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Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion
Updated with a new chapter on Carroll's successful first season with the Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll is one of the most successful coaches in football today. As the head coach at USC, he brought the Trojans back to national prominence, amassing a 97-19 record over nine seasons. In this book he shares the championship-winning philosophy that led USC to seven straight Pac-10 titles, and is now shaping his program with the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL.
Carroll developed his unique coaching style by trial and error over his career. He reveals how his recruiting strategies, training routines, and game-day rituals preserve a team's culture year after year, during championship seasons and disappointing seasons alike.
Win Forever is about more than winning football games; it's about maximizing your potential in every aspect of your life. Carroll has taught business leaders facing tough challenges. He has helped troubled kids on the streets of Los Angeles through his foundation, A Better LA. His words are true in any situation: "If you want to win forever, always compete."
Pete Carroll is one of the most successful coaches in football today. As the head coach at USC, he brought the Trojans back to national prominence, amassing a 97-19 record over nine seasons. In this book he shares the championship-winning philosophy that led USC to seven straight Pac-10 titles, and is now shaping his program with the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL.
Carroll developed his unique coaching style by trial and error over his career. He reveals how his recruiting strategies, training routines, and game-day rituals preserve a team's culture year after year, during championship seasons and disappointing seasons alike.
Win Forever is about more than winning football games; it's about maximizing your potential in every aspect of your life. Carroll has taught business leaders facing tough challenges. He has helped troubled kids on the streets of Los Angeles through his foundation, A Better LA. His words are true in any situation: "If you want to win forever, always compete."
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
March 1, 2013
Probably 3 stars quality, but got me thinking about some good stuff and had some really cool parts, so I'm going 4 stars. Always Compete.
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What if my job as a coach isn’t so much to force or coerce performance as it is to create situations where players develop the confidence to set their talents free and pursue their potential to its full extent? What if my job as a coach is really to prove to these kids how good they already are, how good they could possibly become, and that they are truly capable of high-level performance? -Location 310
We were having a disastrous game against the league leader, and I was at bat in the final inning. As I stepped up to the plate, an odd thought came into my mind: Whatever you do right now, there’s no way you’re going to change the outcome of this game. A pessimistic thought, sure, but instead of depressing me, it was liberating. -452
I was freed up because I wasn’t worried about the outcome. All I had to do was “let it happen,” just watch the ball, and swing the bat, with nothing else going through my mind. As expected, that great shot didn’t change the outcome of the game, but it was the slow-motion magic of that homer, and not the final score, that has stayed with me for all this time. In that moment, I had the experience of fully being a natural, instinctive athlete, without concerns or worries. -463
That is the mentality that we, as coaches, want to re-create for our players. We want our players to be free of distractions and totally absorbed, ideally just like a child, fascinated with the game itself and not necessarily the outcome. -466
If I was ever going to get the chance to run an organization again, I would have to be prepared with a philosophy that would drive all my actions. -973
Even more important, he had done more than just become aware of all those details inside his own mind. He had refined them to the point that he could explain them to the people around him. I think a great part of his genius was that he was able to explain his beliefs and tie them back into a clear vision that brought it all together into a single team effort. -990
I would build it on the foundation of a single, basic vision where everything we did was centered on wanting to do things better than they have ever been done before.-1004
What Win Forever means to me is aspiring to be the best you can be, or as I like to refer to it, “maximizing your potential.” -1017
With consistently competitive practices, players would ultimately reach a point where they could perform in the absence of fear, due to the confidence they had gained by practicing so well. Ideally, they would then learn to trust the process, themselves, and their teammates. -1039
Competition to me is not about beating your opponent. It is about doing your best; it is about striving to reach your potential; and it is about being in relentless pursuit of a competitive edge in everything you do. -1049
The real opposition is the challenge to remain focused on maximizing their abilities in preparation for the game. -1060
My competitive approach is that “it’s all about us.” If we’ve really done the preparation to elevate ourselves to our full potential, it shouldn’t matter whom we’re playing. -1064
My opponents are not my enemies. My opponents are the people who offer me the opportunity to succeed. -1067
How we practice defines who we are. It is not only something we have to do in order to compete, but our practice is a competitive activity in and of itself. -1120
realize how crucial the energy of the coaches was to create a great practice atmosphere. It was so obvious that coaches were the factor that dictated and controlled the energy of practice. It was there in the Bronx that I realized that coaches are ultimately responsible for maintaining a high level of intensity for every practice session. -1143
My next team would be built around the goal of maximizing everyone’s potential. We would strive to “do things better than they have ever been done before” with competition as our central theme. -1155
“We’ll be good when we’re good. My goal is to win right now.” --1220
We competed in everything we did, from practice to teaching to showing up early. We worked to gain confidence and erase fear by practicing for every contingency. -1227
Ultimately, the most critical point in coaching our coaches is to understand that we don’t want every coach to have the same style. What we need on our staff are unique competitors who can each find a way to deliver the same message with one heartbeat. The coaches need to internalize the message and then convey it in their own voice. When each person does that, we get a diversity of styles and approaches that makes the whole team stronger. -1440
