--- title: Standardize then Optimize description: Explore the journey of Dr. James Voos in sports medicine, emphasizing the importance of standardization and innovation for peak performance and excellence. image: https://www.markglicini.com/hubfs/2026%20Blog%20Images/MGPP%20Blog%20Standardize%20then%20Optimize.png --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/standardize-then-optimize#main-content) [![MGPP Header White](https://www.markglicini.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MGPP%20Header%20White.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=MGPP%20Header%20White.png "MGPP Header White")](https://markglicini.com) [![MGPP Header Logo](https://www.markglicini.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MGPP%20Header%20Logo.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=MGPP%20Header%20Logo.png "MGPP Header Logo")](https://markglicini.com) - About MGPP - [Meet Mark](https://www.markglicini.com/meet-mark) - [Our Team](https://www.markglicini.com/our-team) - [Partnerships](https://www.markglicini.com/partnerships) - [Store](https://www.proathletics.com/mark-glicini) - [Services](https://www.markglicini.com/services) - Media - [Intentionally: The Blog](https://www.markglicini.com/blog) - [Mark's Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ruq1L8SNPyGmAqLdrVAVQ?si=fe35a92f2ae94518) - [Newsletters and Articles](https://www.markglicini.com/media) - [Testimonials](https://www.markglicini.com/testimonials) - [Meaningful Growth Foundation](https://www.markglicini.com/meaningful-growth-foundation) [Contact Us](https://share.hsforms.com/1VWcoL6s9TM6Banj_CI8rhwcj7mn) Toggle Menu Toggle Menu [Contact Us](https://share.hsforms.com/1VWcoL6s9TM6Banj_CI8rhwcj7mn) - About MGPP - [Meet Mark](https://www.markglicini.com/meet-mark) - [Our Team](https://www.markglicini.com/our-team) - [Partnerships](https://www.markglicini.com/partnerships) - [Store](https://www.proathletics.com/mark-glicini) - [Services](https://www.markglicini.com/services) - Media - [Intentionally: The Blog](https://www.markglicini.com/blog) - [Mark's Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ruq1L8SNPyGmAqLdrVAVQ?si=fe35a92f2ae94518) - [Newsletters and Articles](https://www.markglicini.com/media) - [Testimonials](https://www.markglicini.com/testimonials) - [Meaningful Growth Foundation](https://www.markglicini.com/meaningful-growth-foundation) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mark.glicini/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/markglicini/) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-glicini-b2698261/) [X](https://twitter.com/markglicini) 3 min read # Standardize then Optimize [![Picture of Mark Glicini](https://www.markglicini.com/hubfs/Team%20Headshots/Mark%20Glicini.png) Mark Glicini](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/author/mark-glicini) : Oct 15, 2026, 7:32:58 PM ![Standardize then Optimize](https://www.markglicini.com/hubfs/2026%20Blog%20Images/MGPP%20Blog%20Standardize%20then%20Optimize.png) The person who moved a mountain began by carrying away small stones. The person who built a mansion began by pouring compact areas of concrete. ## Excellent endeavors take time. This week, I sat down with Dr. James Voos on *Grateful and Full of Greatness* to discuss how he became the youngest Head Team Physician in the NFL at 35 years old, what excellence looks like in the field of sports medicine, and why dedicating our lives to serving others matters. Dr. Voos emphasized the importance of “earning the right to take care of patients” by getting outside of an operating room and connecting with his community. He learned early on how to dress for success in any role, build trust with professional athletes, and courageously take leaps of faith when compelled by a strong enough vision. His philosophies could add value across any journey, relationship, or work environment. I loved hearing about *standardization*, which involves repeatable procedures doctors and teams take to increase readiness. Standardization includes safety protocols. It involves completing a checklist of priorities before, during, or after performance. It sets strict systems for consistency and streamlines productivity. By definition, standardization is the process of developing and applying uniform guidelines and rules for how operations are carried out. Within the NFL, numerous members of an organization’s sports medicine staff will prepare for worst-case scenarios every Sunday before each game. ### The separation is in the preparation. When I think about standardization from a psychological perspective, my mind goes to building a strong foundation through healthy habits. Getting sufficient sleep, consuming nutritious calories, and exercising regularly go into the standardization of peak performance. What do we daily, not every once in a while? Which behaviors do we repeat each day, regardless of location or circumstance? How do we act all the time despite ever-changing weather, internally and externally? When I asked one of the most winning lacrosse coaches I ever met how he has sustained success despite working with different programs in different states over dozens of years, he responded, “That’s easy: standards.” Standards are behavioral expectations. They are core values that are lived out by individuals within a team every day. They are embodied beliefs. They are actions charged with emotion because the people performing them agree on their importance for growth and contribution beyond mere survival. Without standards, teams fail. Faulty foundations fall. Greats focus on a firm ground floor before a wall. Standardization is essentially the base of a building. Is it solid? Is it sturdy? Does it withstand storms due to its durability, integrity, reliable character? If yes, then it could be built upon. The basics of recovery, hydration, and movement provide stability for progressive overload—greater amounts of