Be a Volume Contributor
String Music: A Newsletter from Dr. Hunter Taylor
Be a Volume Contributor
Emotional Toughness
My sons are big Stephen Curry fans. So on a recent family movie night, we watched his documentary - Underrated.
They enjoyed it.
But I think I got more out of it than they did.
One scene, in particular, stuck with me. It was when his college coach, Bob McKillop, described what he saw when recruiting Curry.
At the time, Steph was undersized. Most major programs passed.
But McKillop saw something different - something he called emotional toughness.
McKillop saw it immediately.
Miss or mistake — didn’t matter.
Curry didn’t hesitate.
Didn’t shrink.
He contributed again.
Not recklessly.
Not selfishly.
Confidently.
He didn’t let the last result dictate the next decision.
That’s what separated him.
It wasn’t about being a ball hog.
It was about being willing to act —
to take the shot, or make the right pass, when it was there.
That stuck with me.
As a parent.
As a teacher.
As someone trying to build things.
Dual Youth Leagues
It took me back to being a kid.
In my early grades, my parents intentionally had me play in two different basketball leagues at the same time.
In one, I was the primary ball handler.
The scorer.
Everything ran through me.
In the other, the competition was better.
I wasn’t the guy.
I had to learn to contribute differently.
Defend.
Make the right pass.
Play a role.
Both experiences mattered.
One gave me confidence to take shots.
The other taught me how to contribute when I wasn’t the one taking them.
That combination gave me more reps than I realized at the time.
And it made me better.
From Shooter to Contributor
That lesson is showing up again in how I approach my work.
When I’m trying to solve something, I’m trying not to stop at ten ideas.
I want fifty.
A hundred.
Some won’t be good.
Some won’t be mine to lead.
That’s okay.
Because sometimes I’m the shooter.
And sometimes I’m not.
There are projects where I can see clearly - I should not be the primary designer.
Someone else is better suited.
That doesn’t remove me from the work.
It invites me to think differently:
How do I complement this?
How do I help it succeed?
Where can I add value?
That’s the shift.
Not just being a volume shooter.
Being a volume contributor.
Taking a lot of shots -
and helping a lot of shots.
The Leadership Lesson
Most people wait for the perfect shot.
The right idea.
The right role.
The right moment.
They hesitate.
The people who grow don’t.
They generate more ideas.
They test more things.
They take more shots.
And when it’s not their shot —
They still find a way to contribute.
Volume creates clarity.
Contribution creates momentum.
Your Challenge
This week, try two things:
1. Increase your volume.
Don’t stop at your first good idea. Keep going.
2. Expand your role.
Where you’re not the lead - find a way to contribute anyway.
3. Ship something.
Take one idea and act on it before you feel fully ready.
More reps.
More range.
More growth.
The Final Reflection
You don’t need perfect conditions.
You need more attempts.
And a willingness to contribute - no matter the role.
Be a volume contributor.
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If you enjoy it and want to support my work, the best ways are simple:
Pick up one of my books — including Draw the Line, now available on Audible.
It helps me keep writing and sharing these ideas - and it means a great deal.