Winners are Driven: A Champion's Guide to Success in Business and Life [Hardcover]

Bobby Unser (Author), Paul Pease (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2003

Praise for WINNERS ARE DRIVEN

"The basic principles in becoming a world champion automobile racer, successful businessman, and human being are exactly the same principles that must be utilized by anyone in order to attain success. The many examples of good sportsmanship, the emphasis on family, the importance of customers, and good customer relationships are so very important in life today. Unser is a man who has lived his life to the fullest, accomplished so very, very much, and yet been true to his friends, his family, his competitors, and is the epitome of success."
-Barron Hilton, Chairman, Hilton Hotels

"A wild ride with a racing legend. Bobby is still going 100 mph as he shares his life strategy for success. Nothing fancy, just good ol' Unser common sense."
-Doug Sellars, Coordinating Producer, Fox Sports Net

"As a member of a family involved in American automobile racing for over 80 years, I find Bobby Unser's Winners Are Driven unique in comparing what it takes to be successful in the racing world and how it applies to one's business and personal life. . . . With Bobby's insight and gut instincts he effortlessly crosses over from racing to life in general."
-William D. Loadvine, Executive Director of Advancement,
University of Southern California

"Bobby's drive and passion have fueled his incredible success both on and off the track, and his story translates into invaluable life lessons for us all."
-Jeff Bliss, President, The Javelin Group
Former President/CEO Sara Lee Olympic Partnership

"This book depicts the life of Bobby Unser from his humble beginnings in the heartland to his many accomplishments. It spells out the philosophy of the great American spirit, the driving force of professional sports, and the necessity of having the presence of outstanding leaders and human beings throughout the world today."
-Gregory R. Dillon, Vice Chairman and Director Emeritus, Hilton Hotels

"Over thirty-five years ago, early in my ABC Sports career, I first met Bobby Unser. As one of this country's premier drivers, Bobby seemed to be at or near the front of each race. While attaining renown on the track, off the track he was gracious to the media and racing fans. When he retired, we hired Bobby as ABC Sports's color commentator for Indianapolis-car racing. For nine years he performed very professionally and very colorfully. Bobby Unser, successful on the track and off . . . still going strong."
-Dennis Lewin, Senior Vice President Broadcast Planning
The National Football League

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"All the attributes of what it takes to succeed in life can be found at every race track."
–Bobby Unser

Throughout his life, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser has approached his racing career and personal life the same way–with a relentless drive to succeed. Talk to him today and he’ll tell you, "I never really retired from racing, I just retired from what I was racing." This philosophy has allowed him to achieve success in business and in life, and it can help you do the same.

In Winners Are Driven, racing legend Bobby Unser discusses the principles, strategies, and beliefs that have earned him prosperity, fame, and victory; and reveals how you can apply his winning formula. Blending his personal experiences from both on and off the track with some of today’s most compelling business stories, Unser will help you go faster, take the lead, and win!

Step by step, Unser details each of his tenets and discusses how you can apply them to reach your goals. He begins by explaining how the road to success should start with a burning desire to succeed at whatever you do. From here you’ll discover how to visualize a clear objective, sustain mental toughness, plot a course consisting of small objectives that ultimately lead to the prize, and create a workable and flexible strategy to get there. To complete the cycle, Unser shows you how to put your plans into action, recover from failure, rely on family for support, and finish strong. But that’s not all. Winners Are Driven also demonstrates how you can increase your performance while elevating the standard of those around you. You’ll learn how trust and integrity as well as accountability and responsibility can play a significant role in both individual endeavors and team projects.

Overcoming life’s most difficult obstacles and finding the motivation to keep moving toward the checkered flag can be difficult if you’re not prepared. Drawing from the experiences that made him a racing legend–from Pikes Peak Hill Climb to the Indianapolis 500–Bobby Unser will guide you on your quest for success and show you how Winners Are Driven.

