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Learn How to Lead to Win: 33 Powerful Stories and Leadership Lessons
Thrilling, Thought-provoking and Inspiring . . . to Help Your People Reach Higher Levels of Performance
Former Top Gun Fighter Pilot, Rear Admiral, and Commander of the USS Nimitz, Mike Manazir, shares gripping stories and actionable insights gained from his successful career in the military and corporate world.
With 33 powerful stories Mike takes you on a transformative journey, revealing the fundamental principles of effective leadership. Each story highlights a key leadership lesson, such as leading from the heart, accountability, communication, and strategic thinking, providing readers with practical strategies to enhance their leadership abilities.
Like how to—
Survive when you plant a $75-million jet into the Pacific Ocean (admit you were wrong)Land a crippled jet with the navigator hanging out of the blown canopy, his parachute wrapped around the tail (rely on your instincts)Steer a floating city with a massive nuclear reactor and an airport on top (known as a nuclear aircraft carrier) into a horrific monsoon in the Indian Ocean while the flight deck is awash and flooded to get to India so the crew could go ashore and do community service (the heart of leadership lies in service to humankind)
Mike's relatable stories showcase the importance of understanding your team's strengths, building relationships, and fostering an inclusive culture where each member of the team feels valued.
The author's conversational style and dynamic stories make for an engaging read that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. You’ll gain valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of leadership and a deeper understanding of what it takes to lead effectively.
Learn How to Lead to Win is a book for aspiring leaders and it is also an excellent resource for experienced leaders looking to refresh their leadership approach. The lessons shared within the book are universal and can be applied in any industry, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills.
Like the former Supreme Commander of NATO, Admiral James Stavridis, PhD (Retired) says about his
“Like jumping into the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat—Lead to Win seizes you by the throat and doesn’t let go! This book is hard to put down and can make anyone a better person as well as an accomplished leader and mentor!”
Former Top Gun Fighter Pilot, Rear Admiral, and Commander of the USS Nimitz, Mike Manazir, shares gripping stories and actionable insights gained from his successful career in the military and corporate world.
With 33 powerful stories Mike takes you on a transformative journey, revealing the fundamental principles of effective leadership. Each story highlights a key leadership lesson, such as leading from the heart, accountability, communication, and strategic thinking, providing readers with practical strategies to enhance their leadership abilities.
Like how to—
Survive when you plant a $75-million jet into the Pacific Ocean (admit you were wrong)Land a crippled jet with the navigator hanging out of the blown canopy, his parachute wrapped around the tail (rely on your instincts)Steer a floating city with a massive nuclear reactor and an airport on top (known as a nuclear aircraft carrier) into a horrific monsoon in the Indian Ocean while the flight deck is awash and flooded to get to India so the crew could go ashore and do community service (the heart of leadership lies in service to humankind)
Mike's relatable stories showcase the importance of understanding your team's strengths, building relationships, and fostering an inclusive culture where each member of the team feels valued.
The author's conversational style and dynamic stories make for an engaging read that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. You’ll gain valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of leadership and a deeper understanding of what it takes to lead effectively.
Learn How to Lead to Win is a book for aspiring leaders and it is also an excellent resource for experienced leaders looking to refresh their leadership approach. The lessons shared within the book are universal and can be applied in any industry, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills.
Like the former Supreme Commander of NATO, Admiral James Stavridis, PhD (Retired) says about his
“Like jumping into the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat—Lead to Win seizes you by the throat and doesn’t let go! This book is hard to put down and can make anyone a better person as well as an accomplished leader and mentor!”
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2023
122 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 18, 2024
Mike Manazir’s book, “Learn How to Lead to Win: 33 Powerful Stories and Leadership Lessons,” is a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills. From the first page to the last, Manazir’s captivating storytelling and insightful lessons make this book a truly enlightening and inspiring read. One of the standout features of this book is the format in which it is presented. Each chapter is dedicated to a different leadership lesson, illustrated through a powerful and engaging story. This unique approach not only keeps the reader engaged but also makes the lessons easy to remember and apply in real-life situations. Manazir’s writing style is clear, concise, and filled with passion. His personal anecdotes and experiences as a leader add a personal touch to the book, making it relatable and authentic. Whether you are a seasoned leader or just starting out in your career, you will find valuable insights and practical advice that can help you become a more effective and successful leader. What sets this book apart from others in the genre is Manazir’s emphasis on the importance of empathy, integrity, and humility in leadership. He emphasizes the need for leaders to connect with their team members on a personal level, to lead with integrity and honesty, and to always remain humble and open to feedback. Overall, “Learn How to Lead to Win” is a powerful and uplifting read that will leave you feeling inspired and motivated to become the best leader you can be. Whether you are a business executive, a team leader, or simply someone looking to improve your leadership skills, this book is a valuable resource that will help you unlock your full potential and lead to win.
November 11, 2023
Manazir shares stores from his experiences as a former Top Gun fighter pilot, Rear Admiral, and Commander of the USS Nimitz. Thru 33 stories, Manazir shares the fundamental principles of effective leadership. And he takes this unique experiences and provides readers with practical strategies to enhance their leadership abilities.
Why I started this book: Love listening to good sea stories...
Why I finished it: Great stories, decent advice. Leadership is about weaving practice and theory together. And there are so many leadership books because there is a definite art to taking a leadership principle and applying it to your own life and circumstances. Manazir does a fair job a giving positive and negative examples, both places where he learned and improved.
Why I started this book: Love listening to good sea stories...
Why I finished it: Great stories, decent advice. Leadership is about weaving practice and theory together. And there are so many leadership books because there is a definite art to taking a leadership principle and applying it to your own life and circumstances. Manazir does a fair job a giving positive and negative examples, both places where he learned and improved.
December 16, 2023
Servant Leadership
Admiral Manazir makes a strong case for the type of servant leadership that we all need to succeed as a team. What good is it to be right when morale is low and trust is non existent? I commend his ability to keep the stories in his book relatable for civilians, painting a picture of life at sea that doesn't sugarcoat the perils of modern warfare. This book is an excellent gift for teens and young adults looking to understand life, sacrifice, the value of compassion and empathy as part of their careers and future plans. A must read for MBAs and those aspiring to become part of management in corporate America.
Admiral Manazir makes a strong case for the type of servant leadership that we all need to succeed as a team. What good is it to be right when morale is low and trust is non existent? I commend his ability to keep the stories in his book relatable for civilians, painting a picture of life at sea that doesn't sugarcoat the perils of modern warfare. This book is an excellent gift for teens and young adults looking to understand life, sacrifice, the value of compassion and empathy as part of their careers and future plans. A must read for MBAs and those aspiring to become part of management in corporate America.
March 5, 2023
Fun and Thought Provoking
With over three decades in uniform, Mike Manazir can tell a great sea story. In “Lead to Win” he recounts them as he leads us on his at times harrowing and other times hilarious career journey, with lessons of leadership observed by him as first a follower and then senior commander and later business executive. Each story has a leadership chestnut that is applicable to most any organization. It’s all about taking care of your people which leads to increased unit cohesion and effectiveness. Learn how Mike did it. Enjoy.
With over three decades in uniform, Mike Manazir can tell a great sea story. In “Lead to Win” he recounts them as he leads us on his at times harrowing and other times hilarious career journey, with lessons of leadership observed by him as first a follower and then senior commander and later business executive. Each story has a leadership chestnut that is applicable to most any organization. It’s all about taking care of your people which leads to increased unit cohesion and effectiveness. Learn how Mike did it. Enjoy.
February 26, 2023
Fantastic leadership book that manages to add new stories, insight and perspective into a crowded genre. Admiral Manazir’s stories from his time as a Top Gun pilot and his many deployments on aircraft carriers are thrilling and inspiring, and he pulls every story into concrete leadership lessons. If you are looking for a unique leadership book to read, I highly recommend this one!
October 31, 2023
Without a doubt one of the best books ever written on leadership. The jets and naval stories are just a bonus. You never have to have served in the military for a minute to appreciate Nasty's leadership lessons as they transcend to any business. I found myself saying, "yep, I do that already or I'll have to add that to my leadership style."
October 14, 2024
A great concise book of 33 lessons for leadership. If you have read quite a few books on leadership you may have come across most of this but if not I would definitely recommend this one. Manazir’s experiences in the Navy provides great examples and he also provides many other resources for more information on each lesson.
July 21, 2023
Outstanding Read. Great story of perseverance and leadership through the ups and downs of my career and life. I believe there were so many great illustrations of how a leader should consider getting up after he falls.
December 2, 2023
Good lessons for one to learn, & apply.
March 20, 2024
Declare war on yourself
.
Never ever give up
Fight hard
Stand again
Hit harder
While you hitting remember people depend on you
Lead from front
.
Never ever give up
Fight hard
Stand again
Hit harder
While you hitting remember people depend on you
Lead from front
October 24, 2024
Really good!
Easy storytelling, a sense of adventure, purpose, achievement and kindness, and pithy leadership advice make this a real page turner
Easy storytelling, a sense of adventure, purpose, achievement and kindness, and pithy leadership advice make this a real page turner
April 13, 2025
Read by "Nasty" himself making the stories more poignant to anyone trying to learn his leadership lessons.
March 28, 2024
Part memoir, part leadership manual -- with 33 compelling stories
Mike Manazir (“Muh-naw-zur”) is a Retired US Navy Admiral and Top Gun Fighter Pilot.
I got this book on the recommendation of a new, dear friend who happens to be a Commanding Officer in the US military (and a Heroic Coach). My friend recommended Jim Mattis’s book on leadership Call Sign Chaos and that book was so good that I asked him what other books on leadership he’d recommend. He immediately told me about this one. I immediately got it.
