Vince Lombardi’s greatest lesson to me is demonstrating the growth orientated mentality. The writer of Vince Lombardi’s Winning Ways said it this way. “His real goal wasn’t just to win, but to create the will to win that made winning possible.” Similar to Coach K at Duke in his approach, Coach Lombardi believed in training men to reach their full potential. That is the summation of his coaching and teaching style that has left it’s enduring mark on the sport and the world.
Two things stood out to me in this book. First the statement Coach Lombardi makes to the Packers when they report to training camp for the first time in July 1959. Coach Lombardi says “You’ve got to give everything that is in you. You’ve got to keep yourself in prime physical condition, because fatigue makes cowards of us all.” The other is from Jerry Kramer. He referred to that same training camp when he said “And there were plays to be run, again and again, until every man knew every maneuver every possible variation.” Preparation is the key to victory in life.
Prepare or Preparation: to put in proper condition or readiness. Vince Lombardi knew how to make a team ready to achieve his goal – every player giving their full effort in unison, thus producing perfection on the field.
As I think about translating this to my business my initial reaction is “it’s not that clear cut.” In reality if I understand the vision of what I’m trying to achieve then the milestones and resulting daily activity show themselves. It’s starting with the end in mind and working backwards to today in order to see the building blocks it takes to go from today’s player to tomorrow’s champion.
The idea that fatigue leads to cowardliness goes far beyond the body. The mental fatigue coupled with the physical fatigue is often what leads to cowardliness for me. The results are mediocre work days, procrastination, and the desire to fight “tomorrow.” John Wooden is clear that if I don’t put forth the effort today it’s lost, you cannot go back tomorrow and make up for the lost opportunity today.
The mandate is clear from the way Coach Lombardi lived his life. Discipline leads to desire leads to delight. It all starts with daily discipline, but it all ends with enjoying the fruits of that labor in the future.
Proverbs 21:5 says The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
