There are very few coaches held higher esteem than Bo Schembechler. As coach of the University of Michigan football team, he won 13 Big Ten titles and finished as the winningest coach in their storied history. But beyond the wins and losses, Bo is best remembered for the remarkable impact he had on his players and fans alike.
In Bo's Lasting Lessons, the coach draws on his years of experience, using first-person anecdotes to deliver timeless lessons on leadership, motivation and responsibility. His distinctive gruff voice leaps from the page.
With pithy language, Bo explains that true leadership requires the compassion to actively listen to your people, and then to have the courage to do what is right every time.
A big believer in peer pressure and in always making his players accountable for their actions, Schembechler has coached athletes who went on to become professional football players, doctors, lawyers and CEOs.
ISBN-13: 9780446582001
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: 09-04-2008
Pages: 352
Product Dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Bo Schembechler was the winningest coach in the history of the nation's winningest college football team. As coach of Michigan, he had a record of 234-65-8, the fifth best tally of all college football coaches in history. He was in demand across the country for his speeches on team work, motivation, and inspiration, and was the bestselling author of BO.
John U. Bacon is a top sports journalist based in Michigan and a long-time associate of Bo Schembechler.
What People are Saying About This
Keith Jackson
"Bo's persona fairly crackles on the pages of Bacon's book. Good stuff from a good man who also happened to be a pretty darn good football coach. A classic."--(Keith Jackson, Hall of Fame Broadcaster, ABC Sports)
Laurence J. Kirshbaum
"Forget about the Gipper. There has never been a more inspiring coach than Bo Schembechler and this brilliant book shows why he was such a brilliant leader. Read his fundamentals and you will run for touchdowns every day of your life!"--(Laurence J. Kirshbaum, former CEO Time-Warner Book Group and ardent Michigan alum '66 LSA)
David Maraniss
"In an era of corporate coaches who might as well be accountants, Bo's throaty growl and gruff but loving style are sorely missed. There is nothing superficial about Bo's basic philosophy of life and leadership - and his lessons are truly timeless."--(David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author of When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi)
Dan Dierdorf
"Bacon had the great fortune to sit down with Bo and hear story after story, lesson after lesson. Read this book and you'll feel like you were there. Outstanding!"--(Dan Dierdorf, College and NFL Hall of Famer, NFL on CBS Analyst)
Mike Wallace
"Absolutely wonderful. I hear my old friend in these pages, and his advice is just as direct as he was. Read it - and pay attention!"--(Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes)
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Table of Contents
Foreword ix
Introduction xv
Prepare to Lead 1
You Better Start with Your Heart 3
Seek Mentors, Not Money 7
Wait for the Right Opportunity 18
Take Charge 25
Throw a Bucket of Cold Water 27
Respect Your History 50
Do the Right Thing-Always 57
Lay Down Your Laws 65
Set Goals That Get Results 80
Build Your Team 87
Hire People Who Want to Work for You 89
Get the Most Out of Your Staff 98
Recruit for Character 108
Develop Leaders Underneath You 115
Scuttle the Star System 122
Motivate the Middle Men 128
Give 'Em a Chance 138
Give Everyone a Role, and Make It Important 151
If You Must Fire, Fire Fast 161
Promote the Will to Prepare 165
Fix People Problems Fast 177
Listen Before You Lead 179
Know Your People 189
Don't Sleep on It, and Don't Hold Grudges 193
Meet the Moment of Truth 205
Break 'Em Down and Build 'EmUp 207
Emphasize Execution, Not Innovation 217
Scrap Your Script 224
Make Adjustments on Facts, Not Pride 229
Turn Mistakes into Momentum 235
Stay Focused Under Fire 241
Face the Facts and Ignore the Rest 249
Rebuild with the Basics 251
Ignore Your Critics 263
Overtime 269
Loyalty Counts 271
Know When to Leave, and How 285
If I Could Have One More Week 294
Epilogue 297
Reflections 301
Acknowledgments 315
Index 319
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