The only leadership that I can really rely on is that which comes from our coaching staff. The coaches are constantly nurturing our players’ abilities to serve as part of the team’s leadership. But it is the coaches that I hold accountable. You can try to position and promote players in ways that make them leaders, but I don’t want to rely on them when it comes to winning or losing. I have chosen to rely on our staff first and foremost. -1473
In Win Forever terms, you really can’t be a leader if you’re not a great teacher. -1555
“learn your learner.” -1572
“If self-confidence is so important, why would we ever want to approach someone in a manner that might disrupt or shatter it?” - 1636
If you really care about helping people maximize their potential, then you must try to uncover who they are and what they are all about. -1660
Even though competitive levels vary from person to person, I believe that competition is something that can be taught and learned. -1691
In our program, we believe that if you want to help someone be the best he can be, you have to learn as much as possible about what makes him tick. -1692
A player who is fully prepared on the practice field will feel ready to meet whatever comes his way on game day and thus, feel more confident and able to minimize distractions of fear or doubt. -1699
We don’t want to be worried about anything. We just want to cut loose, let it rip, and be ourselves. -1704
Having a routine can be very powerful in this regard. If you compete day in and day out to excel at something in a systematic way, you can’t help but improve. While we are always making small adjustments according to what we need to work on at a particular time, the basic structure and routines of our practices are totally consistent. Beginning with the team meeting and ending with the final play of practice, the details of each day’s work are accounted for down to the minute. -1706
During the first few minutes of most team meetings we would talk about daily events going on around the world, both in sports and outside them. -1712
Our topics for the day might include areas we needed to work on or notable moments from practice the day before. We might call out someone’s birthday or point out a notable academic accomplishment of one of our players. I loved to talk about sporting events and current national and world issues, especially if they could serve as educational moments. -1719
What you want to do on the practice field, he wrote, is to create a “competitive cauldron” where the players are constantly in a gamelike state, competing for even the smallest wins. Instead of just doing drills, you keep score as much as possible. -1752
We kept score during everything—one-on-ones, seven-on-seven passing drills, and our team period. We even created a scoring system. For instance, during seven-on-seven the offense got one point for a completion, while the defense was awarded two points for an incompletion. Either side could get three points on a touchdown pass or an interception. -1762
we would keep score in every way we could think of: first-and-ten situations, second-and-shorts, third-and-longs, and so on. -1764
Too little routine and the message doesn’t get through; too much, and your players can get worn out. Finding the right balance and emphasis is critical for keeping practices fresh and players focused. -1787
get our players to a mental place where they knew they were going to win and to get them to believe that they did not have to do anything special once the ball was snapped. They only needed to trust their preparation and, as we said around USC, “let it rip.” -1867
That knowing is what allows a team to play in the absence of fear. -2183
You will make competing to stay on course with your vision the way you live your life every day. It takes discipline, and that will come from your willingness to take control of your life. How badly do you want it? Are you willing to adjust your focus to create the changes and reach the potential that you already own? After all, we are simply talking about you developing the best you possible. The discipline comes when you consistently stay in touch with your vision. -2533
The Win Forever philosophy is successful because we set out a vision “to do things better than they have ever been done before,” with competition being the central theme driving us to maximize our potential. -2667
-------------
What if my job as a coach isn’t so much to force or coerce performance as it is to create situations where players develop the confidence to set their talents free and pursue their potential to its full extent? What if my job as a coach is really to prove to these kids how good they already are, how good they could possibly become, and that they are truly capable of high-level performance? -Location 310
We were having a disastrous game against the league leader, and I was at bat in the final inning. As I stepped up to the plate, an odd thought came into my mind: Whatever you do right now, there’s no way you’re going to change the outcome of this game. A pessimistic thought, sure, but instead of depressing me, it was liberating. -452
I was freed up because I wasn’t worried about the outcome. All I had to do was “let it happen,” just watch the ball, and swing the bat, with nothing else going through my mind. As expected, that great shot didn’t change the outcome of the game, but it was the slow-motion magic of that homer, and not the final score, that has stayed with me for all this time. In that moment, I had the experience of fully being a natural, instinctive athlete, without concerns or worries. -463
That is the mentality that we, as coaches, want to re-create for our players. We want our players to be free of distractions and totally absorbed, ideally just like a child, fascinated with the game itself and not necessarily the outcome. -466
If I was ever going to get the chance to run an organization again, I would have to be prepared with a philosophy that would drive all my actions. -973
Even more important, he had done more than just become aware of all those details inside his own mind. He had refined them to the point that he could explain them to the people around him. I think a great part of his genius was that he was able to explain his beliefs and tie them back into a clear vision that brought it all together into a single team effort. -990
I would build it on the foundation of a single, basic vision where everything we did was centered on wanting to do things better than they have ever been done before.-1004
What Win Forever means to me is aspiring to be the best you can be, or as I like to refer to it, “maximizing your potential.” -1017
With consistently competitive practices, players would ultimately reach a point where they could perform in the absence of fear, due to the confidence they had gained by practicing so well. Ideally, they would then learn to trust the process, themselves, and their teammates. -1039
Competition to me is not about beating your opponent. It is about doing your best; it is about striving to reach your potential; and it is about being in relentless pursuit of a competitive edge in everything you do. -1049
The real opposition is the challenge to remain focused on maximizing their abilities in preparation for the game. -1060