activity, weight, and responsibility. Stability, then versatility. Emulation, then innovation. Standardize, then optimize. *“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”* — Matthew 7:24-27 Knowledge without action is potential. Knowledge with action is power. Knowledge with action performed consistently is love, and love conquers all. What do we do when we like a flower? We pluck it. What do we do when we love a flower? We water it, nurture it, protect it. What do we do when we like versus love ourselves and our teams? Our actions answer that question louder than any words. It takes time, intentionality, and love to build a solid foundation, weight-bearing columns and pillars, as when as boundaries and finishing touches. It takes care, commitment, and consistently to nourish and inspire an organization worth being a part of. It takes courage, failure, and risk to create something that improves status quo. ### Our commitment to executing a task must remain greater than any feelings of apathy or indifference. Most people do not achieve consistent high performance due to six words: “I do not feel like it.” Feelings are signals to take cover; commitments are actions to discover. One of the characteristics I admire most about Dr. Voos is his insatiable and consistent curiosity. He’s constantly answering big and small asks. He pays attention to what interests him. He readily attends to what calls forth the best, and sometimes fearful, parts of him. His willingness to nurture his already inquisitive nature is remarkable. By the end of our episode together, I referred to Dr. Voos as an all-in explorer rather than an armchair expert. Why? Because he adheres to standardization while simultaneously striving for innovation. To innovate means to seek new. Standards help us now while innovation inquires, “Is there a better way?” Through the backing and donations of the altruistic owners of the Cleveland Browns, the Haslam Family, Dr. Voos was put in charge of the Haslam Sports Innovation Center. Beyond standardization, he and his team look for novel ideas, methods, and products to improve the holistic health of athletes. This Center, since the basic priorities and protocols have been established, aims to bring one of the better sports medicine institutions in the NFL/country to by-far-and-away the best. Once a house is built, it becomes a home through the people we invite in. Dr. Voos and his team, like Sharktank, allow companies to pitch to them how their products and services could potentially enhance the lives of athletes nationwide and globally. It’s a team effort. It’s an organization that constantly challenges status quo. It’s leaders who choose, commit to, and love excellence. Most do not set standards. Some meet and exceed standards. A few raise standards.   \- MG   🎙️[Click here to listen to Mark Glicini’s monthly episodes of his podcast, ***GRATEFUL*** *and Full of Greatnes*](https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ruq1L8SNPyGmAqLdrVAVQ?si=fe35a92f2ae94518) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) #### Getting to Know the Author Mark is a Certified Fitness Trainer, Nutritionist, and Mental Performance Coach. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Sport & Performance Psychology at the San Diego University for Integrative Studies. At Mark Glicini Peak Performance, we recognize that physical health reflects mental health. We study how intention drives behavior and emphasize that true peak performance requires an integrative approach—mind, body, and spirit. [See What We Offer](https://www.markglicini.com/services) #### The Meaningful Growth Foundation As the Mark Glicini Meaningful Growth Foundation embarks on a journey of endurance and togetherness against the trials and tribulations brought upon by cancer, I state: every inch of my heart is in this. Like so many, cancer has had a profound impact on my life. It took the lives of my grandfather and uncle before I was born. For years starting in 2011, I stood by my mother’s side as she battled and overcame lymphoma. Her fortitude, unwavering support from loved ones and God’s will triumphed amid extreme adversity. Although we have not and may not win every fight, we will relentlessly strive to make an individual’s growth meaningful and to ensure his or her family feels cared for and supported. Thank you for your love, God Bless! [Contribute Today](https://donate.stripe.com/fZe7vSaDlfjvf8Q7ss) [![Standardize then Optimize](https://www.markglicini.com/hubfs/2026%20Blog%20Images/MGPP%20Blog%20Standardize%20then%20Optimize.png)](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/standardize-then-optimize) #### [Standardize then Optimize](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/standardize-then-optimize) [![Picture of Mark Glicini](https://www.markglicini.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Headshots/Mark%20Glicini.png?width=30&name=Mark%20Glicini.png) Mark Glicini](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/author/mark-glicini): Oct 15, 2026, 7:32:58 PM The person who moved a mountain began by carrying away small stones. [Read More](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/standardize-then-optimize) [![The Love to Care & the Courage to not Care](https://www.markglicini.com/hubfs/2026%20Blog%20Images/MGPP%20Blog%20Take%20Care%20Carefully.png)](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/the-love-to-care-the-courage-to-not-care) #### [The Love to Care & the Courage to not Care](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/the-love-to-care-the-courage-to-not-care) [![Picture of Mark Glicini](https://www.markglicini.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Headshots/Mark%20Glicini.png?width=30&name=Mark%20Glicini.png) Mark Glicini](https://www.markglicini.com/blog/author/mark-glicini): Oct 8, 2026, 7:03:00 PM Do not be careless… care less. 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