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Be Where Your Feet Are
Scott O'Neil, one of America's most successful sports executives, shares seven principles to keep you present, grounded, and thriving.
When we’re moving at 115 MPH, we rarely see the wall coming. But it comes for all of us and when it does, we grasp for lessons, for meaning, for purpose. Each moment (good or bad) and each win or loss, provides us an opportunity to learn, and if we choose to take it, that opportunity can change our lives--and the world--for the better. The human spirit craves connection. Authenticity. Belonging. Touch. Gratitude. Purpose. We need to make our interactions count. Whether it’s the death of a friend, loss of a job, a bad break-up or the isolation of COVID-19, those who manage to be where their feet are will grow, stretch and emerge stronger, smarter, and more prepared as we find peace and gratitude in the pause.
In Be Where Your Feet Are , Scott O’Neil, CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, offers his own story of grief and healing, and shares his most valuable lessons in what keeps him present, grounded and thriving as a father, husband, coach, mentor, and leader. Scott avails his network to share poignant life lessons from an array of people including professional athletes and sports executives, a world-famous movie director, Saudi royalty; and his teenage daughters, among many others.
Be Where Your Feet Are provides a humbling and vulnerable peek behind the curtain as well as a framework, anecdotes, and exercises to guide the reader towards self-discovery. A gifted storyteller with an uncanny ability and willingness to bare raw emotion, Scott weaves in and out of stories that have left deep imprints on him and are written to lift and inspire.
When we’re moving at 115 MPH, we rarely see the wall coming. But it comes for all of us and when it does, we grasp for lessons, for meaning, for purpose. Each moment (good or bad) and each win or loss, provides us an opportunity to learn, and if we choose to take it, that opportunity can change our lives--and the world--for the better. The human spirit craves connection. Authenticity. Belonging. Touch. Gratitude. Purpose. We need to make our interactions count. Whether it’s the death of a friend, loss of a job, a bad break-up or the isolation of COVID-19, those who manage to be where their feet are will grow, stretch and emerge stronger, smarter, and more prepared as we find peace and gratitude in the pause.
In Be Where Your Feet Are , Scott O’Neil, CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, offers his own story of grief and healing, and shares his most valuable lessons in what keeps him present, grounded and thriving as a father, husband, coach, mentor, and leader. Scott avails his network to share poignant life lessons from an array of people including professional athletes and sports executives, a world-famous movie director, Saudi royalty; and his teenage daughters, among many others.
Be Where Your Feet Are provides a humbling and vulnerable peek behind the curtain as well as a framework, anecdotes, and exercises to guide the reader towards self-discovery. A gifted storyteller with an uncanny ability and willingness to bare raw emotion, Scott weaves in and out of stories that have left deep imprints on him and are written to lift and inspire.
272 pages, Paperback
Published February 14, 2023
177 people are currently reading
3916 people want to read
About the author
Scott M. O'Neil
4 books21 followersSCOTT O'NEIL is one of the most recognized, connected and dynamic executives in the sports and entertainment industry today. He has more than 25 years of experience leading NBA, NHL and NFL teams and leagues, including the National Basketball Association, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. His mission to build innovative, inspiring, socially impactful and high-performing teams and business organizations has earned him a reputation as a "leader of leaders." A Harvard Business School-educated CEO, O'Neil contends that fostering a corporate culture founded in respect, diversity, employee development and corporate social responsibility is what drives the success of the award-winning sports teams and businesses he oversees. These awards include Fast Company's "Most Innovative Company," Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 50 Cultures," Sports Innovation Lab's "Top 25 Most Innovative Professional Teams in the World" and many others. The "Most Innovative Executive in Sports" (SportTechie) and "Most Admired CEO" (Philadelphia Business Journal) has been named to lists that include the "100 People of Power and Influence" (#37, The Hockey News/Sports Illustrated), multiple "Power 100" lists (NJ Biz, Philadelphia Business Journal, Philadelphia Magazine) and more. A decade-long Member of the NBA and NHL Board of Governors, O'Neil's insights on the sports industry's ability to move the global market has made him a prominent, regular voice Bloomberg, FOX Business, CNBC, CNN and across global business media. A man of faith and father of three, O'Neil's conviction to lead a perpetually present life as he famously "runs to work" and "runs home," guides his commitment to helping others realize their full potential.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
May 3, 2021
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the free Advance Reader Copy of Be Where Your Feet Are: Seven Principles to Keep You Present, Grounded, and Thriving.