My competitive approach is that “it’s all about us.” If we’ve really done the preparation to elevate ourselves to our full potential, it shouldn’t matter whom we’re playing. -1064
My opponents are not my enemies. My opponents are the people who offer me the opportunity to succeed. -1067
How we practice defines who we are. It is not only something we have to do in order to compete, but our practice is a competitive activity in and of itself. -1120
realize how crucial the energy of the coaches was to create a great practice atmosphere. It was so obvious that coaches were the factor that dictated and controlled the energy of practice. It was there in the Bronx that I realized that coaches are ultimately responsible for maintaining a high level of intensity for every practice session. -1143
My next team would be built around the goal of maximizing everyone’s potential. We would strive to “do things better than they have ever been done before” with competition as our central theme. -1155
“We’ll be good when we’re good. My goal is to win right now.” --1220
We competed in everything we did, from practice to teaching to showing up early. We worked to gain confidence and erase fear by practicing for every contingency. -1227
Ultimately, the most critical point in coaching our coaches is to understand that we don’t want every coach to have the same style. What we need on our staff are unique competitors who can each find a way to deliver the same message with one heartbeat. The coaches need to internalize the message and then convey it in their own voice. When each person does that, we get a diversity of styles and approaches that makes the whole team stronger. -1440
The only leadership that I can really rely on is that which comes from our coaching staff. The coaches are constantly nurturing our players’ abilities to serve as part of the team’s leadership. But it is the coaches that I hold accountable. You can try to position and promote players in ways that make them leaders, but I don’t want to rely on them when it comes to winning or losing. I have chosen to rely on our staff first and foremost. -1473
In Win Forever terms, you really can’t be a leader if you’re not a great teacher. -1555
“learn your learner.” -1572
“If self-confidence is so important, why would we ever want to approach someone in a manner that might disrupt or shatter it?” - 1636
If you really care about helping people maximize their potential, then you must try to uncover who they are and what they are all about. -1660
Even though competitive levels vary from person to person, I believe that competition is something that can be taught and learned. -1691
In our program, we believe that if you want to help someone be the best he can be, you have to learn as much as possible about what makes him tick. -1692
A player who is fully prepared on the practice field will feel ready to meet whatever comes his way on game day and thus, feel more confident and able to minimize distractions of fear or doubt. -1699
We don’t want to be worried about anything. We just want to cut loose, let it rip, and be ourselves. -1704
Having a routine can be very powerful in this regard. If you compete day in and day out to excel at something in a systematic way, you can’t help but improve. While we are always making small adjustments according to what we need to work on at a particular time, the basic structure and routines of our practices are totally consistent. Beginning with the team meeting and ending with the final play of practice, the details of each day’s work are accounted for down to the minute. -1706
During the first few minutes of most team meetings we would talk about daily events going on around the world, both in sports and outside them. -1712
Our topics for the day might include areas we needed to work on or notable moments from practice the day before. We might call out someone’s birthday or point out a notable academic accomplishment of one of our players. I loved to talk about sporting events and current national and world issues, especially if they could serve as educational moments. -1719
What you want to do on the practice field, he wrote, is to create a “competitive cauldron” where the players are constantly in a gamelike state, competing for even the smallest wins. Instead of just doing drills, you keep score as much as possible. -1752
We kept score during everything—one-on-ones, seven-on-seven passing drills, and our team period. We even created a scoring system. For instance, during seven-on-seven the offense got one point for a completion, while the defense was awarded two points for an incompletion. Either side could get three points on a touchdown pass or an interception. -1762
we would keep score in every way we could think of: first-and-ten situations, second-and-shorts, third-and-longs, and so on. -1764
Too little routine and the message doesn’t get through; too much, and your players can get worn out. Finding the right balance and emphasis is critical for keeping practices fresh and players focused. -1787
get our players to a mental place where they knew they were going to win and to get them to believe that they did not have to do anything special once the ball was snapped. They only needed to trust their preparation and, as we said around USC, “let it rip.” -1867
That knowing is what allows a team to play in the absence of fear. -2183
You will make competing to stay on course with your vision the way you live your life every day. It takes discipline, and that will come from your willingness to take control of your life. How badly do you want it? Are you willing to adjust your focus to create the changes and reach the potential that you already own? After all, we are simply talking about you developing the best you possible. The discipline comes when you consistently stay in touch with your vision. -2533
The Win Forever philosophy is successful because we set out a vision “to do things better than they have ever been done before,” with competition being the central theme driving us to maximize our potential. -2667
July 6, 2012
I highly recommend Pete Carroll’s “Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion”. It is a fast read, full of energy, accessible and authentic, just like Coach Carroll. And for me, the best thing is it reminded me to be true to myself.
Carroll presents layers of themes in the book: Develop a personal philosophy (“Always compete”) and vision; be able to communicate them succinctly. Get the entire team on board, but allow your lieutenants to extend the vision and philosophy in their own voice. It’s the job of the leader to bring the energy, enthusiasm and expectations to the team. Leaders need to cultivate the strengths that are special to each member of the team – as an individual. Leaders are teachers, and in order to teach, you have to know your student – which requires listening and observing. Spend time outside the business functions with members of the team to use that time to observe them in other than the business circumstances for a better overall understanding of the person. Remember the importance of humor and balance in work and in life.
