Austin Alexander

[Brad Stulberg @BStulberg]

"All year, we've been saying, 'Talent is our floor, but our character will determine our ceiling,' and I'm just so confident in their character. That's what determined how they played today."

Excellence isn’t just about the destination.
It’s also about who you become along the way.

I love the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team and I love coach Cori Close.

She embodies so much of what I write about in "The Way of Excellence."

She is a fierce competitor and wants to win badly. She also understands that the reward isn’t just the trophy, it’s the experience you gain, the lessons you learn, and the relationships you forge in the process.

All of this can be true at once.

Today, UCLA beat South Carolina 79-51 in the national championship. They outscored the Gamecocks 25-9 in the third quarter—the largest margin in any quarter of any championship game ever. Every single one of UCLA’s points was scored by one of their six seniors. It’s a remarkable testament to staying power.

The road wasn’t easy.

Last year UCLA lost in the Final Four to UConn. Afterward, Close told her team:

"They handed it to us. We got to learn from this and be better the next time."

They came back this season, went 37-1, and won 31 straight games to close the year.

In interview after interview the Bruins players shared the same sentiment: We did this for each other, we did this for our teammates.

In sport—and in life—we play finite and infinite games. Finite games have beginning and ends. The point is to win. Infinite games are ongoing. The point is to keep playing.

Cori Close’s entire coaching philosophy shows that we can play both at the same time.

There is this myth that in order to be great you need to be ruthless always and only care about winning.

That’s bullshit.

You can develop athletes and win.
While at the same time developing people.
The best coaches do both.

When ESPN's Holly Rowe told Close after the game, "You've got someone special wanting to see you," Close fought back tears and said: "C'mon, Mom!" Her mother Patti—known as "Mother Bruin"—came out and stood beside her during the interview.

It was awesome. Excellence is love.

The win itself is only as fulfilling as the work you put in to get there.

Psychologists call it the arrival fallacy: the fact that human nature isn’t meant to be content, it’s meant to strive. Whatever joy you find comes in the process as much as the result.

“It's meaningful because of the people I've gotten to share it with,” says Close. “It's all about the heart. It would be shallow without the amazing village and the incredible people that have poured into me my whole life."

Excellence is not a destination; it is a process of becoming. The real reward isn’t a championship, a bigger deadlift, a faster marathon, the promotion, or a sturdier table. The real reward is that you become a better version of yourself.

“Banners hang in gyms and rings collect dust. But who you become and who you impact you get to keep forever.” —Coach Cori Close.

[Sahil Bloom @SahilBloom]

The ultimate long-term competitive advantage is having fun. You can never bet against the person who just seems to have fun doing the work.

[Shubham Saboo @Saboo_Shubham_]

https://t.co/nd0lEM0XbI

[Tomas Pueyo @tomaspueyo]

My take on the jagged frontier debate:

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

Happy World Water Day! 💧 🌎

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

Liquid Assets: Transforming food industry wastewater into clean energy https://t.co/jTLHzNwVKC

[Xylem @Xylem]

Xylem ranked 12 overall and named to the @3BLNews list for the sixth consecutive year, underscoring our commitment to empowering customers and communities to build a more water-secure world. #100BestCC #ESG #WaterSecurity #LetsSolveWater

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

We are so excited to share this partnership!

[Xylem @Xylem]

In collaboration with partners, committed capital has reached $100M for @waterequityorg’s Water & Climate Resilience Fund. 💧 Together, we’re driving innovative water and sanitation solutions in emerging markets.

https://t.co/ifYVUnyEM1

#WaterStewardship #ClimateResilience

[SIWI @siwi_water]

🌟 VOTE NOW for your favourite #SJWP project
☑️ https://t.co/pjWKUGsfxB

The project with the most votes will receive the People's Choice Award during #WWWeek, TUESDAY 27 AUGUST, in presence of HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

🌟 Mark you calendar and and register.

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

As we lead up to the release of our 2023 Sustainability Report, we're highlighting Xylem colleagues that are making the magic happen - creating economic and social value. Check out this interview with Aria. She has a bright future ahead!
https://t.co/goTLwyXooC

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

Thank you @WINZaction for highlighting this great opportunity from @watermeetsmoney !
#letssolvewater #water4climate @Xylem

[WINZ @WINZaction]

Getting utilities to net zero:
✅ reduces emissions
✅ improves operations
✅ lowers costs

After being awarded Net Zero Carbon Champion at the Global Water Awards, we spoke to @Xylem about concrete steps the water sector can take in the race to zero.

➡️ https://t.co/9jT99L5ltx

[UN-Water @UN_Water]

“Making development sustainable, responding to climate change, and reducing the risk of disasters – all are about managing water more effectively.” Gilbert F. Houngbo, Chair of UN-Water

#QuestionsPeopleAsk #ClimateChange ➡️ https://t.co/pQ5edi9syR
#WaterAction #COP28

[DC Water @dcwater]

We partnered with @WSSCWaterNews and @Xylem to inspire the next generation of water professionals! Often, water work isn’t thought of when students are making plans for the future, we set out to change that. Showcasing careers in water from engineering to finance!

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

I’m honored to represent a company like @Xylem. Top to bottom caring about how we can run a good business and make a difference.

[Xylem @Xylem]

Congratulations, @AustinPriceAlex on being named a #2023MB100. #MeetTheMB100

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

I was delighted to join a recent Appetite for Construction podcast to discuss @Xylem work to solve US water access challenges - check it out! https://t.co/2bZYgZ4xkS

[NE Ohio Regional Sewer District @neorsd]

so that's green infrastructure. it's a way to store, filter, and infiltrate stormwater to increase resiliency of systems—whether human made or natural— by reducing stress during wet weather, increasing support of both healthy environments and stronger communities

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

Thank you for wonderful engagement yesterday! Join us today 1-3pm for the GHG Incubator Workshop! #weftec #netzerowater #letssolvewater

[Xylem @Xylem]

“You can’t start the journey to #netzero if you don’t know where you currently are. Figure out what your emissions are and set targets to start moving the needle.”

@AustinPriceAlex on how the water sector can be the leading sector in #decarbonization. #weftec23 #weftec

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

We're excited to co-host the upcoming Innovation and Access: Water Solutions for Underserved Communities event at @ReservoirCenter!

Join us to hear how we can help communities solve pressing water challenges. #LetsTalkWater #ReservoirCenter

RSVP today! https://t.co/hAy32nqHKQ

[Austin Alexander @AustinPriceAlex]

@thewaterloop @ReservoirCenter Great location for a great pod!