Over the past 5–7 years, there’s been this ongoing debate.

Who’s the GOAT?

Tom Brady.
Jim Brown.
Muhammad Ali.
Floyd “Money” Mayweather.
Michael Jordan.
Kobe Bryant.
Reggie Jackson.
Babe Ruth.
Tiger Woods.
Jack Nicklaus.
Simone Biles.
Mia Hamm.

Depending on the generation you grew up in, that list shifts.

The debate changes.
The passion doesn’t.

For me, GOAT has never just been about statistics.

It’s about impact.

It’s about someone whose fight to success meant something.
Someone who changed the trajectory of their sport.
Someone who inspired teammates, fans, and entire generations.

They didn’t just win games.

They shifted culture.

They wore capes.

And here’s what they all have in common.

Every one of them made mistakes.

Some were small.
Some were public.
Some reshaped how we saw them.

The pedestal we placed them on cracked at some point.

But they still inspire.

Because the cape was never about being flawless.

It was about influence.

Somewhere along the way, we created this mystical expectation that our heroes and leaders are perfect.

And eventually, some of them begin to believe it.

Even Batman, in The Dark Knight, couldn’t save Rachel.

The cape doesn’t make you flawless.
It just makes people expect you to be.

The belief that we must always be perfect quietly builds the foundation for burnout.

In Remember the Titans, Coach Boone preached perfection.

Not because he was chasing greatness.

But because he knew if he lost one game, he could lose everything.

When your mind operates in survival mode, the energy required just to survive eventually wears you down.

That kind of pressure changes how you lead.
How you think.
How you rest.

For a long time, the cape I wore told me perfection was the standard.

If I was leading, I had to win.
If I was responsible, I had to get it right.
If I was visible, I had to be flawless.

But I’ve learned something.

Perfection is not what inspires people.

Growth does.
Resilience does.
Ownership does.

The GOATs we debate about didn’t inspire us because they never fell.

They inspired us because they responded when they did.

And that changed everything for me.

I don’t need to be perfect to lead.

I need to be present.
Intentional.
Willing to grow.

That’s a different kind of cape.

And that’s one I can wear without burning out.

If this spoke to you, share it with someone who’s been strong for too long.

Then hit reply and tell me what cape you’re ready to take off.

Damon Lester

Take Cape Off