The author, successful sports executive Scott M. O'Neil, enumerates 7 principles to help you to "Be Where Your Feet Are" while listing examples from his own life experiences along with testimonies from various sports stars/executives and friends.
I did enjoy several aspects of this book. All of it was common sense but sadly today's population needs to be reminded that family is important, to unplug from technology (to be present), to take care of your body by exercising, to take care of your mind by meditating and to Assume Positive Intent in every exchange. Some of the heart-breaking testimonies really put things in perspective... especially during a global pandemic! It was also refreshing to read the fact that big-time CEOs and world-renowned sports stars also feel the pressure and struggle from time to time. It's nice to know that the people we see as "indestructible" or "perfect" are also human. Struggle shouldn't be taboo and this book illustrates this perfectly.
That being said, a lot of things in this book rubbed me the wrong way:
- I found it too boastful. Don't get me wrong, the man has the right to show-off since he has accomplished so much in his lifetime but I don't want to read SO MUCH of it in a self-help book. I understand he was simply listing examples but I found that some of them had nothing to do with the specific principle he was trying to support. For example: in his "Assume Positing Intent" section he explains that when a young marketing director made a mistake that "put the organization in harm's way" he took the high road and setup new protocols to avoids such things in the future instead of calling her an idiot and "disenfranchising" her. Not only was the mistake insignificant but he just outed her in a book for the whole world to see. Made it seem like he had a chip on his shoulder about that specific mistake and turned it into an example for his book. Also had nothing to do with Assuming Positive Intent.
- I get the impression that he wanted to write a list of his accomplishments and tie it in the seven principles haphazardly.
- The incessant "my good friend (insert CEO of something here)" got a little absurd. I realize that is his entourage but there was a lot of name-dropping. Now that I think of it, this book would've been better received as a memoir.
- There was a lot of religious undertone. There is absolutely nothing wrong with faith but I found the theme very present and not everyone adheres to a religion.
- I also found that most of the examples were geared toward "thriving" where as I was excited to learn more about being "be present" and "grounded". Not everyone thrives to become a CEO.
- Some of the homework at the end of each chapter was a little excessive, or geared to the "thriving" group only.
In conclusion, I must admit that I have actively been working towards being more present since reading this book... and it's nice! I just needed the reminder really! However, I did not actually enjoy reading it. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot, wondering what the author was trying to prove, finding that his life seems exhausting more than enjoyable, irked that a sports executive was writing a self-help book when I would personally rather read one from mental health professional (personal preference) and I even caught a lie... on something trivial but it seeds doubt.
Maybe I simply wasn't the target audience for this book as organized sports doesn't occupy much of my world but I will not be recommending this one to friends. I think I would've rated this book very differently if it was in a memoir format.
The author, successful sports executive Scott M. O'Neil, enumerates 7 principles to help you to "Be Where Your Feet Are" while listing examples from his own life experiences along with testimonies from various sports stars/executives and friends.
I did enjoy several aspects of this book. All of it was common sense but sadly today's population needs to be reminded that family is important, to unplug from technology (to be present), to take care of your body by exercising, to take care of your mind by meditating and to Assume Positive Intent in every exchange. Some of the heart-breaking testimonies really put things in perspective... especially during a global pandemic! It was also refreshing to read the fact that big-time CEOs and world-renowned sports stars also feel the pressure and struggle from time to time. It's nice to know that the people we see as "indestructible" or "perfect" are also human. Struggle shouldn't be taboo and this book illustrates this perfectly.
