Semper Gumby
Always Flexible, Always Growing, Always Getting Better
“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.”
Semper Gumby
Earlier this week, I had the privilege of welcoming Jeremy Boone to spend the day with our school district staff, coaches, and student leaders.
Boone is an internationally recognized performance coach, best-selling author, and published researcher who has worked with over sixty national and world champions, Olympic medalists, and elite coaches from numerous countries. He served as the NFL's first speed and conditioning coach for the Carolina Panthers and has been the mental performance coach for NASCAR Penske Racing for the last decade. He is also the founder of Winning Leader™, dedicated to helping athletes, coaches, and leaders embrace his philosophy of being “The Best at Getting Better™.”
As Boone connected with adults and students alike, this idea continued to stick with me.
The power of this idea rests in its simplicity, yet it carries a powerful challenge. Continuous growth doesn't happen by accident—it requires humility, adaptability, and a willingness to improve, no matter your role or age.
But what does “being the best at getting better” actually look like in the chaos of a busy, hectic day?
Little did I know that life was about to provide the perfect demonstration of Boone’s message. It had been one of those weeks that tested everyone's patience—a new school year was beginning, with after-school activities in full swing and staff back in buildings. Parking was a mess. Communication broke down. Best intentions were misjudged.
Amid that setting, one referee arrived to find the parking situation less than ideal. His response? Immediate, refreshing, appreciated … and memorable.
"No problem. As the Marines say, 'Semper Gumby,' right?!"
With a genuine smile, he then jumped out of his car and headed to the field with a perfect can-do, happy-to-help attitude.
That interaction put action to the heart of Boone’s earlier message. Being the best at getting better is choosing flexibility, positivity, and growth right where you are, even when things don't go according to plan and we’re thrown a curveball.
“Semper Gumby” is a Marine Corps saying that means “Always Flexible.” It's a playful twist on mottos like Semper Fi (“Always Faithful”) and Semper Paratus (“Always Ready”). The phrase combines the Latin Semper (always) with “Gumby”—the green clay character from the 1950s who could stretch, twist, and bend into any shape without breaking.
Navy SEAL expert Mark Divine explains, this mindset of being “always flexible" is “arguably one of the most important mindsets for teams and individuals to cultivate in today's exponential world.” That referee didn't just know the phrase—he was living it.
In every crisis, challenge, or unexpected situation, people reveal who they truly are. Everyone seems to fall into one of two categories:
The Semper Gumby People
They are optimists who adjust, adapt, and make the best of any situation
They're flexible, kind, and understanding
They see problems as puzzles to solve, not reasons to complain
They focus on what they can control
They lift others up when things get tough
They embrace Jeremy Boone's philosophy: they're the best at getting better
Then, there is the second group of people.
The Rigid People
They struggle with the unexpected, change, and expect the world to conform to their perspective
They are pessimists who complain about circumstances beyond anyone's control
They focus on what's wrong instead of what's possible
They drain energy from rooms instead of adding to them
They see obstacles as evidence that nothing ever works
A wave of what’s wrong drowns their ability to find reasons to be grateful and happy
They stay stuck instead of growing
The type of person you are isn't determined by your personality, background, or circumstances. It's determined by the choice you make in each moment when life doesn't go according to your plans, expectations, or desires.
That referee chose Semper Gumby. Jeremy Boone has built a career around helping people choose to be “the best at getting better.” Both understand that flexibility provides us with life-giving strength under pressure. It's what allows us to bend without breaking.
The choice to be flexible is both personal and contagious.
As leaders, coaches, parents, whatever role it may be … we set the tone. When we choose to be Semper Gumby, we give others the invitation to be flexible too. Boone's wisdom of being “the best at getting better” requires the referee’s Semper Gumby mindset. You can't continuously improve if you're not willing to adapt. You can't grow if you insist everything stay the same. You can’t be better if you only spew anger.
We all face situations that don't go according to plan. Parking will be bad. Technology will fail. People will be difficult. Someone you’re counting on won’t show up. In those moments, you get to choose to contribute as Semper Gumby or wallow in a rigid, deficit mindset.
Will you be the person who says “no problem,” seeks to understand, and finds a solution? Or the person who lists every complaint imaginable—and how you’ve been wronged? Will you focus on getting better, or getting even? Will you bend, or will you break?
You own this choice. And it's always making a difference—not just in your own experience, but in the lives of everyone around you. In a world where there are plenty of rigid, angry people, be the one who says “Semper Gumby” and finds a productive way forward.
Always flexible. Always growing. Always getting better. That's the kind of person worth following.
“The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.”
- Japanese Proverb
Connecting this quote to the story. True strength lies in flexibility—both Jeremy Boone’s challenge to “be the best at getting better” and the referee’s “Semper Gumby” response show that bending, adapting, and adjusting make us more resilient than rigidly resisting change.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: The best leaders are not the ones who have it all figured out, but the ones who are always getting better.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
Updates on Chasing Influence
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life is available in Kindle, softcover, hardcover, and audiobook editions.
For additional resources, links to podcast appearances, and other Chasing Influence news, click here.