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Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
"Chasing Influence teaches as it tells an entertaining story, providing both practical guidance and inspiration for anyone who aspires to lead and change lives, on or off the field.”—Glenn Stout, founding editor of The Year’s Best Sports WritingCoach Olson coached nearly sixty years before he found out what a real loss feels like ...After back-to-back tragedies, the town of Wassail Falls rallies around Coach Stick Olson.As generations of players return to support Coach Olson, and share stories of the role he played in their lives, it becomes clear Coach hasn't just been teaching baseball and chasing victories; he's been chasing influence and providing life lessons.In the tradition of Joshua Medcalf's Chop Wood Carry Water and Daniel Coyle's The Culture Code, Troy Urdahl's story of a transformational baseball coach is an engaging and practical guide for leaders in all areas of life, from the practice field to the classroom to the boardroom.Foreword by Joe Ehrmann.“Urdahl’s writing style is clear, engaging, and highly informative. He skillfully combines personal anecdotes, real-world examples, and practical coaching strategies to create a well-rounded narrative ... Troy Urdahl’s dedication to creating lasting transformation and his emphasis on ethical coaching make this book a relevant and practical guide for both aspiring and experienced coaches alike.”—Readers’ Favorite Book ReviewsView the video trailer for Chasing Influence Dr. Troy Urdahl holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and is an award-winning high school athletic director, a hall of fame coach, and a college professor with more than twenty years of experience in leadership and coaching.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2023
20 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 6, 2024
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life follows the inspiring journey of baseball coach Stick Olson. Through Olson's story, author Dr. Troy Urdahl explores the transformative power of coaching, showing how purpose-driven leadership can affect athletes far beyond the playing field. The book entwines heartfelt narratives with practical wisdom, offering readers valuable lessons about resilience, relationships and redefining success.
Chasing Influence is a charming blend of fiction and non-fiction that provides a blueprint for coaches and leaders to create game-changing experiences for their athletes. Through the fictional character of Stick Olson, Urdahl weaves a compelling narrative that illustrates the profound and far-reaching impact a coach can have on athletes.
The book's structure is both engaging and informative. A section called "The Lesson," follows each chapter and provides more illustrations and clever tie-ins to the main theme. This format lets readers easily digest and apply the principles throughout the book.
Urdahl's writing shines in his ability to create vivid characterizations that bring the characters to life. For example, “There was a small scar on his face from the time a teammate threw a bullhead, and the fish hit him on the cheek. As a ballplayer, Rube was smart and fundamentally sound. He ran like he was ice skating, with his feet staying close to the ground with a kind of side-to-side stride.”
One of the book's strengths lies in its versatility. Urdahl seamlessly incorporates historical anecdotes, facts and quotes to support his leadership lessons while reimagining familiar stories and fables in fresh, thought-provoking ways. This approach makes the book's teachings memorable and easily shareable.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a teacher, coach and athletic director, Urdahl offers a wealth of knowledge that will undoubtedly improve the quality of coaching for those who apply its lessons. This book is not just about winning games; it's about shaping young lives and building champions on and off the field.
I highly recommend Chasing Influence. While coaches and sports enthusiasts will enjoy the material, the book's appeal extends to others off the playing field. Business professionals will appreciate Urdahl's fresh approach to leadership principles. The author's blend of storytelling and practical wisdom sets it apart from typical leadership books. Whichever role you play, whether on a team or in the boardroom, the lessons outlined in this book provide valuable tools for personal growth and success.
Thank you to Reedsy Discovery for the ARC!
Chasing Influence is a charming blend of fiction and non-fiction that provides a blueprint for coaches and leaders to create game-changing experiences for their athletes. Through the fictional character of Stick Olson, Urdahl weaves a compelling narrative that illustrates the profound and far-reaching impact a coach can have on athletes.
The book's structure is both engaging and informative. A section called "The Lesson," follows each chapter and provides more illustrations and clever tie-ins to the main theme. This format lets readers easily digest and apply the principles throughout the book.
Urdahl's writing shines in his ability to create vivid characterizations that bring the characters to life. For example, “There was a small scar on his face from the time a teammate threw a bullhead, and the fish hit him on the cheek. As a ballplayer, Rube was smart and fundamentally sound. He ran like he was ice skating, with his feet staying close to the ground with a kind of side-to-side stride.”
One of the book's strengths lies in its versatility. Urdahl seamlessly incorporates historical anecdotes, facts and quotes to support his leadership lessons while reimagining familiar stories and fables in fresh, thought-provoking ways. This approach makes the book's teachings memorable and easily shareable.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a teacher, coach and athletic director, Urdahl offers a wealth of knowledge that will undoubtedly improve the quality of coaching for those who apply its lessons. This book is not just about winning games; it's about shaping young lives and building champions on and off the field.