Of course, Carroll presents all of these themes in the context of football, with lots of “behind-the-scenes” feeling. Reading the book feels very much like what I expect it would be like to hear him talk over a beer at the bar, or walking the field at the Virginia Mason Athletic Facility — if I could keep up, that is! It was also fun to tie back the things you hear from his players in interviews to the philosophical background he lays out. In this pre-season, I’ve heard two players talk about getting the install completed so that they can concentrate on practice, and then “things should slow down” – referring to achieving the zone in which playing the game is spontaneous and natural.
One of the insights he related that made the book particularly meaningful to me was that he had underestimated how hard it was to implement change in an established organization, referring to trying to bring his approach to coaching to the New England Patriots. Carroll got fired after three years. It gave him a chance to reassess and regroup, and it was then that he realized he needed to define his philosophy. In a way, I envy Coach Carroll – I spent over half of my career in a very traditional organization that practiced and espoused management theory that dated back to the 1980s. I tried for most of my time in the organization to introduce new ideas about teamwork, shared accountability, the need to support the staff instead of just thinking of them as interchangeable cogs in the big wheel of business. I had some periods of success interspersed with periods of hostility from senior leadership, but I was successful enough to be able to work on fun and interesting projects with great teams right up until the end. Before I left, I had started to question – if I was so smart and if there was any substance to the approach I brought to leadership and teamwork, why was I ultimately unsuccessful in this organization? It was Coach Carroll’s observations on the difficulty of introducing change into an established organization and the need to communicate clearly up and down the management chain what you’re doing and why, that made me realize I was fighting an uphill battle the entire time. I was just too stubborn to get the message and leave on my own. Reading “Win Forever” has reminded me there is merit – and success — in being a “players’ coach.”
Review also posted here: http://blog.onehundredyearhorizons.co...
Carroll presents layers of themes in the book: Develop a personal philosophy (“Always compete”) and vision; be able to communicate them succinctly. Get the entire team on board, but allow your lieutenants to extend the vision and philosophy in their own voice. It’s the job of the leader to bring the energy, enthusiasm and expectations to the team. Leaders need to cultivate the strengths that are special to each member of the team – as an individual. Leaders are teachers, and in order to teach, you have to know your student – which requires listening and observing. Spend time outside the business functions with members of the team to use that time to observe them in other than the business circumstances for a better overall understanding of the person. Remember the importance of humor and balance in work and in life.
Of course, Carroll presents all of these themes in the context of football, with lots of “behind-the-scenes” feeling. Reading the book feels very much like what I expect it would be like to hear him talk over a beer at the bar, or walking the field at the Virginia Mason Athletic Facility — if I could keep up, that is! It was also fun to tie back the things you hear from his players in interviews to the philosophical background he lays out. In this pre-season, I’ve heard two players talk about getting the install completed so that they can concentrate on practice, and then “things should slow down” – referring to achieving the zone in which playing the game is spontaneous and natural.
One of the insights he related that made the book particularly meaningful to me was that he had underestimated how hard it was to implement change in an established organization, referring to trying to bring his approach to coaching to the New England Patriots. Carroll got fired after three years. It gave him a chance to reassess and regroup, and it was then that he realized he needed to define his philosophy. In a way, I envy Coach Carroll – I spent over half of my career in a very traditional organization that practiced and espoused management theory that dated back to the 1980s. I tried for most of my time in the organization to introduce new ideas about teamwork, shared accountability, the need to support the staff instead of just thinking of them as interchangeable cogs in the big wheel of business. I had some periods of success interspersed with periods of hostility from senior leadership, but I was successful enough to be able to work on fun and interesting projects with great teams right up until the end. Before I left, I had started to question – if I was so smart and if there was any substance to the approach I brought to leadership and teamwork, why was I ultimately unsuccessful in this organization? It was Coach Carroll’s observations on the difficulty of introducing change into an established organization and the need to communicate clearly up and down the management chain what you’re doing and why, that made me realize I was fighting an uphill battle the entire time. I was just too stubborn to get the message and leave on my own. Reading “Win Forever” has reminded me there is merit – and success — in being a “players’ coach.”
Review also posted here: http://blog.onehundredyearhorizons.co...
August 12, 2011
Since Carroll would certainly include his experience coaching with Bud Grant for the Minnesota Vikings, this was worth reading for that alone. Otherwise it is the usual here's how I did it football book. One unexpected anecdote concerned Carroll's recommendation of a psychic he knew to a friend. Who woulda thunk?
December 4, 2019
I enjoyed this book because I got to read about the life of a coach in the NFL. It was interesting to read about Pete Carrol's life because he has switched between many coaching positions through out his years of being in the NFL. Furthermore, his strategies to create a successful team was very intriguing to me with my experience of being an athlete. All in all, Pete Carrol did a great job describing his life while still keeping the book interesting.
Read
June 24, 2012Good presentation of a very deep topic. Self challenge is always difficult no matter the endeavor.
