Alden Mills > Quotes

“If you want to be a great team builder, then you need to become a great relationship builder first. It starts with you.”
― Alden Mills, Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership

“Imagine that you are surrounded by people who will not let you fail. When you see an obstacle, they see an opportunity. When you are scared, they turn to support you. When you are tired, they work tirelessly. When you are uncertain, they reassure you. In short, they make you feel unstoppable.”
― Alden Mills, Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership

“Pain is weakness leaving the body”
― Alden Mills, Be Unstoppable: The 8 Essential Actions to Succeed at Anything

“They want to understand a vision, a ‘why’ that inspires them, and they want to be a part of the solution that is greater than one’s self. To lead is to let go. You must never hover over them and watch the clock. You must get out of their way, arm them with all they need to be the best they can be, and encourage and support them. Help them up when they fall down; praise them in front of the entire world when they succeed. When they go off course, pull them aside without anyone around and discuss a course correction—but whatever you do, don’t try to manage them!”
― Alden Mills, BE UNSTOPPABLE: The 8 Essential Actions to Succeed at Anything

“Never forget that the mission is to accomplish your goal, not create a pretty plan for it.”
― Alden Mills, BE UNSTOPPABLE: The 8 Essential Actions to Succeed at Anything

“daily progress is the secret of success.”
― Alden Mills, BE UNSTOPPABLE: The 8 Essential Actions to Succeed at Anything

“Freshmen at the Academy are called plebes, and as a plebe you learn the five basic responses to upperclassmen. They are:
"Yes, Sir/Ma'am."
"No, Sir/Ma'am."
"Aye, aye Sir/Ma'am."
"I'll find out, Sir/Ma'am."
"No excuse, Sir/Ma'am."
... The phrase "I'll find out" signals that you know it's OK not to know everything but that you accept the responsibility to figure out what you don't know. That builds credibility with your team.
The final response- "No excuse" -is all about accepting that the buck stops with you. If you didn't get something done, it's no one's fault but your own. It's the next step in taking responsibility for your actions and not placing blame on someone else... It's the hardest of the five basic responses to learn because you must take responsibility for other people's actions. You are not allowed to place blame on others. It is an important shift in mind-set that requires you to look out for others, not just yourself. p86”
― Alden Mills, Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership

“I had expected our lack of experience to be our weakest link. Instead, I learned that inexperience can be overcome by relentless, committed team action. p48”
― Alden Mills, Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership