Be the Standard
There’s a moment I’ll never forget—standing in the final days of Ranger School, just before graduation. You’d think I would’ve felt relief, pride, maybe even a little swagger. But what I felt was something different. Something that came from a conversation I didn’t expect.
A few days before we were set to graduate, someone pulled me aside and said:
“You know, graduating from Ranger School doesn’t mean anything.”
At first, I was stunned. What do you mean it doesn’t mean anything?
And then they said the words that have lived with me ever since:
“To be a Ranger, you have to know what the standard is. You have to enforce the standard. But more than anything—you have to be the standard.”
That hit hard. And it has shaped how I’ve led ever since.
You Are the Standard—Whether You Mean to Be or Not
When you’re in a leadership position—formal or informal—people watch you.
They take their cues from you.
And whether you realize it or not, they start to mirror you.
Not just your words, but your tone.
Not just your decisions, but your effort.
Not just your rules, but your way of being.
If you’re cutting corners, they’ll cut corners.
If you’re calm in chaos, they’ll steady themselves.
If you’re putting in the work to get better, they’ll find that next gear in themselves too.
As General Colin Powell once said:
“You know you’re a good leader when people follow you, even if only out of curiosity.”
The truth is, people are always following us—for better or worse.
So the question becomes:
What are you showing them?
Being the Standard Means Living It
When I first stepped into leadership, I thought my job was to know the standard.
Then I thought it was to enforce the standard.
But real leadership? It’s when you live the standard.
When you’re tired but you still hold the line.
When no one’s watching and you still do the right thing.
When you admit what you don’t know and work like hell to figure it out.
Being the standard isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being consistent. Intentional. Accountable.
It’s about owning your influence and understanding that how you show up shapes the culture around you.
Lead by Example—On the Job and at Home
This doesn’t just apply to law enforcement or the military.
It applies to every single role you play.
Your kids are watching.
Your teammates are watching.
Even your partner is taking note of how you lead in everyday life.
So ask yourself:
What kind of example do I want to set?
Am I showing up with integrity?
Do I treat people with respect—even when no one’s around?
Am I living in a way that inspires trust and followership?
That’s what it means to be the standard.
A Challenge: Make It Conscious
This week, I challenge you to take one moment each day—on duty or off—and ask yourself:
“What standard am I setting right now?”
Maybe it’s how you speak to someone.
Maybe it’s how you show up to a meeting.
Maybe it’s how you treat yourself when things don’t go right.
You don’t have to be perfect.
You just have to be aware.
Because you are setting a standard—every single day.
So make it one you’re proud of.
Be the standard.