January 30, 2024
I just love Pete Carroll
May 31, 2020
This was a nice book. It's written like a coach speaks, so expect a lot of repetition of key ideas. And, not being a diehard USC or Seattle fan, I end up skimming some of the nitty-gritty stories of individual games. But i think that Coach Carroll does a good job of explaining how he got to where he is, and why he developed the philosophy that he has. Living through a traditional Texas football program, I wish I would have had a coach as thoughtful as Coach Carroll. You may be a little bit tired of the word compete by the time you finish though.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
What I learned about Maslow’s insights challenged me to start asking: What if my job as a coach isn’t so much to force or coerce performance as it is to create situations where players develop the confidence to set their talents free and pursue their potential to its full extent? What if my job as a coach is really to prove to these kids how good they already are, how good they could possibly become, and that they are truly capable of high-level performance
any successful leader will tell you that leading and teaching go hand in hand
We were far more wary of setting expectations too low than of setting them too high, and by placing great expectations on our student-athletes, our coaching staff had the belief they could field a championship team year after year
That’s why it doesn’t make sense to think about competition in the context of any one opponent: If you are really in a Win Forever mind-set, the only comparison that matters is yourself. Your goal should be to maximize your potential and your performance as a permanent way of being, rather than just thinking in terms of individual victories.
Furthermore, one of the most important facets of the Win Forever approach is to help people see what they can become and then to support them. We want to help our players, both at USC and now in Seattle, make the connection with their potential until it becomes real for them. It’s not so much about getting to that goal in a certain amount of time as it is about the process of workin
Common themes, consistent language, and an all-encompassing vision could make it possible not only to elevate performance but also to foster a shared camaraderie
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
What I learned about Maslow’s insights challenged me to start asking: What if my job as a coach isn’t so much to force or coerce performance as it is to create situations where players develop the confidence to set their talents free and pursue their potential to its full extent? What if my job as a coach is really to prove to these kids how good they already are, how good they could possibly become, and that they are truly capable of high-level performance
any successful leader will tell you that leading and teaching go hand in hand
We were far more wary of setting expectations too low than of setting them too high, and by placing great expectations on our student-athletes, our coaching staff had the belief they could field a championship team year after year
That’s why it doesn’t make sense to think about competition in the context of any one opponent: If you are really in a Win Forever mind-set, the only comparison that matters is yourself. Your goal should be to maximize your potential and your performance as a permanent way of being, rather than just thinking in terms of individual victories.
Furthermore, one of the most important facets of the Win Forever approach is to help people see what they can become and then to support them. We want to help our players, both at USC and now in Seattle, make the connection with their potential until it becomes real for them. It’s not so much about getting to that goal in a certain amount of time as it is about the process of workin
Common themes, consistent language, and an all-encompassing vision could make it possible not only to elevate performance but also to foster a shared camaraderie
June 6, 2017
I enjoyed this book, it's a relatively short and easy read, but it also didn't have quite as much meaty content or specific advice as I'd expected.
I didn't know a lot about specific Carroll, other than that he successfully coached USC and the Seattle Seahawks and that he is known as a very positive happy kind of guy.
I didn't get to know more about him and his life and coaching philosophy:
(1) He claims that it's very important to develop your own personal philosophy as a leader and actually write it down. To do this you really have to know yourself.
(2) He pays the more attention to the emotional state of his athletes, rather than drilling them on the technical details of their positions. He want to make sure they are as mentally "calm" as possible during stressful game situations. For this aspect he thinks highly of "The Inner Game of Tennis" by Timothy Gallwey (which I haven't read but have seen recommended a lot).
That's pretty much it, except for some details of how he ran his practices at USC and how much he loves to compete.
The most interesting part for me was reading the story about his early career:
-He bounced around in a LOT of coaching jobs before he got his first head coaching gig.
-He got fired from 5 jobs including two head coaching gigs with the Jets and the Patriots.
But now he is universally hailed as a coaching genius. Draw what lesson thereof that you will.
I didn't know a lot about specific Carroll, other than that he successfully coached USC and the Seattle Seahawks and that he is known as a very positive happy kind of guy.
I didn't get to know more about him and his life and coaching philosophy:
(1) He claims that it's very important to develop your own personal philosophy as a leader and actually write it down. To do this you really have to know yourself.
(2) He pays the more attention to the emotional state of his athletes, rather than drilling them on the technical details of their positions. He want to make sure they are as mentally "calm" as possible during stressful game situations. For this aspect he thinks highly of "The Inner Game of Tennis" by Timothy Gallwey (which I haven't read but have seen recommended a lot).
That's pretty much it, except for some details of how he ran his practices at USC and how much he loves to compete.
The most interesting part for me was reading the story about his early career:
-He bounced around in a LOT of coaching jobs before he got his first head coaching gig.
-He got fired from 5 jobs including two head coaching gigs with the Jets and the Patriots.
But now he is universally hailed as a coaching genius. Draw what lesson thereof that you will.
May 4, 2020
The main premise of this book is that you ought to try and write out your philosophy on paper. In the spirit of 49ers football coach Bill Walsh, everything down to the last detail should be on paper. This includes a challenge from Coach Carroll to state your philosophy in 25 words or less. The ideas is that our philosophy will help guide you in trying times and help you express your vision to others.
Part of Carroll's philosophy is that practices should be as competitive as possible. Players on his teams win and lose many parts of practice and often there is a winning and losing team within the team for a practice day.
There are some little interesting details such as a defensive player who causes a fumble earns The Beaver, which is a stuffed toy animal that goes in the player's locker. I think players enjoy these little rewards and the idea is applicable to teams and the classroom.
