If Better Is Possible: The Winning Strategies from the Coach of Australia's Most Successful Cricket Team

by John Buchanan

John Buchanan brings his innovative style, leadership principles, and visionary drive to the wider world, offering readers invaluable insight into achieving real, long-lasting success, whatever their ambitions.

239 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[Manoj Arora · Rating 4 out of 5]

My learning:
(1) It is not about how good you are, it is about how good you can be.
(2) If better is possible, good is not enough
(3) Often, we make choices to avoid conflict. We tend to take the easy road and do nothing at all, rather than the road less traveled and stand up for what we believe in. Whatever be our choice (not making any choice is also a choice), we own the consequences of the same.
(4) Good or bad, we should never regret the choices we make on a daily basis. This is how we learn more about ourselves and this is how dreams are chased.
(5) There is nothing like an individual's sport. There are teams behind the camera glare, working for every athlete.
(6) There is nothing like a role model. There can be specific traits in a person worth emulating, but considering someone to be a role model is a farce.
(7) One of the techniques to be ultra focused is to imagine your mind consisting of compartments for each activity - sports, family, friends, work etc... Depending on the moment, we must learn to unlock and stay in a compartment.
(8) You can either grow or degenerate. Either of these is happening all around you, all the time. There is nothing called a "safe comfort zone". This is a convenient name depicting the process of degeneration.
(9) By now, we know where real and limitless productivity comes from. It comes from challenged, empowered, excited and rewarded team of people.
(10) You are highly mistaken if you think that the current way is the best way to deal with the problem. There is a better way always possible.
(11) Do not focus too much on the end result. Focus on the process that delivers the end result.
(12) The principle role of a coach is to become redundant as soon as possible.
(13) Dont be an expert, be credible, be a servant.
(14) Always be in the moment and pay full attention to the person you are talking to.

[Joel Gray · Rating 1 out of 5]

MENTAL TOUGHNESS IS THE ABILITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL AT A GIVEN MOMENT TO MAKE THE HIGHEST QUALITY DECISION FOR HIMSELF AND THEREFORE THE TEAM. AND TO DO IT CONSTANTLY, TIME AFTER TIME.

John Played Sheffield Shield for Queensland in the 78/79 season.

Was appointed coach of Australia in 1999.

We are what we repeatedly do.

The Australian team maintained a win ratio of >75% in both tests and ODI's over 7 years.

For the culture of success to continue it needs constant attention and nurturing.

Compartmentalisation is an important tool for mental toughness.

Results are only an outcome of a process of continually wanting to be better.

Steve Waugh had an aggressive win or lose, no draws, approach.

There is always a lesson to be taken from any situation.

[Andrew Mellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Some great insights into John Buchan‘s time at the helm of Australian cricket team. Some things are so simple but it doesn’t quite make sense as to why they weren’t followed through, for example Australian fast bowlers in the cricket nets not wanting to make sure that it was behind the line every time they bold so became repetition.

[Shakti nagpal · Rating 2 out of 5]

some good facts outside the ground was the only best thing in this book.. rest was not satisfactory...