“You’re lucky to be here” is a culture problem and it’s driving away talent.
The industry already asks a lot. Long hours, emotional investment, high visibility, constant performance pressure. That’s understood. What shouldn’t come with it is the unspoken belief that access alone is the reward. →
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When “you’re lucky to be here” becomes the culture:
✧ People stop speaking up.
✧ People stop taking risks.
✧ People stop growing.
✧ And eventually people start leaving.
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The irony is that sports organizations consistently say they want innovation, fresh ideas, and diverse perspectives. But that mindset quietly shuts all of that down. You don’t get bold thinking in environments where people feel replaceable.
Retention in this industry isn’t just about compensation. It’s about culture. It’s about whether people feel valued once they’re in the room, not just grateful to be invited into it.
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A healthier standard looks like:
✧ “We’re building this together.”
✧ Feedback that develops, not diminishes.
✧ Leaders who invest in people beyond their current title.
✧ Cultures where belonging isn’t conditional.
✧ Compensation that reflects the value of the work.
Access is not the same as belonging.
If this industry wants to keep talent it has to evolve how it treats the people doing the work.
Because gratitude is not a retention strategy.