The Right Way: Lessons from my Dad
- reganejones
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Some coaches teach plays. Others teach character, but my Dad (Coach Rick Jones) did both. How he did it shaped me into the person I am today. He called it “The Right Way.” Not just a slogan. Not just a motivational phrase. It was a standard. A mindset. A blueprint for how to show up in life, on and off the field.
🏈 What “The Right Way” Really Means
My Dad believed that greatness wasn’t just about talent, it was about how you carried yourself.
• Show up early.
• Shake hands firmly.
• Look people in the eye.
• Say “yes sir” and “no ma’am.”
• Leave the locker room cleaner than you found it.
• Win with humility. Lose with grace.
It wasn’t about being perfect, it was about being accountable. And it applied to everything: practice, school, relationships, leadership.
The Lessons That Stick
One of my Dad's most iconic lessons came in the form of 56 sprints. Not 55. Not 57. Exactly 56. Why? Because that’s how many plays are in the average high school football game. His message was simple but profound: Every sprint represents a play, and every play deserves your full effort. No coasting. No picking and choosing when to give your best. Whether it was the first snap or the last, you were expected to go all out, because that’s The Right Way. It wasn’t just conditioning; it was a mindset. A daily reminder that excellence is built one rep, one sprint, one decision at a time.
Everyone was held to the same standard. It didn’t matter if you were the star quarterback or the last guy off the bench, if you broke the rules, you were held accountable. That was the Coach Jones’s way. Every player, and every coach, was expected to give their best, not someone else’s best, but their best. If you couldn’t run fast, you were still expected to run as fast as you could. If tackling wasn’t your strength, you were still expected to be the best tackler you could be. The standard wasn’t perfection, it was effort, integrity, and ownership. The standard was “the best.” And it applied to everyone.
If a player mouthed off to a ref, my Dad pulled him. If a player trashed talked or show-boated, he pulled him. Not because we could afford to lose him, but because we couldn’t afford to lose our values. He said, “If we win without class, we didn’t really win.”
You see The Right Way in action at places like Chick-fil-A, where service isn’t just transactional, it’s intentional. From the “my pleasure” responses to the spotless dining rooms and community involvement, their culture is built on consistency, respect, and doing the little things with excellence. It’s not about being flashy, it’s about being dependable. Just like my Dad's 56 sprints, every interaction matters. Every detail reflects the bigger mission. And when a company commits to that kind of standard, people notice. They trust it. They come back, not just for the product, but for the principle behind it.
How It Shaped Me
I didn’t become a coach. I became a videographer, a storyteller, a creative. But my Dad's coaching philosophy still guides me. When I shoot a hype video, I think about why it matters, not just how cool it looks. When I work with athletes, I treat them with respect, listen to their stories, and help them shine. When I build content for Missouri State, I remember that branding isn’t just about flash, it’s about integrity. My Dad taught me that doing things The Right Way isn’t always the fastest, flashiest, or easiest, but it’s always the most meaningful.
Why It Still Matters
In a world chasing clicks, likes, and shortcuts, The Right Way is more relevant than ever. It’s about building something that lasts. It’s about leading with character. It’s about showing up even when no one’s watching. My Dad didn’t just build winning teams. He built winning people.
And if you’ve ever been lucky enough to learn under someone like that, you know: The Right Way isn’t just a philosophy. It’s a legacy.
Regan Jones is the lead Athletics Videographer for Missouri State University, where she captures the energy and emotion of over 19 NCAA sports. As the founder of My Charmed Productions, she brings a cinematic edge to team branding, athlete storytelling, and sports media strategy. Her passion for the lens began in second grade with a camcorder and a cast of siblings, crafting music videos and backyard plays. By eighth grade, she was creating hype videos for the Greenwood Bulldogs Championship Football teams—and she hasn’t looked back since.
Side Note: Fasdogs was a Greenwood Arkansas summer speed & agility camp held for 4 weeks every summer for "athletes" from 3rd grader to seniors (including alumni & parents). It was a community event where families planned their vacations around it to make sure they got their 100% tee shirt. No excuses of any kind were accepted for missing a workout, the tee shirt had to be earned. It was a hard 2 hours of training, 4 days per week in the heat of the summer. Shared pain = team bonding.