From the Evansville Courier Press, February 13, 2011
A Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory not only brought a title back to the small Wisconsin town, but allowed the legend of Vince Lombardi to once again be featured in newspapers and televisions all over the United States and abroad.
Lombardi's name adorns the Super Trophy that he won in 1967 and 1968 as he built his legendary persona and reputation. More than 40 years later, the name Lombardi is still the gold standard of coaching. Whether it is with HBO documentaries, video highlight clips or even a Broadway show, Lombardi continues to cast a great shadow in American sports and culture.
There are a number of great books that illustrate Lombardi's legend and carry multiple lessons for coaches, parents and leaders in business to draw from-
n THE FIRST SEASON, John Eisenberg: Written about Lombardi's arrival in Green Bay in 1959, Eisenberg writes about how the floundering franchise was transformed into one of the great clubs in professional sports today. Lombardi is personified by his relentless pursuit for excellence, but what is easy to identify with in this look into Lombardi's rebuilding job is his tireless work-ethic and commitment, as well as his fine attention to detail.
Whether it is in player personnel, organizing practices, or putting together the team's travel itineraries, Lombardi never left a stone unturned. Bart Starr comments about how simple Lombardi's offensive schemes were, but that it required focus and concentration to be successful. Lombardi drilled that into his teams, and demanded very high expectations.
n WHAT IT TAKES TO BE #1, Vince Lombardi Jr.: The now famous book that has evolved into a step-by-step guide of Lombardi's philosophies. It reads like a text book from the standpoint that Lombardi's son writes of what he believed to be the coach's fundamental leadership qualities, and how to apply them in business and sport.
n THE LOMBARDI RULES: 26 LESSONS FROM VINCE LOMBARDI, Vince Lombardi Jr.: A follow-up to his acclaimed book about his father's philosophies, THE LOMBARDI RULES provides the specific leadership model that Lombardi used. Keys on mental toughness, focusing on fundamentals and having a simple plan are outlined in this easy read.
n WHEN PRIDE STILL MATTERED, David Miranniss: This is one of the best sports biographies I've ever read. Miranniss shows an inside look at who Lombardi was including his childhood in New York, his playing career at Fordham, his early coaching opportunities (football and basketball) at St. Cecilia Catholic High School, as an assistant at West Point and the New York Giants, and eventually through his career with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins.
Learning about who Lombardi was as a person, how he was raised, and who were his influences prove to be as significant as the championships he had won.
There are many lessons that can be drawn from Vince Lombardi and applied by a coach, a leader in business or a parent. Perhaps the greatest is the idea of having very high expectations for those around you — the more you ask of those you work with, the more they are capable of achieving.
Lombardi also had tremendous standards that he expected his players and staff to maintain, and in everything that they did. From how they ran their offense to how they dressed when they travelled, Lombardi was able to produce excellence and chase perfection on the field because he asked those around him to apply that in every facet of their lives.
Whether you are a football fan, CEO, or a parent of a little-league athlete, there is a lot to draw from the teachings of Lombardi.
Lombardi's name adorns the Super Trophy that he won in 1967 and 1968 as he built his legendary persona and reputation. More than 40 years later, the name Lombardi is still the gold standard of coaching. Whether it is with HBO documentaries, video highlight clips or even a Broadway show, Lombardi continues to cast a great shadow in American sports and culture.
There are a number of great books that illustrate Lombardi's legend and carry multiple lessons for coaches, parents and leaders in business to draw from-
n THE FIRST SEASON, John Eisenberg: Written about Lombardi's arrival in Green Bay in 1959, Eisenberg writes about how the floundering franchise was transformed into one of the great clubs in professional sports today. Lombardi is personified by his relentless pursuit for excellence, but what is easy to identify with in this look into Lombardi's rebuilding job is his tireless work-ethic and commitment, as well as his fine attention to detail.
Whether it is in player personnel, organizing practices, or putting together the team's travel itineraries, Lombardi never left a stone unturned. Bart Starr comments about how simple Lombardi's offensive schemes were, but that it required focus and concentration to be successful. Lombardi drilled that into his teams, and demanded very high expectations.
n WHAT IT TAKES TO BE #1, Vince Lombardi Jr.: The now famous book that has evolved into a step-by-step guide of Lombardi's philosophies. It reads like a text book from the standpoint that Lombardi's son writes of what he believed to be the coach's fundamental leadership qualities, and how to apply them in business and sport.
n THE LOMBARDI RULES: 26 LESSONS FROM VINCE LOMBARDI, Vince Lombardi Jr.: A follow-up to his acclaimed book about his father's philosophies, THE LOMBARDI RULES provides the specific leadership model that Lombardi used. Keys on mental toughness, focusing on fundamentals and having a simple plan are outlined in this easy read.
n WHEN PRIDE STILL MATTERED, David Miranniss: This is one of the best sports biographies I've ever read. Miranniss shows an inside look at who Lombardi was including his childhood in New York, his playing career at Fordham, his early coaching opportunities (football and basketball) at St. Cecilia Catholic High School, as an assistant at West Point and the New York Giants, and eventually through his career with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins.
Learning about who Lombardi was as a person, how he was raised, and who were his influences prove to be as significant as the championships he had won.
There are many lessons that can be drawn from Vince Lombardi and applied by a coach, a leader in business or a parent. Perhaps the greatest is the idea of having very high expectations for those around you — the more you ask of those you work with, the more they are capable of achieving.
Lombardi also had tremendous standards that he expected his players and staff to maintain, and in everything that they did. From how they ran their offense to how they dressed when they travelled, Lombardi was able to produce excellence and chase perfection on the field because he asked those around him to apply that in every facet of their lives.
Whether you are a football fan, CEO, or a parent of a little-league athlete, there is a lot to draw from the teachings of Lombardi.
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