Iraq) on our minds, something shifted: they locked in.
They gave it their all. And like any dad, I caught myself wondering:
Why were they all in for this- but fight me on a simple run any other day?
Because it meant something.
That’s the power of purpose.
Too often, I think we overlook just how critical purpose is to unlocking buy-in — in sports, in business, in life.
That theme showed up again this week in my latest Leadership Blueprints conversation with Phil Wursta, a civil engineer who recently launched his own firm, WK2- built with a clear mission and an even clearer understanding of the leadership challenges his clients face.
Phil knows what his clients- mayors and municipal leaders- are up against. He brings them to the field, to the infrastructure problems that need fixing, because:
When you see it, you believe it.
When you feel it, you act.
And when you act together, you build trust.
The Murph reinforced the same truth:
Shared adversity builds buy-in.
Community sets the pace.
Camaraderie creates culture.
And the soreness the next day? That’s a reminder you showed up- and gave your best.
Watching my daughter grind through pull-ups and my son gut out that final mile- not because they had to, but because they weren’t doing it alone- reminded me:
We accomplish more when we do it together.
Teams don’t just lighten the load- they raise the ceiling on what’s possible.
And whether you’re leading a project, a platoon, or your kids- the same truth applies: Don’t do it alone.
Build a team. Create a culture. Do the hard things- together.
Make it a great weekend!
BJ