That being said, a lot of things in this book rubbed me the wrong way:
- I found it too boastful. Don't get me wrong, the man has the right to show-off since he has accomplished so much in his lifetime but I don't want to read SO MUCH of it in a self-help book. I understand he was simply listing examples but I found that some of them had nothing to do with the specific principle he was trying to support. For example: in his "Assume Positing Intent" section he explains that when a young marketing director made a mistake that "put the organization in harm's way" he took the high road and setup new protocols to avoids such things in the future instead of calling her an idiot and "disenfranchising" her. Not only was the mistake insignificant but he just outed her in a book for the whole world to see. Made it seem like he had a chip on his shoulder about that specific mistake and turned it into an example for his book. Also had nothing to do with Assuming Positive Intent.
- I get the impression that he wanted to write a list of his accomplishments and tie it in the seven principles haphazardly.
- The incessant "my good friend (insert CEO of something here)" got a little absurd. I realize that is his entourage but there was a lot of name-dropping. Now that I think of it, this book would've been better received as a memoir.
- There was a lot of religious undertone. There is absolutely nothing wrong with faith but I found the theme very present and not everyone adheres to a religion.
- I also found that most of the examples were geared toward "thriving" where as I was excited to learn more about being "be present" and "grounded". Not everyone thrives to become a CEO.
- Some of the homework at the end of each chapter was a little excessive, or geared to the "thriving" group only.
In conclusion, I must admit that I have actively been working towards being more present since reading this book... and it's nice! I just needed the reminder really! However, I did not actually enjoy reading it. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot, wondering what the author was trying to prove, finding that his life seems exhausting more than enjoyable, irked that a sports executive was writing a self-help book when I would personally rather read one from mental health professional (personal preference) and I even caught a lie... on something trivial but it seeds doubt.
Maybe I simply wasn't the target audience for this book as organized sports doesn't occupy much of my world but I will not be recommending this one to friends. I think I would've rated this book very differently if it was in a memoir format.
June 2, 2021
What can say about your own book? Well, I give it a 5 star rating for sure, maybe even 6 :)
The truth is that it is the right book at the right time as we begin to come out of the isolation of our cocoons, we need a framework, practical exercises and memorable stories from incredible people as we define the new normal.
This is a mind, body, soul meets purposeful living book...there are seven principles assume positive intent, trust the process, WMI, failing forward, purple water buffalo, change the race and, of course, be where your feet are. Each one will push you to explore, imagine and prepare to take a step froward.
I have had a fun career in sports (ceo philadelphia 76ers, prez madison square garden) and have access to incredible people, but this is not a victory lap type book - this is a raw, vulnerable peal behind the curtain revealing the struggles and how we learn from them. Read it and you will like it enough to pick one up for a friend.
The truth is that it is the right book at the right time as we begin to come out of the isolation of our cocoons, we need a framework, practical exercises and memorable stories from incredible people as we define the new normal.
This is a mind, body, soul meets purposeful living book...there are seven principles assume positive intent, trust the process, WMI, failing forward, purple water buffalo, change the race and, of course, be where your feet are. Each one will push you to explore, imagine and prepare to take a step froward.
I have had a fun career in sports (ceo philadelphia 76ers, prez madison square garden) and have access to incredible people, but this is not a victory lap type book - this is a raw, vulnerable peal behind the curtain revealing the struggles and how we learn from them. Read it and you will like it enough to pick one up for a friend.
May 5, 2021
Somehow Goodreads is fine with the Author writing a 5 star review of his own book. Given the small sample of reviews, it's clearly artificially inflating the rating of the book and is an obvious conflict of interest. It's particularly egregious because despite the negative/neutral reviews specifically citing it as boastful and self-congratulatory, the author goes on to uncritically describe the book as perfect for the current day and age. Ironically he even says that the book isn't a victory lap, directly refuting what a number of readers described. For someone who seems to touch on his religiousness repeatedly in the book, somehow the value of modesty seems to escape him. This offers no novel insight to the already centimeter deep field of pop-leadership, and given the scarcity of time we have on this earth I can't imagine recommending this in anything resembling good faith.
January 26, 2022
Great quick read on some salient life principles with clever anecdotes and stories. The audiobook has some of the friends of the author reading their stories in person which I thought was a clever touch!
May 30, 2021
All I got out of this book is that the author has a lot of successful friends. If you’re a CEO, you might like this book. If you’re a regular person, just skip it.
June 27, 2021
DNF.
