The Price of Greatness (CtbG Y4:E6)

~ Angelo DelliSanti

This morning, Kasey and I were up at 5:30 to watch one of our favorites, Lindsey Vonn, live out her passion and chase another Olympic Gold.

Within seconds of coming out of the gate, Lindsey crashed hard. We gasped as she tumbled and joined the spectators in silence as her body came to a halt on the side of the mountain. Moments later, she was airlifted off the mountain. No celebration. No glory. No gold. Just a reminder of how thin the margin really is when we dare to pursue something truly great. That’s the part of greatness we often overlook.

Today, we’re going to be presented with peak moments of greatness – the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and the artistry that goes along with both. We see the results, but we rarely find ourselves considering the cost.

Years of preparation. Thousands of unseen reps. Intentional sacrifices often made in the quiet, dark, lonely moments that enable greatness. And yet, there’s no guarantee of success.

We can fall. We can lose. We can do everything right and still fail.

And yet, that fall, the loss, and the failure are not what define greatness. Their greatness was determined long before those moments of final failure – built into their character on the long road of preparation and self-sacrifice. While we don’t always walk away with a win, we can always walk away with our heads held high because we achieved something truly great.

That’s not just true in sport. It’s true in leadership. Great leaders don’t prepare to look good in the moment. Great leaders constantly pursue the practices of greatness so that, in those critical moments, they stand the best chance of experiencing success. And, when they fail, they can lay their head down easily at night, resting in the knowledge that they dared to pursue something great.

This blog, Choosing Greatness, isn’t about the momentary glory found in winning. Rather, it’s about digging a deep well of greatness found through faithful preparation in the pursuit of something genuinely worthwhile.

I wonder: What are you pursuing? Far more importantly: How are you pursuing it?

#ChooseToBeGreat

Angelo

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Published by Angelo DelliSanti

“Education? You don’t want to do that with your life. You’ve got other plans.” That’s what Angelo DelliSanti’s high school counselor told him his senior year. And she was right—at first. Angelo had spent three years preparing to become a U.S. Navy officer. But an internship with a math teacher during his senior year changed everything. Helping struggling students master algebra sparked a passion for education that would shape his career. Over the next 15 years, Angelo served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, returning to his alma mater to teach World History and later advancing to leadership roles. As a principal, Angelo implemented the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process, leading to remarkable academic gains, increased scholarships, record-breaking graduation rates, and improved school culture. These achievements earned him recognition as the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Principal of the Year in 2018. In 2022, Angelo joined Capturing Kids’ Hearts as a Leadership Solutions Strategist where he is dedicated to working together with school leaders to create remarkable schools. He holds a Bachelor’s in History and Secondary Education from UNC Charlotte, where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. He also completed a Master’s in School Administration and completed all the required coursework for a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from his alma mater, earning the Outstanding Student Philip Morris Educational Fellowship in 2017. Angelo lives in North Carolina with his wife, Kasey, whom he married in 2008. Together, they enjoy escapes to the mountains and beaches. Angelo’s passions include golf, non-fiction books, cooking, and sharing meals filled with laughter and connection around the table.

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