In small towns, people understand growth the hard way. You don’t get handed opportunity—you build it over time. Whether it’s a local shop, a service business, or a side project you care about, growth usually starts small and spreads through word of mouth. That’s why it’s worth paying attention when someone shows how a simple idea can grow far beyond its original setting without losing its community spirit.

That idea came up in a recent conversation I had with John Gill, a lifelong athlete and entrepreneur who is helping turn pickleball—from a backyard pastime—into a global sport with Olympic ambitions. While that may sound far removed from everyday life, John’s story is really about persistence, discipline, and building something step by step.

John didn’t begin with pickleball. He spent decades in martial arts and competitive sports, earning world championships and teaching people around the world. When he discovered pickleball, it wasn’t because it was trendy. It was because it brought people together—young and old, beginners and experts—on the same court.

“What struck me was how accessible it was,” John said. “You could show up, put your paddle in, and play with people you’d never met before. That doesn’t happen much anymore.”

During the pandemic, when many activities shut down, pickleball quietly grew. Families played in driveways. Neighbors met at local courts. What started as casual recreation became something bigger. John saw an opportunity—not just to compete, but to organize, structure, and support the sport’s growth.

“There’s a difference between growth and sustainability,” he explained. “You can make something popular fast, but if it’s not welcoming and organized, it won’t last.”

That mindset led John to help create tournaments, leagues, and community-based events that emphasized fairness, accessibility, and efficient play. His focus wasn’t just on professionals. It was on everyday players who wanted a positive experience without long waits or unnecessary complexity.

The lesson applies far beyond sports. Many local businesses face the same challenge: how to grow without burning people out or losing what made the work meaningful in the first place. John’s approach—build systems that support people instead of overwhelming them—offers a practical example of working smarter, not harder.

For those interested in learning more about John’s work, he serves as President of the World Pickleball Association and continues to advocate for the sport’s responsible global growth.

What John Gill’s story shows is that growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of community. A game that started on neighborhood courts can expand far beyond its original setting while still staying welcoming, fair, and accessible. Whether in sports, business, or everyday life, building something that lasts usually means paying attention to the people involved—not just how fast things grow, but how well they grow.

The full conversation with John Gill is available on The Tony DUrso Show including audio, video, and the complete interview transcript.

(Originally published in the Del Norte Triplicate.)