This book didn’t do it for me. Combination of feeling preached at & the frequent references to the church of LDS and its very male Americanness plus the usual platitudes & sports references
This book didn’t do it for me. Combination of feeling preached at & the frequent references to the church of LDS and its very male Americanness plus the usual platitudes & sports references
July 14, 2021
Not finishing this. Wanted to like it and thought I might. But it’s honestly exhausting to read. There’s just nothing energetic or incredibly insightful brought to the reader.
July 21, 2021
So well written. There is a lot to process and think about. Now I need to buy a copy and actually read it instead of listen. Highly recommend!
October 16, 2021
Nothing new here and a lot of word soup. Author comes off egotistical.
Read
April 16, 2021I was fortunate enough to win a review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and I am grateful for that. However, I’m of mixed minds about it. I don’t normally read leadership and/or management books so I’m not the target audience for this. Also, it doesn’t seem to say anything that’s not common sense. Additionally, the author subtly but repeatedly underscores the fact that he’s a religious family man. Fine... but how do his principles apply to the irreligious, non-family oriented person? Plus, he’s been a hard charging head of many high profile sports organizations so how could he be as much of a Boy Scout as he seems to be? But on the other hand, he makes an excellent case for managers to be more mindful of racial prejudice in the US so that’s extremely valuable. In short, there are some useful lessons for readers but they are sometimes undercut by the author’s occasionally treacly and cloying tone. And some of the exercises at the end of each chapter are annoying. For instance, you are asked to write a Leadership Constitution at the end of Chapter One. A Leadership Constitution is incredibly similar to a mission statement. I don’t know about you but as a longtime former government and business employee, I’d rather drink poison than write a mission statement because too often, they are empty and trite exercises in verbal dexterity. I would have liked Mr. O’Neil to PROVE that the Leadership Constitution works!
I guess one has to accept on faith that whatever this successful sports manager says is true. In short, I was not entirely swayed by his seven principles to keep you “present, grounded and thriving” but I hope to reread the book later to see if I missed anything the first time. PS This book has a 4.47 rating out of 5. How is that possible? It is not earth-shaking. Perhaps most management books are really, really bad.
I guess one has to accept on faith that whatever this successful sports manager says is true. In short, I was not entirely swayed by his seven principles to keep you “present, grounded and thriving” but I hope to reread the book later to see if I missed anything the first time. PS This book has a 4.47 rating out of 5. How is that possible? It is not earth-shaking. Perhaps most management books are really, really bad.
May 28, 2021
Be Where Your Feet Are is a book that invoked mixed and strong feelings as I read it. Let me start by saying that it offers reminders of several things:
- to be fully present and engaged where you are at the time - no thinking of other things, checking your phone, tuning out.
- determine what principles and characteristics you value and live accordingly.
- go out of your way to meet, know, and help those around you. Be a team player. Serve others.
- work for the fair treatment, advancement and recognition of all people.
You get the gist. These are all common sense things that we know, though we sometimes lose our focus and perspective. There are no new ideas presented in the book, though they may be presented in a different way.
I have no doubt that the author has the credentials to write a self-help/business book. He is an obviously very successful and powerful business man, and one who is used to working, moving, and living among the elite and privileged. He is, and has every right to be, proud of his career, and of his personal life. I am happy for him, and truly wish him continued growth and contentment.
There are two things that I found troublesome about this book.
The author must be writing this book for the elite business executive, because he is obviously very out of touch with the average worker or management level employee. How many workers/managers have the ability (even if it is their greatest desire and priority) to tell their bosses (no personal assistants here for the clearance of schedules) that they will be leaving work at a certain time each day to meet their child's school bus, or that they can't work that required overtime because their child has an important event, or they have a date with their spouse because that is a WMI "what's most important" to them? Answer: none, should they wish to remain employed at their current place of employment. "Well then, find a better job that will give you the ability to make that happen" the author might respond. How? Where? To read examples like this "You would be more successful if only you would (insert lesson of your choice here)" only serves to make the average worker/manager/reader feel more powerless and frustrated than they already do. Everyone has principles and character, they just don't have the same means or choices available to them that the author does. I wish this book had been written so that its lessons could apply to all levels of workers, or at least to all levels of management.
