Bo's Lasting Lessons: The Legendary Coach Teaches the Timeless Fundamentals of Leadership » (Reprint)

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.

During his record-setting tenure as coach of the Michigan Wolverines, Bo won thirteen Big Ten titles and finished as the winningest football coach in the school's storied history. But if you asked him, his most important achievement was having a remarkably positive impact on the hundreds of athletes he coached. In these pages, you'll hear Bo's distinctive voice as he shares the principles he applied on the football field and in the locker room to create a football dynasty, and he'll tell you how you can apply his insights to any leadership role. His words will educate, motivate, and inspire-just as the man himself did every day.

The Washington Post - Yonette Joseph

…a rip-roaring manual on leadership…[Schembechler] fairly leaps off the page, offering funny anecdotes amid rules such as "Listen Before You Lead," "Turn Mistakes Into Momentum" and "Stay Focused Under Fire."

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