Transform Your Family, Church or Business: Elevating Culture Through Standards

Standards are the invisible force behind every high-performing team, business, and family. They shape culture, drive behavior, and reveal what people truly value—not what they say they value, but what they’re actually willing to live out.

This article is based on The Impossible Life Podcast Ep. 198 | 3 Levels of Standards, where Garrett and Nick deliver a masterclass on how standards function in elite cultures and how you can lead at each level: meet, uphold, and raise.

“Standards are the muscles of a culture. Purpose is the skeleton—standards are what put the culture in motion.” — Garrett

Most people talk about standards like they're just rules. But rules can be broken when it’s convenient. Standards? Real standards are non-negotiable. They’re clear, intentional, and have no benefit to being broken. And if you want to build something that lasts—whether it’s a team, a business, or a family—you need to know how to set, enforce, and elevate them.

Level 1: Meet the Standard — Where Ownership Begins

This is where everyone starts.

When you’re new to an environment with high standards—whether it’s SEAL training, a new job, or a marriage—you’re not leading anything yet. You’re being pulled along. The question is: will you rise to meet the standard, or fall off the back?

“When I was new in the SEAL Teams, they didn’t ask me to lead—they asked if I could keep up.” — Garrett

Meeting the standard is about buy-in and ownership. It’s when you stop asking why is this so hard? and start saying this matters, and it’s on me to rise up. That shift doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, discipline, and humility.

You’ll know someone is at this level by the questions they ask:

• “Why do we have to do this?”

• “Isn’t this good enough?”

• “I’m trying, isn’t that what counts?”

But here's the truth: trying isn’t the standard. Doing it right is. Excellence isn't optional when lives—or legacies—are on the line.

“You’re not pulling the truck forward. You’re trying to hold on to the rope. And that’s okay—just don’t let go.” — Nick

This is where identity begins to shift. You stop viewing standards as punishment and start seeing them as preparation. It's the start of transformation—from a consumer to a contributor.

Level 2: Uphold the Standard — The Culture Keepers

Once you’ve met the standard consistently, you move into the second level: upholding the standard.

These are the people who own the culture. They understand the why behind the standard. They don’t just do it—they believe in it, they enforce it, and they lead others into it.

“When I was a student, they yelled at me to meet the standard. When I became a leader, I understood why.” — Garrett

Upholders are like cultural anchors. They’ve internalized the values and understand that slippage—no matter how small—costs the whole unit. They're the ones who say:

• “This is how we do things here.”

• “That’s not good enough.”

• “We don’t break that standard—ever.”

Garrett used the SEAL training example of never pointing your weapon at a teammate. There’s no benefit to breaking that. Ever. It’s not about preference. It’s life or death. And real standards work the same way in families, businesses, and churches.

“If you're forced to be in a place with standards, and you don’t want to be, you're a degradation to that culture.” — Garrett

Upholding the standard means you’ve stopped needing external motivation. You’re no longer trying to survive—you’re protecting and strengthening what others depend on.

Level 3: Raise the Standard — The Visionaries

The third level is rare—and transformational.

These are the leaders who dream bigger. They push the edge of what’s possible. They don’t settle for what is—they ask, what should be?

“Raising the standard requires vision for what could be, and wisdom to know what should be.” — Nick

These are the Steve Jobs, the Elon Musks, the people who aren’t just holding the line—they’re redefining it. They’re not chasing trends—they’re setting them. And they’re willing to pay the price to make it happen.

But raising the standard isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing the right things better.

“If you’re trying to raise the standard and can’t clearly explain the why, you’re just grinding.” — Garrett

Without purpose, raising the standard becomes tyranny. That’s why great leaders don’t just demand more—they inspire more. They connect every new demand to a greater purpose.

Nick compared this to the difference between building a castle and killing a dragon:

• Castle-builders pay people to stack bricks.

• Dragon-slayers inspire warriors to join the mission.

“People will come work on your castle—but they’ll give their life to help you kill a dragon.” — Nick

Raising the standard is only possible when people believe it’s worth it.

Final Thoughts: Lead Where You Are

Every high-performance culture is built on standards. And those standards are upheld—and elevated—by leaders who understand how to grow through each level.

So the challenge is simple:

• If you’re meeting the standard, own it. Stop resisting and start growing.

• If you’re upholding the standard, teach others. Reinforce the why. Lead with conviction.

• If you’re raising the standard, cast vision. Inspire. Create a culture people want to be part of.

“Excellence is not an accident. It’s the result of clearly defined, relentlessly upheld, and courageously raised standards.” — The Impossible Life

This applies to your business. Your family. Your marriage. Your calling.

Wherever you lead—lead with standards that reflect the God you follow. Because in the end, your standard is your message.