Welcome back, friends! Another lovely day on the beach. Please enjoy this terrific speech, whether you watch football or not. It is worth memorizing! ~Greg
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE NO. 1
Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that’s first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don’t ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win.
Every time a football player goes to play his trade he’s got to play from the ground up-from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That’s O.K. You’ve got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you’ve got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you’re lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he’s never going to come off the field second.
Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization-an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win-to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don’t think it is.
It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That’s why they are there-to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules-but to win.
And in truth, I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.
I don’t say these things because I believe in the “brute” nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.
…Vince Lombardi
That’s a whole heap of memorizing! Thanks Greg.
Keri Eagan
Anything Alternative
Vince Lombardi has many great speeches that can be used in sales meetings.
Robert Martin
http://www.carbuyinghq.com
Greg,
I’m staring at the speech on my wall as I type… One of my favorites!
“This is a Football”
http://www.salesjunkie.net
That is an amazing speech. I just copied it to word docs and saved it
Jose Escalante
http://www.JoseEscalante.com
He certainly was a motivator.
Thanks for the speech. I even printed this one out.
Thanks,
James
BusinessAndMarketingMakeover.com/blog
I guess he was a firm believer in winning!
Never heard that speech before. Actually, I didn’t even know Vince Lombardi was a real person. I only remember the name from the movie Grease.
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitters and Nannies
Amazing speech.
Wonder if it’ll work for my 9 year old?!
http://www.martin-wright.com
Ah – yes the world is filled with those who want to win. It’s the ones who strive the impossible that come out on top.
Vicki http://www.bridalthreadshq.com
Great speech. There is nothing like being exhausted, giving everything you got, and winning.
Jennifer B
The Harwood Center – Tinnitus, Chronic Illness, Fears, and Anxiety
Love the speech. Lombardi was one of the great motivators of our time.
Steve Chambers
Business to Business Sales Trainer
Yes indeed. Lombardi understands men and the drive of testosterone to compete in that good way.
And it is interesting what he says about Habit. I make a similar point, yet not so eloquently, about the Habit of HOW we treat others on our dates. Others always see. Others always hear. And it is part of our congruency.
It matters.
Make excellence our habit.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
More Vince…. I mean more Greg…
Scott
http://www.salesjunkie.net
I love it!
Amazing coach.
Finding the health formula, Katie
Couldn’t agree more. Until we are tested we are but shells of ourselves. Nothing like a test against the best. I’ve been writing all about that. The only way to build a super star – in yourself, in your kids – is to surround yourself with those who can push you and to test yourself against the best. Test early and often.
Pushing companies from good to great, Kate
As a Minnesota Viking fan, I can state that no Green Bay Packer was ever right about anything…
except Vince Lombardi who was a genius.
Seize the Day,
Rob
Emergency Preparedness For the 21st Century Family
Vince Lombardi captures the true essense of inspiring speeches.
Terry
http://www.terrytom.com
I love this speech. The first time I saw it was in the lobby of a business on one of those “Successories” posters. I thought it was incredible then, and now, some 5 or more years later, it is equally amazing.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
Thank you. Exceptional speech.
Reinforces the hunter gatherer theory.
Also aligns with Kevin’s books explaining the psycology of and woman men.
Bert (alter ego- Mister P)
MisterP.org
BusinessAndMarketingMakeover.com/blog
Because Nobody Does It Alone.
Greg:
Here is a winning move for you. Take that message I sent this morning off.
It was an illegal play.
Sorry for the extra lap you have to make now.
Marty
Vince, the man who men still paint chests and bear 20 degree weather for . . .
Cleanse from the inside out, Katie
The more I think about it, this speech is great for my Thursday morning staff meetings. Sometimes it takes a kick in the tush to make things happen. Thanks!
Expanding spheres of influence, Kate
This is kewl stuff!! thanks for the post
I love it! Thanks
MissMentor