Eleven Rings
by Phil Jackson
"Eleven Rings" by Phil Jackson recounts the author's journey as a coach in the NBA, where he led the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers to a combined eleven championships. The book explores Jackson's philosophy of leadership and team dynamics, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, communication, and the integration of Eastern philosophy into sports. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, he illustrates how these principles contributed to his success and the development of his players.
19 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from Eleven Rings, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.
Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the Me for the We.
The key to success is to focus on goals, not obstacles.
You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.
The way a team plays as a whole determines its success.
To be a champion, you have to see the big picture.
The best teams are those that create an environment of trust and respect.
It's not about the destination; it's about the journey.
You have to be able to accept failure to get better.
Success is a choice, and it’s made by each individual every day.
Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the me for the we.
The challenge is to take the leap from individual accomplishment to team success.
To be a great coach, you have to be a great communicator.
Basketball is a team game, and the best teams are those that play for each other.
Each player has to be willing to sacrifice for the good of the team.
Winning is not a destination; it's a way of life.
The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.
Players have to be able to think for themselves and to believe in themselves.