Quote of the Day — Bill Walsh on The Process
“Concentrate on what will produce results rather than on the results, focus on the process not the prize.” — Bill Walsh
Bill Walsh is the famed San Fransisco 49ers coach in during the 1980s. He led the 49ers from the cellar of the NFL to 3 Super Bowl titles. He was rightfully tagged a coaching genius. Walsh modernized how to coach, structure an organization, as well as condition professional athletes. He was lightyears ahead of his time. Walsh’s coaching methods deserve a masterclass.
In lieu of a course on Coach Walsh, there are many books on him — I’ve read them all.
Here are my favorite, in order:
The Winning Edge (hard to find, only 30,000 copies exist)
Although he coached football, he was a coach’s coach. He understood the craft of coaching at a deep level.
Here’s Walsh on the coach’s role in relation to their athletes: “Like water, many decent players will seek lower ground if left to their own inclinations. In most cases, the coach is the one who inspires and demands they go upward rather than settle for the comfort of doing what comes easily.”
And on the vigilance necessary to get a team to a high level and maintain it: “Between the ups and downs, the good times and bad, there are ongoing challenges to keep everyone firing on all cylinders at all times. Even when you have a team brimming with talent, victory is not always under your control. There is no guarantee, no ultimate formula for success. It all comes down to intelligently and relentlessly seeking solutions that will increase your chance of prevailing. Consistent effort is a consistent challenge. When you meet the challenge, the score will take care of itself.”