From Publishers Weekly
The author of several books about leadership, Phillips (Martin Luther King, Jr. on Leadership, etc.) offers an absorbing and practical examination of famed football coach Vince Lombardi's strategies for success and how they can be applied to the business world. A short biography of the coach gives a sense of the source of Lombardi's style his father was a strict disciplinarian who advocated respect and duty above all else. As an athlete, Lombardi, who died in 1970, was accomplished at several sports but his first love was always football. He began his coaching career under Red Blaik at West Point, where he perfected his discipline. By the end of his life, he could take credit for nine successive playoff victories and two Super Bowl triumphs. What made Lombardi so successful? Phillips answers this question with detailed anecdotes from the coach's colleagues and players, along with chapter summaries highlighting "Lombardi Principles." Among these precepts are "Demonstrate your commitment to equality through your actions as well as your words," "Expect full cooperation from your superiors, and give full cooperation in return" and "Remember that all talent is founded on fundamentals and that fundamentals win it." Though seasoned executives may find some of the insights self-evident, less experienced managers should find them useful, especially if they're already familiar with Lombardi and his unique style. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
The ultimate compliment paid to Vince Lombardi was by former Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer: "We knew that the only difference between being a good football team and a great football team was him and only him." Phillips, an authority on leadership (see, e.g., The Founding Fathers on Leadership, LJ 1/90), does not offer a sports biography like David Maraniss's When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi (LJ 8/99). Instead, in straightforward, practical, no-nonsense prose, he clearly explains how Lombardi's coaching style can be utilized in today's business environment. The result is more useful than many such guides drawn from the philosophies or teachings of nonbusiness figures. Recommended for most libraries. Larry R. Little, Penticton P.L., BC HRekindling the Movement: Labor's Quest for Relevance in the Twenty-First Century. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Lombardi, the late Hall of Fame coach of the Green Bay Packers, won two Super Bowls and five NFL championships in his nine-year Green Bay career. His football acumen was unquestioned, his leadership legendary, his charisma unforgettable. Phillips employs anecdotes, quotes, and analysis to illustrate the teaching techniques Lombardi employed and their validity in virtually any endeavor, not just football. Lombardi was brutally honest, passionate, and possessed by an unwavering commitment to excellence that had little to do with winning games. He was also a believer in the importance of appearances: the Packers were among the first teams to dress in blazers for travel to road games, and although the players were permitted to drink, they were required to do their sipping at a table, never "bellied up" to a bar. The book functions well on two planes: first, as a handbook for anyone in a position of leadership or aspiring to one; second, as a readable, often humorous glimpse at the inner workings of pro football's most respected dynasty. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
Vince Lombardi, whom many believe to be the greatest football coach in the history of the sport, is both a household name and an icon. He is not only renowned in the sports world, but also in business and industry for his exceptional leadership skills. In Run to Win, acclaimed author Don Phillips examines Lombardi's famous coaching style by painting a picture of a fascinating individual, a man whose ingenious leadership helped lead his teams to nine playoff victories in a row, including wins in the first two Super Bowls.

By extracting powerful lessons from a man who could both lead and inspire, Phillips gets to the heart of what made Lombardi great and shows readers what it takes to be a winner. At the same time, this groundbreaking book tells the inspiring story of Lombardi's ten-year career with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins, complete with anecdotes, quotes, and Lombardi Principles that show why this legendary coach continues to be a role model for effective leadership in business today.

Totally accessible and utterly fascinating, Run to Win empowers readers with the knowledge to succeed in business, while entertaining them with tales of a man whose ability to win under any circumstance is unsurpassed in the history of professional sports.



Download Description
In RUN TO WIN, acclaimed author Don Phillips examines the leadership style of the legendary Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins coach, Vince Lombardi.


About the Author
Donald T. Phillips is the internationally acclaimed author of several bestselling books on leadership, including those on Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Founding Fathers. Most notably, his book Lincoln on Leadership has been translated into seven languages. A civic leader himself, Phillips currently serves as mayor of Fairview, Texas.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Vince Lombardi, Whom Many Believe to Be the greatest football coach in the history of the sport, is both a household name and an icon. He is not only renowned in the sports world, but also in business and industry for his exceptional leadership skills. In Run to Win, acclaimed author Don Phillips examines Lombardi's famous coaching style by painting a picture of a fascinating individual, a man whose ingenious leadership helped lead his teams to nine playoff victories in a row, including wins in the first two Super Bowls.

By extracting powerful lessons from a man who could both lead and inspire, Phillips gets to the heart of what made Lombardi great and shows readers what it takes to be a winner. At the same time, this groundbreaking book tells the inspiring story of Lombardi's ten-year career with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins, complete with anecdotes, quotes, and Lombardi Principles that show why this legendary coach continues to be a role model for effective leadership in business today.

Totally accessible and utterly fascinating, Run to Win empowers readers with the knowledge to succeed in business, while entertaining them with tales of a man whose ability to win under any circumstance is unsurpassed in the history of professional sports.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The author of several books about leadership, Phillips (Martin Luther King, Jr. on Leadership, etc.) offers an absorbing and practical examination of famed football coach Vince Lombardi's strategies for success and how they can be applied to the business world. A short biography of the coach gives a sense of the source of Lombardi's style his father was a strict disciplinarian who advocated respect and duty above all else. As an athlete, Lombardi, who died in 1970, was accomplished at several sports but his first love was always football. He began his coaching career under Red Blaik at West Point, where he perfected his discipline. By the end of his life, he could take credit for nine successive playoff victories and two Super Bowl triumphs. What made Lombardi so successful? Phillips answers this question with detailed anecdotes from the coach's colleagues and players, along with chapter summaries highlighting "Lombardi Principles." Among these precepts are "Demonstrate your commitment to equality through your actions as well as your words," "Expect full cooperation from your superiors, and give full cooperation in return" and "Remember that all talent is founded on fundamentals and that fundamentals win it." Though seasoned executives may find some of the insights self-evident, less experienced managers should find them useful, especially if they're already familiar with Lombardi and his unique style. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal