Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life

In this NY Times #1 Best Seller, Tony Dungy presents principles, practices and priorities of a winning life following Christ. Tony tells about overcoming racial discrimination and his life long challenge to put Christ first on his way to coaching the NFL Super Bowl Champion Colts. This is a great book with insights into dealing with major life challenges including focusing on God's purpose in your life, faith in God's will for his occupation, "sticking to his principles" (no smoking, drinking, or performance enhancing drugs), finding a Godly wife, overcoming bitterness from his firing as head coach, accepting the genetic defect of his 1st (of 3) adopted children, and the crushing suicide of his 19 year old (natural) son the year before his Super Bowl XLI Victory. Tony came from a solid Christian, African-American family in Michigan. His dad was a Tuskegee ([...]) Army Air Corps officer flying in World War II, later earning a PhD to become a physiology professor at Jackson Community College ([...]). His dad taught him that you can't always control circumstances. However you can always control your attitude. Tony speaks very highly of his Mom a high school speech & Sunday School teacher who taught him many Bible stories before he could read and he came to know Christ as a young child. His siblings are all professionals with successful careers - Lauren as a physician, Linden a dentist, and Sherrilyn as a nurse. Tony's problem with his temper is disclosed when he quit his high school football team, protesting that only he was selected captain over looking his black team mate who was elected co-captain. Tony gained insights into how the issue was resolved as he and the African-American team mates eventually rejoined the team and almost won the Michigan State High School Championship.He was a star quarterback for U. of Minnesota with impressive Big-10 credentials but (probably in part to lack of any current NFL black quarterbacks) was undrafted in 1976. Eventually, as a defensive back, he led the '79 Super Bowl Steelers team in interceptions, and even saw some playing time as quarterback. Dungy points out he was the last person in the NFL to both intercept and throw an interception in the same game. In `81, Dungy was traded to "the worst NFL team (SF 49ers)." After his 3-year playing career ended, he soon became a coach for the Steelers. Tracing his coaching career with the Chiefs, Viking and Bucs, he shares fascinating insights into the demanding schedule for coaching, especially in the NFL, and wrestling with putting Christ first. Table 1 summarizes a typical NFL coach's work week. Table 1 Dungy's Typical NFL Work WeekMon 8 am - 10 pm Film Reviews: "our" last week films & next weeks opponents filmsTue 8 am - 10 pm Game Plan Day-Wed 8 am - 9 pm 1st Practice Day - also review tapes of practiceThurs 8 am - 8 pm Practice & Refine Game PlanFri 8 am - 1 pm Short "dress Rehearsal"Sat ? "Walk Through" - Slow motion w/out pads; Home game go home relax before check into team hotel; or travelSun Game Day Long pregame meetings; meals; game, return travel if away game It is helpful to note that the Offensive and Defensive Coordinators are similar to "vice-presidents" in the coaching hierarchy and higher in the pecking order than "position" (e.g. defensive backs) coaches as you review his football career in Table 2. Table 2 Brief Summary of Dungy's Football CareerYear Team Comments76 U of Minn Qbk; Big 10 4th Total Yds; Most TD passes76-77 Steelers Undrafted - but made team as a safety78-79 Steelers Super Bowl Champions; Team intercept Ldr; 10th in NFL79-80 49ers "Traded from best to worst NFL Team"80 NY Giants Traded by 49ers but Cut from Giants80 U of Minn Volunteer Defensive Back Coach81 Steelers Effectively Assistant to Head Coach Chuck Noll; went on to coach defense (age 25)84 Steelers Promoted to Steelers' Defensive Coordinator (age 28)89 K-City Chiefs After 5-11 Steelers Season, asked to step down as Def Coordinators; join Marty Shottenheimer as Def Backs Coach92 Minn Vikings Defensive Coordinator (under Denny Green)96 Tamp Bay-Bucs Head Coach-takes over a losing team (had 13 consecutive losing seasons!) on the verge of bankruptcy; '96 record 6-10; '97 lost NFC Playoff to G Bay (NFC Champs); 98 8-8; 99 lost NFC Championship; 00 Lost 1st playoff game01-09 Indian.