Mark Cuban responds to the criticism he’s been hearing since day one in his role as owner of the Dallas Mavericks:

To me, the proof is always in the details. No matter what business I’m in, [I find that] most people work in headlines mode. They think that if they say or write something that makes a good headline , then there must be substance to their point. That’s not the way business works. Which is why most people never get further than the middle.

Substance comes from detail. Luck comes from detail. Winning comes from being willing to do the work on the details. Learning comes from investing in details.

Once you have information, then you can add brainpower and try to do things better. Once you have information, then you can start to define excellence and strive for it, measuring your progress along the way.

I don’t agree with everything Cuban says or does — but I can say that about virtually anyone. I do believe this: Mark is the biggest reason for the Mavericks’ rise to the NBA elite, and he is exactly what the league needs.

Passion, a strong voice, attention to detail, and a focus on continuous improvement are a powerful combination. Cuban has all four in spades.