That leads right into the second thing that troubled me about this book, which, in fairness to the author, he may not be aware of (which is a problem in itself). The author repeatedly tells us how successful and great he is (don't break your arm patting yourself on the back there fella!). It's one thing to state your credentials, it's quite another to subject your readers/listeners to tenuously related anecdotes about your friends so that you can name-drop, and to continually boast about your power, abilities, privileged and elite life through "lesson affirming" anecdotal stories from your life. ENOUGH ALREADY - we get it. We really do.
Sadly, this is one of the most self-aggrandizing books I've ever read.
My thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book, scheduled for publication 6/1/2021. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.
- to be fully present and engaged where you are at the time - no thinking of other things, checking your phone, tuning out.
- determine what principles and characteristics you value and live accordingly.
- go out of your way to meet, know, and help those around you. Be a team player. Serve others.
- work for the fair treatment, advancement and recognition of all people.
You get the gist. These are all common sense things that we know, though we sometimes lose our focus and perspective. There are no new ideas presented in the book, though they may be presented in a different way.
I have no doubt that the author has the credentials to write a self-help/business book. He is an obviously very successful and powerful business man, and one who is used to working, moving, and living among the elite and privileged. He is, and has every right to be, proud of his career, and of his personal life. I am happy for him, and truly wish him continued growth and contentment.
There are two things that I found troublesome about this book.
The author must be writing this book for the elite business executive, because he is obviously very out of touch with the average worker or management level employee. How many workers/managers have the ability (even if it is their greatest desire and priority) to tell their bosses (no personal assistants here for the clearance of schedules) that they will be leaving work at a certain time each day to meet their child's school bus, or that they can't work that required overtime because their child has an important event, or they have a date with their spouse because that is a WMI "what's most important" to them? Answer: none, should they wish to remain employed at their current place of employment. "Well then, find a better job that will give you the ability to make that happen" the author might respond. How? Where? To read examples like this "You would be more successful if only you would (insert lesson of your choice here)" only serves to make the average worker/manager/reader feel more powerless and frustrated than they already do. Everyone has principles and character, they just don't have the same means or choices available to them that the author does. I wish this book had been written so that its lessons could apply to all levels of workers, or at least to all levels of management.
That leads right into the second thing that troubled me about this book, which, in fairness to the author, he may not be aware of (which is a problem in itself). The author repeatedly tells us how successful and great he is (don't break your arm patting yourself on the back there fella!). It's one thing to state your credentials, it's quite another to subject your readers/listeners to tenuously related anecdotes about your friends so that you can name-drop, and to continually boast about your power, abilities, privileged and elite life through "lesson affirming" anecdotal stories from your life. ENOUGH ALREADY - we get it. We really do.
Sadly, this is one of the most self-aggrandizing books I've ever read.
My thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book, scheduled for publication 6/1/2021. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.
March 10, 2021
This book is a must-read for anyone who feels like they're caught in an endless juggling act of competing priorities. After reading it, I literally catch myself saying "Be Where Your Feet Are" as a mantra while moving from mom to wife to daughter to sister to friend to employee throughout the day. It's of course not as simple as that one little phrase, but Scott's stories will empower readers in big and small ways to be more present in their relationships and redefine what success means on a personal level.
I would also recommend this book for anyone looking for a great Father's Day gift this year--it's so refreshing to hear such a successful CEO talk about prioritizing family, being able to express vulnerability in that role, and to see how much dedication he puts into it. I'm sure any parent will reap many rewards from reading it this summer.
I would also recommend this book for anyone looking for a great Father's Day gift this year--it's so refreshing to hear such a successful CEO talk about prioritizing family, being able to express vulnerability in that role, and to see how much dedication he puts into it. I'm sure any parent will reap many rewards from reading it this summer.
January 10, 2022
This was the perfect book to start out the new year. The author gave me so much to think about. I liked his communication style, the examples he used and the principles he shared. I think anyone could benefit from this great book.
January 19, 2022
I started this and got annoyed with the name dropping and put it down for a while. Picked it back up and just felt like a rich guy was mansplaining how to make connections with people. Made it halfway through the book before I gave up.
