Hi Everyone,

Happy Friday! Thanks for spending part of it reading The Lake Street Journal.

This week we’re talking about Harry Truman’s retirement, handling hard better, and the cost of Urban Meyer’s dreams. Let's get into it.

Just Because You Can

On an April Sunday in 1950, Harry Truman wrote a letter announcing his retirement—a letter he wouldn't make public for two more years.

Although the 22nd amendment was about to become law, limiting a President to two terms in office, Truman was exempt. But the circumstances didn't tarnish his honor.

"In my opinion," Truman wrote in his letter, "eight years as President is enough and sometimes too much for any man to serve in this capacity.

There is a lure in power. It can get into a man's blood just as gambling and lust for money have been known to do.

This is a Republic. The greatest in the history of the world. I want the country to continue as a Republic.

Cincinnatus and Washington pointed the way. When Rome forgot Cincinnatus, its downfall began. When we forget the examples of such men as Washington, Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson, all of whom could have had a continuation in the office, then we will start down the road to dictatorship and ruin.

I know I could be elected again and continue to break the old precedent as it was broken by FDR. It should not be done. That precedent should continue—not by Constitutional amendment but by custom based on the honor of the man in the office."

Like the great men who came before him, Truman relinquished his power because he believed it was best for the country. For the people he was leading.

We've seen the same with great modern leaders like Mattis. Jeff Bezos passed the torch at Amazon. Derek Jeter knew when to hang up his cleats.

As the saying goes, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

Truman could've, but he didn't. We can look to his example for inspiration.

Handle Hard Better

This video is two minutes and fifty seconds of brilliance.

Kara Lawson, head coach of the Duke women's basketball team, had a freshman who was struggling. Lawson could tell the player was just gritting her teeth and waiting for things to get easier.

She used this moment as an opportunity to teach the whole team a valuable life lesson:

It doesn't get easier. You become someone who handles hard better.

"Make yourself someone that handles hard well," said Lawson. "Not someone who's waiting for the easy...Any meaningful pursuit in life, it goes to the people who handle hard well. Those are the people that get the stuff they want."

I've always felt this way about fitness. The workouts never get easier. They always hurt. But your times get faster. Your lifts get heavier. Your endurance gets better.

But it applies to everything. And it's one of the most important things we can teach as leaders—how to handle hard better.

To our kids. To our players. To our employees.

If you're helping your people learn to handle hard better, that's the leadership sweet spot.

The Cost of Urban Meyer's Dreams

This was an excellent profile of legendary college football coach Urban Meyer. It reads as a cautionary tale about the costs of success.

Read the first few paragraphs and you won't be able to put it down.

One of the things that stood out to me was something Meyer's dad said to him shortly before he died:

"Sometimes walking away isn't quitting. Sometimes, when the fire burns too hot, walking away is the bravest thing a man can do."

And that reminded me of Truman. Sometimes being the best leader means knowing when enough is enough.

We're all here pursuing excellence, and occasionally we need a reminder like this one.

Workout of the Week

This workout is awesome because you can do it pretty much anywhere—your driveway, a parking lot, a high school track. All you need is a pair of dumbbells and a steel resolve.

My wife and I did this one together yesterday morning.

"Running With the Devil"

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

• Devil's press (35s)

• 100m run

Do 10 devil's press, then run 100 meters. Then 9 devil's press, then run 100 meters. All the way down.

My time was 10:48. Let me know how you do.

Quote of the Week

"The lessons we learn from our fathers are the ones when they're not trying to teach us anything." - Shane Battier

Have a question or a comment? Respond to this email.

Talk soon,

Joe