“I know that I’ll be evaluated in Seattle with wins and losses, as that is the nature of my profession for the last thirty-five years. But our record will not be what motivates me. Years ago I was asked, ‘Pete, which is better: winning or competing?’ My response was instantaneous: ‘Competing. . . because it lasts longer.’” Pete Carroll is one of the most successful coaches in football today. … successful coaches in football today. As the head coach at USC, he brought the Trojans back to national prominence, amassing a 97-19 record over nine seasons. Now he shares the championship-winning philosophy that led USC to seven straight Pac-10 titles. This same mind-set and culture will shape his program as he returns to the NFL to coach the Seattle Seahawks.
Carroll developed his unique coaching style by trial and error over his career. He learned that you get better results by teaching instead of screaming, and by helping players grow as people, not just on the field. He learned that an upbeat, energetic atmosphere in the locker room can coexist with an unstoppable competitive drive. He learned why you should stop worrying about your opponents, why you should always act as if the whole world is watching, and many other contrarian insights.
Carroll shows us how the Win Forever philosophy really works, both in NCAA Division I competition and in the NFL. He reveals how his recruiting strategies, training routines, and game-day rituals preserve a team’s culture year after year, during championship seasons and disappointing seasons alike.
Win Forever is about more than winning football games; it’s about maximizing your potential in every aspect of your life. Carroll has taught business leaders facing tough challenges. He has helped troubled kids on the streets of Los Angeles through his foundation A Better LA. His words are true in any situation: “If you want to win forever, always compete.”more
We can win at the game of life by enjoying the experience of living.
Inspiring book!
A must-read for those looking for ways to improve their lives on and off the field.
Treat yourself to the audio book on this one, it’s read by the coach himself. You’ll experience the full advantages of hearing the charisma and sincerity of an enthusiastic professional coach. I can see what’s really motivating his players. Yes, Pete Carroll has developed a very successful coaching philosophy that he’s applied to college and to NFL football teams. The big surprise is that you can also personalize this philosophy for your life. “Twelves” and football fans will relish the anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book about specific players who are currently in the NFL. Football fans will also enjoy learning strategies applied by teams and different coaches. All readers will appreciate the development of a positive philosophy that they too can apply to their lives.
This book was written when Pete Carroll was on the verge of coaching in Seattle. Besides a philosophy for self-help, this book is also a memoir. It includes stories of his childhood and formative years in Northern California, and you can see what has shaped his coaching and how his unique philosophy developed organically from his first hand experience, and from the experience of others. Big influences were UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, and also Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. But in this book you won’t just be learning about it, you’ll have a coach persuading you to buy in.
Winning forever is much more than winning next Sunday’s game. It’s about competing, maximizing your abilities and making the most of the opportunities in front of you, so that each player can become the best he can be, and each team can achieve its fullest potential. “Of course we want to win every game, but winning forever is more about realizing your potential and making yourself as good as you can be,” says Carroll. “Realizing that is a tremendous accomplishment, whether it’s in football or in life.” Does that appeal to you personally? Does that appeal to your family as a team? Or does it appeal to your group at work? Or does it appeal to your volunteer organization? How can you apply this to your life?
Winning forever is about competing to get the most out of every single opportunity – have you ever heard that life is not a dress rehearsal? This coach is encouraging you to demand of yourself day-in and day-out dedication to achieving your fullest potential.
The coach also has a touching section of the book where he talks about his commitment to giving back to the community. He encourages giving back what you can. He describes efforts with youth in Los Angeles to try and get them to see a different vision for their future. What you see is what you get, and changing the vision along with their hard work will open opportunities. Pete Carroll does not advocate easy, he advocates hope, giving your best effort, and winning forever.