Want to Win Like Lombardi?
“Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their players and motivate.” – Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi, renowned coach of the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins, never led his team to a losing season as an NFL head coach. His will to win, sense of purpose, and tough yet motivational coaching style made him the legendary symbol of success that he is today. Lombardi’s legacy and wisdom have become so respected that it’s inspired numerous books, a movie, and even a Broadway play.
As a business owner, you represent the “head coach” for your team. Want more “wins” in the success column? Check out these five Lombardi rules for achieving greatness in anything you do:
Lombardi’s 5 Rules for Greatness
- Act with purpose. “I’m not better nor less than the next man. But I always knew what my acts would mean. I was lucky, and I found a single purpose early on.” Everything you spend time and energy on should have a purpose – especially in business.
- Respect legitimate authority. “If you’re going to exercise authority, you’ve got to respect it.” To be a respected leader, you have to show respect and integrity. Lead by example – it’s as simple as that.
- Don’t just work harder than the next guy. Work harder than everybody else. “Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.” Put in the time and see the return. This doesn’t ensure that you’ll never fail, but it does ensure that you’ll get the most out of your effort, even when you do.
- Chase perfection. “If you settle for nothing less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your life.” Whether you think perfection is possible or not, this is about doing your personal best. If you can say you’ve done all you can possibly do, you’ve already achieved some level of success.
- Write your character. “Improvements in moral character are our own responsibility. Bad habits are eliminated not by others, but by ourselves.” Never stop growing, learning about, and improving yourself. Guarantee your success by admitting your personal weaknesses and working to improve them.
Bottom Line
You want greatness in your organization? Win like Lombardi by leading, motivating, and inspiring your team to achieve success with an undying will to come out on top. When everyone is working together with purpose, chasing perfection in all areas, there’s no limit to what can be achieved.