January 6, 2022
Short but powerful. Emotionally enriched narrative. Learnings are clear. We have a lot more to be grateful seems to be the key message.
January 25, 2022
*almost* too much sports
*almost* too much religion
But in the end, a good read.
*almost* too much religion
But in the end, a good read.
May 2, 2022
Great book. Yes, I have heard some of the same things before but I couldn’t stop listening. I really liked it.
June 26, 2024
Too preachy repetitive and sports focused
December 28, 2021
If you can overlook the boasting and name dropping, this book has some good advice.
The first chapter and name of the book is be where your feet are. I read this book on an extended family vacation and I took the time to do just that. Maybe another way to a person's heart is through their mouth. Just listen. 100% pay attention.
Assume Positive Intent This one came in really helpful navigating the family drama.
I wonder what his family and friends think of the book? I find the book a little out of touch and lacking awareness. Scott O'Neil had a much different life than the rest of us.
The first chapter and name of the book is be where your feet are. I read this book on an extended family vacation and I took the time to do just that. Maybe another way to a person's heart is through their mouth. Just listen. 100% pay attention.
Assume Positive Intent This one came in really helpful navigating the family drama.
I wonder what his family and friends think of the book? I find the book a little out of touch and lacking awareness. Scott O'Neil had a much different life than the rest of us.
March 13, 2021
This book explains seven important principles in a way that made me feel like I can actually apply them to my life. I loved the mix of stories from women and men of all ages from all walks of life in addition to the author’s own smart and sometimes self-deprecating stories. This made the lessons super relatable. The exercises at the end chapters also helped me see how I can apply what I just read to my own life. Sometimes I feel like self-help books lecture me. Not this one. The tone was great- honest and warm like sitting with a good friend over coffee.
July 1, 2024
Thought provoking and insightful. Liked the advice of being present and keeping the things that are most important in your life a priority
April 16, 2025
This isn’t really the genre of book I usually go for but I was able to take pieces of it and apply it to my own life!
April 28, 2021
Thank you to St Martin's Press for this free copy of this book. I have mixed feelings about the book. I appreciated the inspiring stories and life lessons from many sources, family, friends, work related sources... When I thought about them, I felt that some were part of my life, some more so than others, but never labelled. Some principles/strategies for me to work on.
Definitely had problems with some things - in my job, I couldn't possibly have a time frame that I could block out every day so that I could pick up my kids from school. As much as I know it was an example that was feasible in his life style, it made me say 'aw, come on, really' sigh
As I read along, I found myself getting annoyed but it took me a while to figure out why. The author provides thoughts/comments from many people - he identifies them by name as well as their job position and company/organization - the majority by far I had never heard of and added no value to the story; it felt like "name dropping" of people in high positions with alphabet titles working for organizations with alphabet names, which started for me, to make it harder to want to relate to them.
Overall, I feel the positives outweighed the negative aspects of the book.
Definitely had problems with some things - in my job, I couldn't possibly have a time frame that I could block out every day so that I could pick up my kids from school. As much as I know it was an example that was feasible in his life style, it made me say 'aw, come on, really' sigh
As I read along, I found myself getting annoyed but it took me a while to figure out why. The author provides thoughts/comments from many people - he identifies them by name as well as their job position and company/organization - the majority by far I had never heard of and added no value to the story; it felt like "name dropping" of people in high positions with alphabet titles working for organizations with alphabet names, which started for me, to make it harder to want to relate to them.
Overall, I feel the positives outweighed the negative aspects of the book.
May 2, 2025
I read a lot of self-help books, so this book didn't really have any new ideas for me. I liked the anecdotal stories he shared and it kept my attention, though. My mind wandered when he told stories about sports, but that's on me not the author.
August 25, 2022
I really liked this book and love the message of its title. I liked the topics, thoughts, and words of wisdom shared. I enjoyed the different commentary from different individuals with their experience and I loved the author’s eloquent letter to his daughter. I felt it was very applicable and I finished with areas I would like to work on.