I highly recommend Chasing Influence. While coaches and sports enthusiasts will enjoy the material, the book's appeal extends to others off the playing field. Business professionals will appreciate Urdahl's fresh approach to leadership principles. The author's blend of storytelling and practical wisdom sets it apart from typical leadership books. Whichever role you play, whether on a team or in the boardroom, the lessons outlined in this book provide valuable tools for personal growth and success.
Thank you to Reedsy Discovery for the ARC!
March 11, 2026
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life by Troy Urdahl, with a foreword by Joe Ehrmann, is an inspiring and insightful exploration of leadership, mentorship, and the deeper purpose of coaching. Through the compelling story of Coach Stick Olson, Urdahl illustrates how the most meaningful victories in sports and in life are not measured by trophies or scoreboards, but by the lasting impact leaders have on the people they guide.
Set in the fictional town of Wassail Falls, the narrative follows Coach Olson, whose decades-long career has shaped generations of athletes. After facing profound personal tragedy, the community rallies around him, and former players return to share stories that reveal the true scope of his influence. What becomes clear is that Olson’s legacy goes far beyond baseball; he has been shaping character, teaching resilience, and instilling life lessons that extend far beyond the field.
Urdahl skillfully blends storytelling with practical leadership insights, making the book both engaging and instructive. Through real-world examples and coaching principles, readers gain valuable perspectives on building strong team cultures, mentoring others, and leading with integrity and purpose.
Ultimately, Chasing Influence serves as a powerful reminder that leadership is not about authority or accolades, but about the lives we shape and the values we pass on. Whether for coaches, educators, business leaders, or anyone committed to guiding others, the book offers a meaningful blueprint for creating lasting, positive influence.
Set in the fictional town of Wassail Falls, the narrative follows Coach Olson, whose decades-long career has shaped generations of athletes. After facing profound personal tragedy, the community rallies around him, and former players return to share stories that reveal the true scope of his influence. What becomes clear is that Olson’s legacy goes far beyond baseball; he has been shaping character, teaching resilience, and instilling life lessons that extend far beyond the field.
Urdahl skillfully blends storytelling with practical leadership insights, making the book both engaging and instructive. Through real-world examples and coaching principles, readers gain valuable perspectives on building strong team cultures, mentoring others, and leading with integrity and purpose.
Ultimately, Chasing Influence serves as a powerful reminder that leadership is not about authority or accolades, but about the lives we shape and the values we pass on. Whether for coaches, educators, business leaders, or anyone committed to guiding others, the book offers a meaningful blueprint for creating lasting, positive influence.
September 13, 2024
A fresh perspective on leadership, coaching, and life’s most meaningful lessons
Filled with heartfelt anecdotes, engaging storytelling, and insights from influential figures like Joe Ehrmann, Chasing Influence is more than just a coaching manual—it’s a call to embrace a growth mindset, model integrity, and create a legacy of positive influence. The book empowers readers to navigate life’s challenges with grace and purpose, offering actionable advice on how to lead and inspire others through service and commitment.
Whether you’re a coach, leader, or someone striving to make a difference, Chasing Influence will leave you feeling energized and equipped with the tools to lead with purpose, build meaningful relationships, and ultimately, leave a legacy that truly matters. A must-read for anyone looking to make a profound impact on the lives of others.
Filled with heartfelt anecdotes, engaging storytelling, and insights from influential figures like Joe Ehrmann, Chasing Influence is more than just a coaching manual—it’s a call to embrace a growth mindset, model integrity, and create a legacy of positive influence. The book empowers readers to navigate life’s challenges with grace and purpose, offering actionable advice on how to lead and inspire others through service and commitment.
Whether you’re a coach, leader, or someone striving to make a difference, Chasing Influence will leave you feeling energized and equipped with the tools to lead with purpose, build meaningful relationships, and ultimately, leave a legacy that truly matters. A must-read for anyone looking to make a profound impact on the lives of others.
May 7, 2025
Inventive, original and surprisingly moving leadership manual that delivers life lessons under the guise of a semi-fictional story - the opening of a town ballpark and the return of players to play homage to their legendary coach. Terrific for anyone involved in coaching, athletes or parents of athletes, as well as those in business or any other leadership role. Full disclosure, I helped the author with this a bit, but the ideas and unique structure are his alone. What is leadership? Chasing Influence!
August 27, 2025
A wonderful book of lessons from sports and coaching. Troy is a class act and 'Stick Olson' is a good mentor to learn from.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews