The Brown M&M Test: A Lesson in Standards

No Brown M&M’s

In the 1980s, rock band Van Halen became infamous for a peculiar demand in their concert rider: No brown M&Ms in the dressing room. Buried deep in a long list of technical requirements, this request wasn’t about rockstar ego; it was a test. Van Halen’s stage setup was complex and required precise specifications for lighting, sound, and stage construction. A failure to adhere to these detailed requirements could result in life-threatening safety issues at different venues.

Lead singer, David Lee Roth, explained in a 2012 interview that the no brown M&M’s clause was a hidden quality control measure. In his memoir, Roth explained that “Van Halen was the first band to take huge productions into tertiary, thirdlevel markets…At the time, it was the biggest production ever…If I came backstage, having been of the architects of this lighting and staging design, and I saw brown M&M’s on the catering table, then I guarantee the promoter had not read the contract rider, and we would have to do a serious line check” of the entire stage setup.

Van Halen’s brown M&M rule wasn’t about candy; it was about standards. Just like the band used a small detail to gauge whether the bigger details were being handled correctly, athletes can use personal standards to ensure they are consistently prepared for optimal performance.

Kobe’s Success Rule

Kobe Bryant’s Hall of Fame career spanned 20 seasons and culminated in 18 All-Star games, 5 NBA championships, and an MVP award. Kobe’s excellence was less about perfection, but rather his ability to relentlessly commit to a standard.

Everyone wants the result of greatness, but very few are willing to endure the boring, repetitive, and inconvenient work required to produce it. Kobe’s personal philosophy (“Get better every day”) offers the reminder that success is rooted in our choices and our standards. The standard doesn’t care how talented you are, it only cares about how disciplined and consistent you can be in upholding it.

Every day you’ll be presented opportunities to be the standard or to make excuses. If the standard is optional, it’s not the standard. It’s a suggestion. You can’t negotiate the standard. Elite performers deliberately choose the standard they’re committed to over and over again. They understand that there’s a big difference between defining standards and enforcing them. Defining standards will make you feel good, but it’s only by living them that you do good.

One of the best gifts you can give your future self is to increase your present-day standards. In the wise words of James Clear, “You won’t always get what you strive for, but you will definitely get what you settle for. You won’t magically outperform your standards.”

Coaches: Model the Way

Former Boise State University and University of Washington Head Football Coach, Chris Petersen, once shared that there’s three primary breakdowns in leadership.

1. A failure to define expectations and standards

2. A failure to manage expectations and standards

3. A failure to model expectations and standards

As a coach, you can’t lead what you don’t live. Each time we expect a player to behave or play a certain way without modeling the standard ourselves, we fall into the entitlement trap as leaders. If you demand that players show up early, be engaged, and embrace discomfort, but you roll into practice with no plan, check your phone mid-drill, and avoid difficult conversations, then unfortunately you’ve created a culture where double standards thrive.

Today’s “how-to” and practical suggestion for coaches is to simply model the standard you’re setting for those you lead. One way to audit yourself is to ask, “If my athlete adopted my daily habits, mindset, and choices exactly as they are, would I be proud of the result?” If the answer is no, then it might be time to raise your own standard first.

Similar to Van Halen’s use of brown M&M’s as an indicator of attention to detail, your personal habits as a coach serve as an indicator of the culture you are truly building.

Final Thoughts:

Standards are not just words, but actions repeated consistently over time. Whether it’s Van Halen ensuring safety through a small detail or Kobe Bryant’s relentless commitment to growth, success is always built on non-negotiable principles. If a missing M&M can indicate deeper issues and threaten performance, imagine what your everyday habits might be signaling. As a leader, your standards are only as strong as your willingness to embody them.

Inspiration for This Piece:

• Rose, T., & Ogas, O. (2018). Dark horse: Achieving success through the pursuit of fulfillment. First edition. New York, NY, HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.