What It Takes to Be #1 : Vince Lombardi on Leadership [Paperback]

Vince Lombardi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

Legendary leadership lessons from the greatest football coach of all time

Leadership continues to be one of the most trained-for skills in business today. And no figure so fully embodies the leadership qualities managers hope to cultivate in their professional and personal lives than Vince Lombardi, the greatest NFL coach of all time.

In What It Takes to Be #1, author Vince Lombardi Jr.--America's most sought-after motivational speaker-- examines the leadership qualities that his father considered essential to success. He explores the leadership philosophy of Vince Lombardi, extracts powerful lessons about what it takes to bean effective leader, and shows how to apply those qualities to one's own life and career.

For all business leaders, or those who aspire to leadership, What It Takes to Be #1 is a blueprint for achieving Lombardi-like success in virtually any endeavor.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Winning is not a something thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit, unfortunately so is losing...."---Vince Lombardi, June 22, 1970

From the Back Cover

The First Step-by-Step Guide on How Anyone Can Develop Lombardi-Like Leadership Skills --Now In Paperback!

Legendary coach Vince Lombardi--loved by some, feared by others, but respected by all--was first and foremost a winner. His unparalleled ability to inspire greatness, and mold disparate groups of individuals into dominating championship teams, made Lombardi an icon both on and off the playing field. In What It Takes to Be #1, the one person who could truly understand Vince Lombardi's unrelenting passion for winning--his son, acclaimed writer and professional speaker Vince Lombardi Jr.--explores the fundamental leadership qualities that Vince Lombardi considered essential to success, then shows how anyone can skillfully apply those qualities to achieve breakthrough success in virtually any endeavor.

Praise for What It Takes to Be #1:

"[Vince Lombardi Jr.] distills the substance of the famous coach's utterances and his living example into lessons that anyone can use to become a better leader and better person. . . . [What It Takes To Be #1] may inspire you to start a process of self-discovery that could enrich your life and make you more effective at whatever you do."

--Fort Worth Morning Star

"Interpreting his father's advice for businesspeople, Lombardi hangs this book on the framework of the famous coach's much repeated speech on leadership. . . . the basic "winning model" says to know yourself, build your character, earn your stripes, think big picture, and understand that leaders are made, not born."

--The Business Reader

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Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071420363
• ISBN-13: 978-0071420365
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even Teens will learn from this October 29, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I am 16 years old and I play on my high schools varsity baseball team. I feel this book has helped my outlook on my sports career, because some of his quotes are so true. Everytime I wake up at 5:30 to weightlift before school I remind myself "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender." Just reading this book made me realize what it really takes to be #1. You can't be a sissy, you have to work for what you want. Any athlete who needs something to motivate them should read this book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Could Change Your Life February 17, 2002

By Jim Dunbar

Format:Hardcover

Above the portals of Apollo's temple at Delphi one could find the words "Know Thyself". This injunction, as old as civilization, is the departure point for this thoughtful volume. Vince Lombardi Jr. has penned a gem of a book, a labor of love based upon the philosophies and actions of his famous father. It's about winning - through knowing yourself, building excellent character, and living with integrity. Vincent T. Lombardi is an icon. Living in Green Bay, I am reminded daily of his legacy. But this isn't just another rehashing of the Packer "glory days". Vince Jr. has applied his father's winning strategies to life, to leadership, to motivation, to building teamwork and developing winning organizations. On a personal level, the reader can apply the principles laid out in this book to developing a winning attitude, to asking the right questions to making better life decisions, to developing better focus and discipline, and to discovering your life's passion and jumping into it with enthusiasm. This is a fantastic book for students, for those trying to earn leadership positions, for successful business people looking to enhance the performance of their company, or for any intelligent person trying to improve their life and find their true way. My favorite thought from this book is "Chase perfection and settle for excellence along the way." Vince Lombardi's book will definitely get you chasing perfection, and make you want to RUN TO WIN!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Self-knowledge, Character, and Integrity April 10, 2002

By Matthew Dodd

Format:Hardcover

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in any aspect of management or leadership or if you are looking for ways to refine your character and increase your personal and interpersonal effectiveness.

Vince Lombardi is arguably the greatest professional football coach of all time. His 10 year coaching record was 105 wins, 35 losses, and 6 ties. His legendary Green Bay Packers played in 6 World Championship games and won 5, including the first two Super Bowls, and his post-season record of 9 wins and 1 loss is unmatched. Today, the name "Lombardi" conjures up many images in the minds of those who knew the man, knew of the man, or have heard the many myths and legends about the man. Who better to tell and analyze Vince Lombardi's story than his son, Vince Jr.?

This book not only presents a balanced view of Vince Lombardi the man and coach, it also gives readers the "Lombardi Leadership Model" (self-knowledge + character + integrity = leadership) and other useful tools and insights for introspection and personal leadership development. Besides being a great biographical account of a very complex, often misunderstood, and highly successful leader in a public and highly competitive environment, this book is also a great guide to personal growth for any leader in today's chaotic environment and tomorrow's uncertain future.