Winning Every Day: The Game Plan for Success

A master motivator who guided Notre Dame to the 1988 national college football championship, Lou Holtz knows how to win big on and off the gridiron. For business leaders, for recent college graduates struggling on their first job, or for just about anyone who wants to get ahead, Holtz devises a game plan for success: dream, believe, and achieve. "Write down everything you hope to achieve in life," Holtz writes. "Then make sure you do something every day to realize one of your dreams. You are going to encounter adversity but you will also ... take big, satisfying bites out of life." Holtz believes that people are capable of achieving just about anything if they learn to tap into the unrelenting powers inside themselves. He illustrates his points by drawing from moments in his rags-to-riches career as one of America's best college football coaches. Holtz's formula is simple: He calls it "WIN" or "What's Important Now." Holtz writes that if he can do it, anyone can. Despite being raised poor in a beat Ohio river town, later devastated by his parents' divorce, Holtz ended up with the best college football job in the country. Clearly, Holtz can get into the end zone. Follow his advice, and maybe you will, too. --Dan Ring From Publishers Weekly After turning around the fortunes of college football programs at several universities, Holtz landed the top job in his profession in 1986 when he was named head coach at Notre Dame. His 1988 Notre Dame team won the college national championship (a story chronicled in his book, The Fighting Spirit), and Holtz posted winning seasons until he retired at the end of the 1996 campaign. During his coaching career, Holtz was known as an exceptional motivator, and he translated that skill from coaching to professional speaking after his retirement. In this book, Holtz outlines the principles that he believes helped him achieve success, such as a positive attitude, dealing with adversity, adapting to new situations and making a commitment to excellence. Holtz illustrates his points with numerous anecdotes drawn from his coaching days and also includes a fair number of jokes. In the end, however, what Holtz has produced is a work no better or worse than most other motivational business books. Improvement-minded Notre Dame fans are the ones most likely to be motivated to buy the ex-coach's efforts. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Holtz, a famous Notre Dame football coach turned motivational speaker, has written this book to share his life's game plan for winning. He believes that choices are fundamental to life and everything that happens to us is the result of the choices we make. His plan is composed of 10 steps, which include "the power of attitude," "tackle adversity," "have a sense of purpose," "make sacrifice your ally," and "adapt or die." The book looks at each of these steps with anecdotes from the author's football years and stories about his life. While the book may have some appeal to football fans because of its references to that sport, it is not a credit to Holtz and the reputation he earned in coaching. Many will advise him to give up writing and focus his talents on public speaking. Mary Whaley "Coach Holtz has a vast reservoir of knowledge and experience in the key elements of living a successful life. Using football as his primary vehicle, he provides a most inspiring and motivational treatise conveyed in a folksy and oftentimes humorous manner. Not only is Winning Every Day a very important book to read, but also a complete and utter joy." (John W. ("Jay") Jordan, II, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Jordan Industries, Inc.) -- John W. ("Jay") Jordan, II, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Jordan Industries, Inc. "Coach Holtz has written an inspiring and charming book in which he shares with us the gems of his experience as a great leader, devoted husband and compassionate humanitarian. A quick and delightful read." -- General Colin L. Powell, USA (RET) "I've known Lou Holtz for a long time as a man of unflinching, unyielding character and integrity. It shows in this remarkable book." -- Senator Jesse Helms "Lou Holtz has put into his book every element required for success in any endeavor. All who put into practice his ten elements for success will raise their level of performance significantly." -- J. M. Haggar, Jr., Retired Chairman of the Board, Haggar Clothing Company "Lou Holtz has spent most of his adult life helping others achieve their full potential. He believes success depends not so much on an abundance of God given talent, it does on the passionate and intelligent application of the talent we have. Winning Every Day is the best of Lou Holtz.." -- Richard A. Rosenthal, Athletic Director Emeritus, University of Notre Dame "Lou Holtz is a brilliant strategist, a first class motivator, and an inspiring role model. Winning Every Day coaches you through the hard won lessons of life that Coach Holtz has gleaned from a lifetime of learning. Using personal behind-the-scenes experiences, he shows you how to break through obstacles, capitalize on fleeting opportunities, and achieve success. There is no better mentor than Lou Holtz." -- Peter Lowe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Peter Lowe International "Lou has taken his wisdom and principles of winning on the gridiron and translated them successfully for implementation into daily life. He has also included his patented brand of humor throughout making this an informative as well as enjoyable read." -- Barry Alvarez, Head Football Coach University of Wisconsin "Winning Every Day" is a great book for anyone who'd like to know Coach Holtz. His conversational writing style provides personal insight into a man whose ability to inspire and motivate is legendary. Lou Holtz' philosophy is easily adaptable and teaches you how to reach and exceed your goals, not only in athletics, but in business and daily living." -- Christopher Zorich, Former NFL Chicago Bear, Chairman- The Christopher Zorich Foundation "Winning Every Day" provides a simple formula for a winning lifetime." -- Donald R. Keough, Chairman of the Board, Allen & Company, Inc. "Winning Every Day" provides a simple formula for a winning lifetime." -- -- Donald R. Keough, Chairman of the Board, Allen & Company, Inc. Lou Holtz is a studio analyst for CBS Sports on College Football Today and travels the country widely, giving motivational speeches to Fortune 500 companies. Holtz began his coaching career at the University of Iowa in 1960 as an assistant coach and held head coaching positions at the College of William and Mary, North Carolina State, the University of Arkansas, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Notre Dame, becoming one of the top fifteen winningest coaches in college football history. He also served as head coach of the NFL's New York Jets. Holtz was born in Follansbee, West Virginia, and received a B.S.S. degree in history from Kent State University and an M.S. in education from the University of Iowa. He authored the New York Times bestselling book The Fighting Spirit, which chronicled Notre Dame's 1988 championship season. He lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Beth. They have four children. Read more