GEORGE ALLEN ON SUCCESS

George Allen was an outstanding football coach in the NFL. One of the best books I've read on coaching is Strategies For Winning by Coach Allen with Mickey Herskowitz. It's currently out of print but you can occasionally find one at a used book store or on ebay. Here are a couple snipets.

"The more I study people, the more I am convinced that the difference between one man and another -- between the successful and the unsuccessful, between the great person and the ordinary is:

1. The energy level

2. Bulldog determination

3. A purpose - game plan

4. Basing everything on winning and how badly you want to win."

"Here are are five coaching behaviors that have had a strong influence on achievements with my teams:

1. The coach and his staff's abiltiy to present information and procedures.

2. Enthusiasm for coaching players and hard work.

3. The use of educational materials, teaching devices, visual aids to make meetings more effective.

4. A businesslike manner on and off the field.

5. Allowing opportunities for members of the team to contribute ideas for practice and game plan."

A few other thoughs from Coach Allen:

"No detail is too small. What we are doing is getting us closer to our objective -- WINNING!"

"Talent alone is not enough. I had some of the most talented players, but they didn't work hard. I like people who are enthuisastic if it rains; they can find something positive in a storm."

"The tougher the job, the greater the reward."

"I tried to ask myself this question: what do you really want to accompolish? This is the key question to ask before every morning."

"Try not to do too many things at once; know what you want, the number 1 thing today and tomorrow. Persever and get it done. Too often we make things more complicated than they are."