Manazir was one of his cherished mentors. After reading this great book, I can see why.
The book is, as you’d expect from the title, all about helping us learn how to lead to win. It’s part memoir, part leadership manual—featuring 33 powerful stories from Admiral Manazir’s life and the lessons he gained along the way.
It reminds me of another memoir by another Navy Admiral I admire: Admiral William H. McRaven’s Sea Stories. In fact, as I type that, I realize that this book is kinda like a hybrid of McRaven’s memoir AND his latest book called The Hero Code. Mash those two books up and swap out the SEAL stories for a Top Gun Fighter Pilot’s and voilà—you get this book.
As you’d expect, the book is PACKED with Big Ideas. Some of my favorites include:
1. Your Job - As Commanding Officer is...
2. Vision - Begin with the end in mind.
3. Go the Extra Mile - Outperform your contract.
4. The Cable Guy - Becomes Hornet.
5. Lead to Win - Here’s how.
One last thing… I’ve added Learn How to Lead to Win by Mike Manazir to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
“You may not see yourself as a leader, but if you are a parent with a child needing to be equipped to succeed in this dynamic world, you are a leader. If coworkers are coming to you for advice and direction on how to do things at work, you are a leader. You may not have the title, but you are a leader.
If you are entrusted with the education of students, you are a leader. If you have one employee relying on your lead, you are a leader. If you are a grandparent and you have grandchildren observing your every move, you are a leader. If you are a counselor helping a struggling person break an addiction, you are a leader. If you aspire to make a meaningful impact on the world, you are a leader. …
I wrote this book for leaders like you who want to succeed in life. Leaders want to win. Winning in life is to be successful—successful in your marriage, your family, your career, your business, your nonprofit foundation—all while forming deeper relationships with friends and family. You also want to be loved, to be accepted, and valued by others. You want a meaningful life.
I want to share what I believe are the foundational principles that catapult massive success in all these pursuits. I want to share thirty-three powerful stories and leadership lessons that shaped my leadership style, and my journey to win in life. My task as your mentor is to illustrate for you how you can apply what I learned as you enjoy my storytelling.”
~ Mike Manazir from Learn How to Lead to Win
Mike Manazir (“Muh-naw-zur”) is a Retired US Navy Admiral and Top Gun Fighter Pilot.
I got this book on the recommendation of a new, dear friend who happens to be a Commanding Officer in the US military (and a Heroic Coach). My friend recommended Jim Mattis’s book on leadership Call Sign Chaos and that book was so good that I asked him what other books on leadership he’d recommend. He immediately told me about this one. I immediately got it.
Manazir was one of his cherished mentors. After reading this great book, I can see why.
The book is, as you’d expect from the title, all about helping us learn how to lead to win. It’s part memoir, part leadership manual—featuring 33 powerful stories from Admiral Manazir’s life and the lessons he gained along the way.
It reminds me of another memoir by another Navy Admiral I admire: Admiral William H. McRaven’s Sea Stories. In fact, as I type that, I realize that this book is kinda like a hybrid of McRaven’s memoir AND his latest book called The Hero Code. Mash those two books up and swap out the SEAL stories for a Top Gun Fighter Pilot’s and voilà—you get this book.
As you’d expect, the book is PACKED with Big Ideas. Some of my favorites include:
1. Your Job - As Commanding Officer is...
2. Vision - Begin with the end in mind.
3. Go the Extra Mile - Outperform your contract.
4. The Cable Guy - Becomes Hornet.
5. Lead to Win - Here’s how.
One last thing… I’ve added Learn How to Lead to Win by Mike Manazir to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
July 25, 2023
Had me laughing throughout, but the finest read on "others-centered leadership" I've ever read. I remember when Nasty showed up at U.S. Fleet Forces Command. It was a Thursday morning MUB (Maritime Update Briefing) which typically included 20-30 Admirals around the table. Nasty looked small sitting at the far end of the table, no doubt wondering "what the heck". I introduced myself to him at the end of the session and could quickly sense strong gravitas. Soon thereafter I analogized him with Big Bad John... down in the coal mine (where I lived). Worked with Nasty in uniform and private sector and would serve with him anytime, anywhere. Here lies a Big, Big Man...
February 23, 2025
Outstanding
Thirty three years of service in US Navy….25 different CO’s/Boss’s….none better than Nasty Manazir! I couldn’t wait to get to work every day and learn from his infectious leadership style onboard Nimitz. Lead to Win is a “home run” and reinforced a number of lessons I learned under his tutelage!
RADM Duke Heinz
USEUCOM J4
Thirty three years of service in US Navy….25 different CO’s/Boss’s….none better than Nasty Manazir! I couldn’t wait to get to work every day and learn from his infectious leadership style onboard Nimitz. Lead to Win is a “home run” and reinforced a number of lessons I learned under his tutelage!
RADM Duke Heinz
USEUCOM J4
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews