Winning Philosophies of 7 Legendary Coaches

Coaches are philosophers. They embrace and develop ideologies that make them more effective at creating a winning culture, season after season. Those coaches that can effectively ingrain their philosophy in their players are the ones who leave a legacy to remember. From embracing meditation to focusing on the fundamentals, legendary coaches hone a clear and consistent worldview that empowers and inspires their players to perform their best. Here are seven championship-winning coaching philosophies that you need to embrace as your own!

1. Phil Jackson

   Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson became an avid practitioner of meditation after reading the book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. He led meditation groups preaching compassion, mindfulness, and selflessness, and his meditation practice helped him win eleven NBA championships. The goal of meditation, Jackson noted, was to “build the muscle of the mind,” so that athletes could learn to focus and center themselves, leaving only that which was needed to perform their best. He even had his players practice the art of sitting still. Jackson said, “I taught them how to hold their hands, where their shoulders had to be, the whole process of being in an upright situation so you’re not slouched. And they bought into it.”
   Meditation helps us perform under pressure. “Build the muscle” of your mind by learning to center yourself in moments of calm, and you’ll be better prepared to perform and focus in times of strife. Meditate, stay calm under stress, and keep your eyes on the end goal.

2. Bill Belichick

   As Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick has won fourteen consecutive seasons, has nine AFC championships, and has six Super Bowl titles. His philosophy? “Do your job.” That’s it.
   Belichick trains his players to focus on only what they can control. And what can they control? Their own performance and output! Anything else is just noise. In today’s hyper-connected and fast-paced work environment, it can be easy to be distracted or to try and do everything. But ultimately, the best performers are those who can execute their key responsibilities. Own your work and embrace the clarity that comes with it.

3. John Wooden

   UCLA basketball head coach John Wooden had a trio of rules, “Don’t whine, don’t complain, and don’t make excuses.” Do your best. And when things go wrong: don’t whine or complain or look for blame, just keep moving forward.
   It’s that one step in front of the other mentality! Circumstances can only be controlled to an extent, but as long as you are moving forward with a devoted mindset, you will reach your goals. Complaining only trains the mind to be a victim instead of a victor.

4. Mike Krzyzewski

   Krzyzewski’s “next play” philosophy is credited with Duke basketball’s outstanding record. No matter what happened, what mistakes you made, or what success you achieved, it’s not about what happened. It’s all about what you’re going to do next. Focus on your next move or you’ll fall behind.
   It’s easy to fall back into old eating habits after a bad day at work, school, or with family. But you simply missed a possession instead of losing the game! In basketball, after a player misses a shot, do they then quit playing the sport? Of course not! It’s the same thing on your weight loss journey. A bad meal or slipping back into old habits for a short period is the same as you missing a shot! But that next day is just another possession to score!

5. Bill Walsh

   In his book, The Score Takes Care of Itself, San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh explains the concept of writing your own script for success. Before each game, he would write down all possible plays for every type of situation. This practice not only prepared him for all sorts of contingencies but gave him the confidence that he could execute under pressure! All because the hard work and decision-making were already done. Work for the best outcome, but prepare for the worst.

6. Paul “Bear” Bryant

   When college football coach Bear Bryant moved to Alabama, a restaurant owner asked him for a signed photo. Bryant sent over a photo a few days later. A few years later, Bryant tried to recruit a player who initially rejected him, but then, surprisingly, changed his mind and took the offer. When Bryant asked why he changed his mind, the athlete explained that his grandfather was the restaurant owner who had asked for a photo all those years ago. “My grandpa said that he never expected you to remember him.” He said you could teach me more than football, and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I’m going to.”
   In life and business, it doesn’t cost anything to be thoughtful and the rewards are unimaginable. Being a good human being and learning to sow into future relationships can cost next to nothing. You don’t always reap what you sow, but what you reap should never outweigh how much you sow.

7. Pat Summitt

   Even after a diagnosis of early-onset dementia, Pat Summitt, the winningest NCAA basketball coach of all time, didn’t call in sick. Instead, she came up with a game plan to handle her illness and got to work. Such a decision isn’t surprising for someone famous for her motto: “Attitude is a choice.” Every day, you make the decision to come at the world from a negative or positive point of view. It’s your choice, and no one else’s. What’s your guiding philosophy for work and life?

MOTIVATION

Champions are not born, they are made. Take a look at some of the most inspiring quotes I look at daily for motivation! Try this exercise: Read each quote below and rate which one is most powerful to you. Please elaborate on your feelings when you read each one.

• “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” – Confucius
• “Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.” – Og Mandino
• “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Emerson
• “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” – Pope John XXII
• “Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” – Mario Andretti
• Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. keep your behavior positive. because your behavior becomes your habits. keep your habits positive. because your habits become your values. keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs

INTERNAL MOTIVATION VS EXTERNAL MOTIVATION

Internal Motivation:

Do you do things just for yourself and not the team? Internal motivation is when you are motivated on your own. Sports like jogging, running, and going to the gym by yourself are ways to spot internal motivation. A lot of people think they are internally motivated this way, but ask yourself an honest question. Have you worked out for 5 consistent days at any point over the last two years? Have you done this over 5 times each week? If the answer is no, then the likelihood that you are internally motivated is slim.

External Motivation:

If you have to work out with a trainer, in a class, play a sport, or meet a friend, you are externally motivated. Your plan at the end of this Life Plan should reflect that. This is not a bad thing. Do not be afraid to switch from an internally motivated plan to an externally motivated plan. The goal is the most important thing. Stick to your purpose and make adjustments where necessary.

Ask yourself these questions. Who motivates you? Are you internally or externally motivated? How are you motivated? What does this mean to you, and how will it keep you away from your goal if you don’t know? What makes you tick? How are you motivated to achieve your goal? These are the questions you must ask yourself in order to have success. Going through the motions is a recipe for gaining back all the weight, and losing the fight to obtain your goals. Externally motivated people sign up for something. For example, spinning class, boot camp weekly program, tennis camp, swimming club, and Pilates class.

Below, take some time to write out what makes you excited to work out, stay healthy, and achieve your goals. Refer back to this list daily until you cannot forget these motivators!