I'd say that the only downside of the book is that it can get pretty repetitive and cliched and so could probably be 1/3 less as long. I think that because I feel compelled to play around with the 25 words or less philosophy exercise makes this book worth reading.
Coach Carroll's enthusiasm comes across in the pages of this book.
Part of Carroll's philosophy is that practices should be as competitive as possible. Players on his teams win and lose many parts of practice and often there is a winning and losing team within the team for a practice day.
There are some little interesting details such as a defensive player who causes a fumble earns The Beaver, which is a stuffed toy animal that goes in the player's locker. I think players enjoy these little rewards and the idea is applicable to teams and the classroom.
I'd say that the only downside of the book is that it can get pretty repetitive and cliched and so could probably be 1/3 less as long. I think that because I feel compelled to play around with the 25 words or less philosophy exercise makes this book worth reading.
Coach Carroll's enthusiasm comes across in the pages of this book.
November 10, 2018
I finished my 52-book goal with Grit, by Angela Duckworth. It was was a fitting and appropriate way to end my goal, but she opened the door to a new sub-genre that I was unfamiliar with. Her subtle recommendations and stated inspirations led me to pursue this field further. This also coincided with the end of football season and the beginning of Winter Track and Field, so the timing was perfect.
Enter Pete Carroll. This coach was someone I had obviously known about and admired, but I didn’t know about his coaching philosophy or program-wide traditions and practices. I watched his YouTube videos (https://youtu.be/NMLa6fM10KA) and, as you can see, read his book.
This book was an interesting biography and described his path to coaching and his inspirations. It had key events in his life and career and the people who shaped his philosophy. However, it had more about his career than his philosophy, which was a little disappointing. Am I sorry I read it? Absolutely not. But I got more out of his (free) YouTube videos than from this book.
One particular takeaway was his idea of tapping into practice by literally tapping an “IM IN” sign at the beginning of each practice. I will be doing this with my team this season.
This is the tip of an iceberg for me and I will take his idea of competing to the next level by pushing myself to 62 books this year, not 52.
Enter Pete Carroll. This coach was someone I had obviously known about and admired, but I didn’t know about his coaching philosophy or program-wide traditions and practices. I watched his YouTube videos (https://youtu.be/NMLa6fM10KA) and, as you can see, read his book.
This book was an interesting biography and described his path to coaching and his inspirations. It had key events in his life and career and the people who shaped his philosophy. However, it had more about his career than his philosophy, which was a little disappointing. Am I sorry I read it? Absolutely not. But I got more out of his (free) YouTube videos than from this book.
One particular takeaway was his idea of tapping into practice by literally tapping an “IM IN” sign at the beginning of each practice. I will be doing this with my team this season.
This is the tip of an iceberg for me and I will take his idea of competing to the next level by pushing myself to 62 books this year, not 52.
March 22, 2021
" Always Compete...
As you progress through your sporting life...
Always Compete.
If you want to go for it...
Always Compete.
You're gonna have to make choices and those choices need to be conscious decisions. There's only one person in control here, and that person is you...
You hold all the cards. You are the master of you. It's time to admit it...
You have always known this. So if you're ready, act on it...
Always compete.
Don't you dare try to be too cool, don't you dare be afraid of life,
Just "dare to be great," and let it rip.
Always be humble, always be kind, always be respectful...
Always compete.
Everything you do counts and screams who you are. There is no hiding from you.
Act as if the whole world will know who you are...
Always compete.
Be true to yourself and let nothing hold you back.
Compete to be the greatest you, and that will always be enough and that will be a lifetime!
Always compete. "
As you progress through your sporting life...
Always Compete.
If you want to go for it...
Always Compete.
You're gonna have to make choices and those choices need to be conscious decisions. There's only one person in control here, and that person is you...
You hold all the cards. You are the master of you. It's time to admit it...
You have always known this. So if you're ready, act on it...
Always compete.
Don't you dare try to be too cool, don't you dare be afraid of life,
Just "dare to be great," and let it rip.
Always be humble, always be kind, always be respectful...
Always compete.
Everything you do counts and screams who you are. There is no hiding from you.
Act as if the whole world will know who you are...
Always compete.
Be true to yourself and let nothing hold you back.
Compete to be the greatest you, and that will always be enough and that will be a lifetime!
Always compete. "
January 10, 2024
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D...
Carroll developed his coaching style by trial and error over his career. He learned that you get better results by teaching instead of screaming, and by helping players grow as people, not just on the field. He learned that an upbeat, energetic atmosphere in the locker room can coexist with an unstoppable competitive drive.
In his book, Carroll shows us how his philosophy really works, both in Division I football and in the NFL. He reveals how his recruiting strategies, training routines, and game-day rituals preserve a team’s culture year after year.
“I’ve learned that possibly the greatest detractor from high performance is fear,” Carroll writes. “If you can eliminate that fear — not through arrogance or just wishing difficulties away, but through hard work and preparation — you will put yourself in an incredibly powerful position to take on the challenges you face.”
Carroll developed his coaching style by trial and error over his career. He learned that you get better results by teaching instead of screaming, and by helping players grow as people, not just on the field. He learned that an upbeat, energetic atmosphere in the locker room can coexist with an unstoppable competitive drive.
In his book, Carroll shows us how his philosophy really works, both in Division I football and in the NFL. He reveals how his recruiting strategies, training routines, and game-day rituals preserve a team’s culture year after year.
“I’ve learned that possibly the greatest detractor from high performance is fear,” Carroll writes. “If you can eliminate that fear — not through arrogance or just wishing difficulties away, but through hard work and preparation — you will put yourself in an incredibly powerful position to take on the challenges you face.”
February 5, 2017
Carroll has risen to be one of the most successful coaches in the NFL today. Before his rise at Seattle, he turned the USC Trojans into a legacy of champions and he did this by perfecting his Win Forever Philosophy.
Built on the premise of competition, its underlying message is to always do things better than they have ever been done before.
Not an easy message to send to elite level college athletes and highly priced NFL players but Carroll has managed to consistently convert his players into competition-hungry machines who are highly focused on up'ing their mental games.
We now see why Carroll's teams are always in the hunt and always in the game.
I write more about Carroll's Win Forever philosophy, mindset, about the importance of an enduring and life-long commitment to excellence at www.outworkindustries.com/book-club
Built on the premise of competition, its underlying message is to always do things better than they have ever been done before.
Not an easy message to send to elite level college athletes and highly priced NFL players but Carroll has managed to consistently convert his players into competition-hungry machines who are highly focused on up'ing their mental games.
We now see why Carroll's teams are always in the hunt and always in the game.
I write more about Carroll's Win Forever philosophy, mindset, about the importance of an enduring and life-long commitment to excellence at www.outworkindustries.com/book-club
February 13, 2017
Great book. I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Pete himself. This is an honest book about Pete's development of a personal and professional philosophy and the influences on him during this development. From a football history perspective, you can see how his first two stints as an NFL head coach were struggles, and how he was able to succeed at USC and eventually Seattle by codifying his personal philosophy and communicating to his stakeholders (Note: the book was published just after he became Seattle's head coach).
This will lead you down the path, if you choose to take it, to the development of a personal philosophy. This book describes his path to creating his how philosophy. The only thing missing is a detailed 'how-to', but if you follow his references (Wooden, etc.), you'll be well on your way.
You will be inspired by Pete's competitive spirit.
This will lead you down the path, if you choose to take it, to the development of a personal philosophy. This book describes his path to creating his how philosophy. The only thing missing is a detailed 'how-to', but if you follow his references (Wooden, etc.), you'll be well on your way.
You will be inspired by Pete's competitive spirit.
September 12, 2019
My favorite sports team of all time is the Seattle Seahawks. It's been that way since the early 80's. And without question my favorite QB of all time is Russell Wilson, and my favorite coach is Pete Carroll. I follow and follow these guys on a weekly basis and am so inspired by their optimism and hard work. So to visit this book was a real treat.
This is the story of the making of Pete Carroll, the coach. He wrote the book when he took the job to coach the Hawks, and to see how his philosophy has transformed our franchise over the last 10 years makes it all the more worthwhile. This is a hall of fame coach, and, in my opinion, the primary reason we finally have a Superbowl to our name. Love this guy. And his philosophy will inspire you to create your own. Go Hawks!
This is the story of the making of Pete Carroll, the coach. He wrote the book when he took the job to coach the Hawks, and to see how his philosophy has transformed our franchise over the last 10 years makes it all the more worthwhile. This is a hall of fame coach, and, in my opinion, the primary reason we finally have a Superbowl to our name. Love this guy. And his philosophy will inspire you to create your own. Go Hawks!
November 5, 2019
I kind of hate self-help/leadership books, but read this to vet it as a book club book for our local juvenile jail's book club, and I think this is basically exactly what we're looking for. It's not a difficult read (and tbh I suspect a lot of the prose's readability comes from Carroll's co-author, Yogi Roth), but that actually makes it great for teenagers. And it offers a coherent, followable plan for getting good at things: develop a philosophy, articulate it to yourself and others, practice for the high level of performance you want to achieve during the real deal, visualize the win, always show up confident. The sprinkling of anecdotes about some seriously dramatic football games is the sugar on top.
June 29, 2017
This book is heavy on personal anecdotes, light on lessons learned. Honestly, it was a pretty light book in general. I found that his message was: Always compete! However, I find that a difficult message to buy into when my philosophy is to help others.
However, I did like how he encourages everyone to take the time to seek into themselves, and actually write down what they want and how they're going to accomplish it.
Maybe if I do that, my philosophy above will be refined, and I'll score this book higher.
[Caveat: I finished this as an audiobook]
However, I did like how he encourages everyone to take the time to seek into themselves, and actually write down what they want and how they're going to accomplish it.
Maybe if I do that, my philosophy above will be refined, and I'll score this book higher.
[Caveat: I finished this as an audiobook]
August 10, 2018
This book did more to develop my own philosophy of leadership than any other thus far. I've used the themes from Carroll's work in my own family, but especially in my work. This is one of those books where the content exceeds the quality of the book itself, which is still very, very good and worth the read. Anyone involved in youth sports or an industry which employs humans with an ability to grow will benefit from this book. Not to mention he's just a good guy...what other late 60's dude cranks hip-hop in his office?
November 29, 2018
I like football. Pete Carroll is interesting because of his energy and philosophy - so here is his philosophy book. It isn't bad, but it is kind of what you would expect. Play hard, compete, win forever.
Not to get too inside football, but this book was written when he left USC and went to Seattle. His Seattle teams the past couple years have had rumblings that he was no longer living his philosophy with the team and letting player slip by without being challenged.
Some say that his message grows old after a few years, that's why he was so successful in college. We will see.
Not to get too inside football, but this book was written when he left USC and went to Seattle. His Seattle teams the past couple years have had rumblings that he was no longer living his philosophy with the team and letting player slip by without being challenged.
Some say that his message grows old after a few years, that's why he was so successful in college. We will see.
August 3, 2023
Very pleasant read. I could take a lot of his lessons from coaching into life and business. The way he created his philosophy but more importantly how he implemented it at USC and now Seattle is really impressive. It’s a great example of committing to a process or vision and then getting results over the longer term. While reading the book, I watched the espn 30 for 30 episode Trojan War - this touched on some of Pete Carroll’s principles but more importantly gave colour to some of the key USC moments.
July 15, 2017
Terrific advice and example of how to create a personal philosophy that honors your own values while positively impacting the lives of others. The simple, but profound 3 rules on page 81 are a great start for anyone wanting to create their own guidelines to a fulfilling life. One of the easiest reads in the genre of Zig Ziglar, Earl Nightengale and other great positive attitude leaders of the past.
September 30, 2019
Second time reading this book. Life changing the first time. As a first line law enforcement supervisor I implemented some of his ideas, which worked quite well.
Second reading I learned some things I needed to do to make myself better. Positive self talk.
Highly recommended.
I never liked him as a coach, probably because he beat my teams all the time, but he is a great leader. Upmost respect for this man. Silently I root for him now.
Second reading I learned some things I needed to do to make myself better. Positive self talk.
Highly recommended.
I never liked him as a coach, probably because he beat my teams all the time, but he is a great leader. Upmost respect for this man. Silently I root for him now.
October 20, 2020
Worth the Wait
This is a book that I've wanted to purchase for years, but to me, the price was usually too high. I was finally able to buy it at a reasonable price several months ago, and I think it was worth the wait.
Pete's Win Forever/Always Compete philosophy is very similar to mine in that the real competition is not necessarily an opponent in front of you, but it's usually within you. In other words, your biggest competition is usually yourself.
This is a book that I've wanted to purchase for years, but to me, the price was usually too high. I was finally able to buy it at a reasonable price several months ago, and I think it was worth the wait.
Pete's Win Forever/Always Compete philosophy is very similar to mine in that the real competition is not necessarily an opponent in front of you, but it's usually within you. In other words, your biggest competition is usually yourself.
August 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I think it does a great job in helping the reader identify a consistent philosophy, one that hopefully includes a competitive and high-performance culture. Carroll isn't everyone's cup of tea, but he is extremely genuine and self-aware. He talks pretty extensively about his mistakes early in his coaching career and I think it's evident by the success he's experienced with USC and in Seattle that he learned and was able to adapt. Highly recommend this book!
April 6, 2018
I have to say that I'm not a big football fan, but thought that reading throb this book would give me an insight of encourage me for a greater feat. Sad to say, I was bored one third way through it, so I put it back on the shelf. With a simply autobiography of any sport fan, didn't find any exciting information that would lead to me continue reading.
December 24, 2019
I've gotta admit, I was really skeptical about this book. I liked Carroll as a coach, but I had no knowledge of him as an author or organizational leader. Apparently, he's not bad at much. His pyramid and teaching on building a culture within an organization based on that pyramid is strangely compelling. I've returned to this book several times and each time I am further energized to lead and lead well.
February 3, 2020
Carroll is a total egoist. the only person he ever cared about in his life is himself. This book had great potential, but he chose to make it a total egoistic tirade about how wonderful he is. Not one word about his family his wife, his children nothing, but a vomitorium of I'm so fucking wonderful. Disgusting!!!
Go fucking away!
Go fucking away!
April 2, 2020
There are some good ideas hidden inside what is essentially a memoir. It’s not terribly well written and the philosophy he puts forward isn’t that well argued, but if you can get through it there are some decent things to take away.
Read this book if you like reading anecdotes about football. If you like reading about coaching or life philosophy you’re better off with one of John Wooden’s books.
Read this book if you like reading anecdotes about football. If you like reading about coaching or life philosophy you’re better off with one of John Wooden’s books.
January 11, 2022
As a huge Seattle Seahawks and Coach Carroll fan, I loved this book. Coach's positive attitude and philosophy had me turning the pages and before I knew what had happened, I had read it in one sitting.
I highly recommend this book to not only fans of football, but anyone who wants to learn what makes a leader so successful, failures and all
I highly recommend this book to not only fans of football, but anyone who wants to learn what makes a leader so successful, failures and all
May 5, 2022
I enjoyed taking a peek into Coach Carroll’s mind and philosophies. Really impressive that he was able to cultivate such an exceptional culture at USC. Would’ve love to hear more about his stint with the Seahawks, but the book was written in 2010. 😂
Four stars because the book did not totally wow me. However, it was an enjoyable quick-listen with some depth.
Four stars because the book did not totally wow me. However, it was an enjoyable quick-listen with some depth.
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