From the Back Cover

Praise for WINNERS ARE DRIVEN

"The basic principles in becoming a world champion automobile racer, successful businessman, and human being are exactly the same principles that must be utilized by anyone in order to attain success. The many examples of good sportsmanship, the emphasis on family, the importance of customers, and good customer relationships are so very important in life today. Unser is a man who has lived his life to the fullest, accomplished so very, very much, and yet been true to his friends, his family, his competitors, and is the epitome of success."
–Barron Hilton, Chairman, Hilton Hotels

"A wild ride with a racing legend. Bobby is still going 100 mph as he shares his life strategy for success. Nothing fancy, just good ol’ Unser common sense."
–Doug Sellars, Coordinating Producer, Fox Sports Net

"As a member of a family involved in American automobile racing for over 80 years, I find Bobby Unser’s Winners Are Driven unique in comparing what it takes to be successful in the racing world and how it applies to one’s business and personal life. . . . With Bobby’s insight and gut instincts he effortlessly crosses over from racing to life in general."
–William D. Loadvine, Executive Director of Advancement,
University of Southern California

"Bobby’s drive and passion have fueled his incredible success both on and off the track, and his story translates into invaluable life lessons for us all."
–Jeff Bliss, President, The Javelin Group
Former President/CEO Sara Lee Olympic Partnership

"This book depicts the life of Bobby Unser from his humble beginnings in the heartland to his many accomplishments. It spells out the philosophy of the great American spirit, the driving force of professional sports, and the necessity of having the presence of outstanding leaders and human beings throughout the world today."
–Gregory R. Dillon, Vice Chairman and Director Emeritus, Hilton Hotels

"Over thirty-five years ago, early in my ABC Sports career, I first met Bobby Unser. As one of this country’s premier drivers, Bobby seemed to be at or near the front of each race. While attaining renown on the track, off the track he was gracious to the media and racing fans. When he retired, we hired Bobby as ABC Sports’s color commentator for Indianapolis-car racing. For nine years he performed very professionally and very colorfully. Bobby Unser, successful on the track and off . . . still going strong."
–Dennis Lewin, Senior Vice President Broadcast Planning
The National Football League

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 210 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471250686
• ISBN-13: 978-0471250685
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,874,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on winning in business and life (and racing)!, July 13, 2003

By 

Bryan Castro (Williamsville, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winners are Driven: A Champion's Guide to Success in Business and Life (Hardcover)

Bobby Unser was a very successful race car driver. This book shows that he always is a successful business man. Not being a racing fan, I wasn't too excited at first, but I enjoy reading motivational and self-improvement books, so I thought I'd check it out. Although I wouldn't say it turned me into a racing fan, I got to appreciate the scientific and sporting aspects of racing.

The advice given, although not earth-shattering, is both true and effective. For example, he talks about the desire to succeed and how this is a necessary "fuel" for winning. Many other self-development authors speak about this much as well. It is not anything new. However, He gives vivid examples from his racing career and from other anecdotes of friends and acquaintances. These examples are well-chosen because they are inspiring.

This is similar to other sections of his book. Bobby Unser seems to be very principle oriented as well as a man of integrity. He talk about instances where he could have turned his back on a commitment for monetary gain or to get on a better racing team (he made it seem like it was a somewhat common occurance in auto racing), but he stayed true to his commitment and it ended benefiting him in the end. This is refreshing considering some of the stereotypes of big business today where the search for a dollar seems to be the guiding principle sometimes.

I highly recommend this book. Even though it has a lot of auto racing stories, Unser tells them in a way that non-fans would really enjoy them and get motivation from their example.

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, October 18, 2009

By 

B. menke - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Winners are Driven: A Champion's Guide to Success in Business & Life (Paperback)

This book is packed with absolutely incredible and helpful guideance. It's so interesting you can't hardly put it down. Lots of help that apply to life and also owning a business. Great read!

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best I've ever read., November 29, 2008

By 

Shock Writer (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Winners are Driven: A Champion's Guide to Success in Business & Life (Paperback)

I just finished reading the business book "Winners Are Driven" by 3 time Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser. As an avid reader of business books, having read over sixty, I find this book to be one of the best I have ever read.

The book really excels when compared to books written by college professors that give theory rather than Bobby's proven practices. The clear explanations and categorizations are superior to or equal to any book I've read anywhere. Thanks Bobby for giving back with this great book offering one of the best perspectives of how to be excellent generally, how to constantly improve, and how to win in competition.

I love auto racing, the sport where Bobby had his success, though I don't watch it much today. USA racing seems to be for any nationality other than an American. Europe's Formula 1 is a joke having grooved tires to slow the cars and chicanes to break up the straightaways.

Bobby's period of racing was a best one having high speeds and the basics of all the technologies including advanced aerodynamics; it was only lacking in some of today's safety items and it lacked the hideous computer systems that take away from driver responsibility and skill. The drivers of Bobby's period of history were the real road warriors. So-much-for today's pretty boys... Great book. Highly recommended.