I loved how the book is versatile for all ages and situations. One of my favorites was giving people the benefit of doubt and thinking the best instead of being negative and the difference that can make in our attitudes and perception. I loved thoughts shared on mental health, focusing on things to be grateful for, and setting your priorities and living your life around those important things. I especially loved the purple animal (what was it?!) that became their mantra for not standing on the side lines and not being the lion or crocodile but working together, picking up the trash, and being part of the solutions and new ideas. It is a great book that I need to take notes on the next time!
I loved how the book is versatile for all ages and situations. One of my favorites was giving people the benefit of doubt and thinking the best instead of being negative and the difference that can make in our attitudes and perception. I loved thoughts shared on mental health, focusing on things to be grateful for, and setting your priorities and living your life around those important things. I especially loved the purple animal (what was it?!) that became their mantra for not standing on the side lines and not being the lion or crocodile but working together, picking up the trash, and being part of the solutions and new ideas. It is a great book that I need to take notes on the next time!
September 25, 2024
As a lover of self-help and inspirational books, frankly, I found this book to be annoying. I know nothing about the author other than what was shared in the book, but regardless, he comes off as conceited. I don’t think that was his intention, but it reads as juvenile and boastful, and quickly lost my attention because of it. It’s almost as if he wished this book was an autobiography?
This book has lots of good words of advice to live by, however all of it in my opinion is common sense. Further adding to my annoyance were the constant references to sports and religion, possibly two of my least favorite subjects. I realize that’s personal preference, but if I were a fan of sports and religion, I still would not be intrigued. That and I didn’t care for how many acronyms he used. Ex. He says to “assume positive intent” and refers to it as API, and reminds the reader to think about “what’s most important”, which he refers to as WMI.
Things like this threaded throughout the book, paired with suggested homework, gave the author a bit of a “God complex,” and I found much of what he said to be minimizing, as if everyone else around him doesn’t have the same common sense he’s writing about.
In my opinion, this book would do better if it were marketed towards a pre-teen or teenage audience, as some in that age group may still be learning words to live by, which is what this book is preaching.
Edit: I came back here to note that the author left a detailed review on his own book, citing how badly it’s needed? Yikes lol.
This book has lots of good words of advice to live by, however all of it in my opinion is common sense. Further adding to my annoyance were the constant references to sports and religion, possibly two of my least favorite subjects. I realize that’s personal preference, but if I were a fan of sports and religion, I still would not be intrigued. That and I didn’t care for how many acronyms he used. Ex. He says to “assume positive intent” and refers to it as API, and reminds the reader to think about “what’s most important”, which he refers to as WMI.
Things like this threaded throughout the book, paired with suggested homework, gave the author a bit of a “God complex,” and I found much of what he said to be minimizing, as if everyone else around him doesn’t have the same common sense he’s writing about.
In my opinion, this book would do better if it were marketed towards a pre-teen or teenage audience, as some in that age group may still be learning words to live by, which is what this book is preaching.
Edit: I came back here to note that the author left a detailed review on his own book, citing how badly it’s needed? Yikes lol.
April 9, 2022
Audio. Really enjoyed this listen perhaps more than actually reading with my eyes. He sounds genuine and heartfelt in his reading of the book. Because of the nature of his career he is exposed to very different people and situations than I am which was fun to experience through his stories. And yet we had a lot in common that I related to. I enjoyed stories of his wife and daughters. His principles were honest and fair and I hold similar value in my life. Our mutual connection with Vai Sikahema and the Philly area was fun to see in the book as well. There were elements of religion, specifically as relating to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most significantly of which was his conversion to the faith later in his adulthood which I found very touching. I can definitely see how this wouldn’t be a book for everyone. But I very much enjoyed it.
May 25, 2025
Some good advice, a lot of name dropping, “important people”. Blah blah
When times got rough, and he got laid off, his family went to an inclusive beach resort. How nice.
Don’t get me wrong it is good to step back, reevaluate life, set new goals but not everyone gets a great severance package.
EMPATHY is what I’d say a person needs to be where their feet are ❤️
When times got rough, and he got laid off, his family went to an inclusive beach resort. How nice.
Don’t get me wrong it is good to step back, reevaluate life, set new goals but not everyone gets a great severance package.
EMPATHY is what I’d say a person needs to be where their feet are ❤️
January 12, 2022
The book had a few key points but most of it felt very preachy and it has a lot of name dropping bragging. He self glorifies then tries to self deprecate to cover the brag. My biggest takeaways were very straightforward. Be fully present and assume positivity in life.
June 25, 2023
One of the biggest challenges for working parents is balancing commitments between the office and the home – kids’ activity schedules, work project deadlines, professional development, and travel for meetings all compete to find space on our calendars. Even when we make it to one event, our minds are often wandering to what’s going on in the other world or all the things that need to be done to prep for something else. For me, I experienced this firsthand while sitting in Dallas at a sales leadership meeting while our 18-year-old was prepping for her high school graduation and our 7-year-old was prepping for a dental procedure. I experienced it the weekend before this trip, too, when I should have been helping to prepare the kids for the challenges the week would bring, but was, instead, working on a presentation for this meeting. We don’t get a lot of mulligans in life – the opportunity to do it again. It’s important to take full advantage of the time we have in each setting by focusing on the task at hand and giving it our full attention. You must Be Where Your Feet Are.
Scott O’Neil made a name for himself in the fast-paced world of professional sports. His work to develop organizational culture and advancement within the Philadelphia 76ers front offices has garnered worldwide attention with Entrepreneur magazine calling his success one of the “Top 50 Cultures” in the country. O’Neil takes the reader through 7 steps to help you really plant your feet in the current situation and learn to be present in everything you do.
I give Be Where Your Feet Are 4 out of 5 stars. I am not much for the sports world anymore and found myself speedreading through the sections that covered more sports knowledge and names than I was comfortable with. However, this book delivered some great “ah ha” moments for me – I feel like O’Neil was writing from a place where he has been through the professional struggles I am currently facing and has come out the other side ready to show the way. I enjoyed his simple and effective way of laying out the challenge in each chapter with a real-life example from his own life or that of a trusted friend. He closes every chapter with a section titled “Your Turn to Put This into Practice” giving simple steps to apply the moral of the story to your own life. In comparison to books in a similar genre we read earlier this year, this book left me feeling empowered, not like a CEO had spouted a catchphrase at my issue and walked away.
This is a great book for all readers. If you are a student who has work or athletic requirements, or a continuing education student fitting in your classwork between work and family, or a working parent, you will gain great ideas to help you balance your commitments and attention in this book. I would also recommend this book for those outside the workforce – O’Neil’s lessons can be applied to any area of life. Homemakers may find his writing helpful in balancing inter-family commitments without guilt. I am personally recommending this book as our next read for our leadership book club at my company – reading as a group and employing his “Water Buffalo” strategy will be beneficial in any organization!
Scott O’Neil made a name for himself in the fast-paced world of professional sports. His work to develop organizational culture and advancement within the Philadelphia 76ers front offices has garnered worldwide attention with Entrepreneur magazine calling his success one of the “Top 50 Cultures” in the country. O’Neil takes the reader through 7 steps to help you really plant your feet in the current situation and learn to be present in everything you do.
I give Be Where Your Feet Are 4 out of 5 stars. I am not much for the sports world anymore and found myself speedreading through the sections that covered more sports knowledge and names than I was comfortable with. However, this book delivered some great “ah ha” moments for me – I feel like O’Neil was writing from a place where he has been through the professional struggles I am currently facing and has come out the other side ready to show the way. I enjoyed his simple and effective way of laying out the challenge in each chapter with a real-life example from his own life or that of a trusted friend. He closes every chapter with a section titled “Your Turn to Put This into Practice” giving simple steps to apply the moral of the story to your own life. In comparison to books in a similar genre we read earlier this year, this book left me feeling empowered, not like a CEO had spouted a catchphrase at my issue and walked away.
This is a great book for all readers. If you are a student who has work or athletic requirements, or a continuing education student fitting in your classwork between work and family, or a working parent, you will gain great ideas to help you balance your commitments and attention in this book. I would also recommend this book for those outside the workforce – O’Neil’s lessons can be applied to any area of life. Homemakers may find his writing helpful in balancing inter-family commitments without guilt. I am personally recommending this book as our next read for our leadership book club at my company – reading as a group and employing his “Water Buffalo” strategy will be beneficial in any organization!
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