-Colts Fired by Bucs, became Head Coach; won Super Bowl after 2008-2009 season retired from coaching You'll like Tony's humble, sometimes self-demeaning descriptions, insights and resolve. One example is his meeting his future wife, Lauren. After being the last-minute substitute Steeler speaker at St Stephen's Episcopal's (Pittsburgh) Father-Son breakfast, the Pastor insisted he meet a young lady in the church. His first "date" was breakfast & church and he relates, "I dropped her back at her house, and ... here's where Laruen's story diverges from mine. Since I'm the one telling the story, you'll hear my version first, and to be fair, I'll also give you her version - the wrong version. As I dropped her off, I said, "I'm headed back to training camp, and I'll be gone for the week, but if you wouldn't mind giving me your number, I'll call you, and maybe we can play tennis sometime." She heard - and swears to this day that I said "...give me your number, and maybe I'll call you, and we can play tennis sometime." I can only assume she was too nervous to have heard me correctly. Or maybe--and I'm sure this is not the case--I was too nervous to have articulated my request correctly." Tony stresses the importance of sticking by your principles and therefore was disappointed himself when he accepted Mike Shula's resignation as offensive coordinator and saw this as undermining the team. Tony was under pressure from the team owner for losing a play off game, having a stout defense but weak offense. Tony felt Shula had done his job well, but circumstances (injuries, status of building the team through the draft, etc.) had hampered Shula Whereas Shula stepped up to maintain harmony, Tony later felt his accepting the resignation undermined much of the progress his coaching team had made with the Buccaneers.Tony has something good to say about every major person he describes but also points out differences they have had. He points out his mistakes and stands he took (such as his unconditional support of his place kicker who had missed several key attempts, but whose mother was dying from cancer), even when consequences could have severely limited his career.Extremely stressful times give an insight into a person's character. Some of these times Tony described include his being fired after the Bucs lost the first of the playoff games (although he'd been told he didn't have to win the Super Bowl to keep his job), the Bucs going on to win the super bowl the year after he was fired, deaths of his mother and father during the season, and his 19 year old (natural) son committing suicide just before Christmas with the Colts heading towards the playoffs. Dungy comes across as a flawed, but forgiven Christian committed to "walk the walk" to match his talk. Dungy writes "I love coaching football, and winning a Super Bowl was a goal I've had for a long time. But it has never been my purpose in life. My purpose in life is simply to glorify God. We have to be careful that we don't let the pursuit of our life's goals, no matter how important they seem, cause us to lose sight of our purpose." My husband is using this book and the accompanying Bible Study Book  Quiet Strength: Mens Bible Study  for his Men's Bible Study dealing with issues which include: Prejudice; Aligning My Goals to God's Goals; Finding a Godly Mate; Dealing with Unfair Dismissal; Not Letting Success Blind Me to God's Direction; Teen Suicide; Friendship is More Valuable than a Super Bowl Ring

I read this book inspired by the premise of a very successful man in a very demanding setting, that still somehow prioritizes God and family above everything else. While I've had no exposure to Coach Dungy before, I can imagine the kind of person he is based on the way the book is written. Humbly, in a very readable and entertaining fashion, Dungy shows what quiet strength is all about; the importance of abiding by God's Word in a practical, daily manner, doing things in a way that glorifies Him and serves as a witness to other.I got very important lessons from this book that, although I had heard about before, were really driven home by Coach Dungy's anecdotes. That things happen in our lives in God's way and time; that we cannot choose what things happen to us, but certainly how we react to them; and plenty of lessons about leadership. I particularly enjoyed a comment by chaplain Tom Lamphere, in that biblical leaders never failed in their earthly commands, but their failings were always spiritual in nature. All of these lessons are made clearly visible and enjoyably explained by Dungy and Whitaker.A central premise of the book is how we define success. I think this is highly relevant in our society and a key part of how we approach life. Coach Dungy puts it simply: seek to glorify God in everything you do. For us Christians, this is very enticing because it means we can be measurably, certainly successful regardless of our position in business, society and elsewhere. Even if you are not a Christian you will certainly be challenged by the way Dungy approaches many things in life; he gives his upbringing a lot of credit for the way he thinks, so I'd also consider some parenting lessons are in there, and for non-believers there is plenty to reflect upon in this book, lessons about character and attitude that should be immediately applicable in our lives.One little disappointment I have in this book is that, given that Coach Dungy is, well, head coach, he has a bit more leeway than us in the lower or mid corporate ranks to decide when we take a day off, the kind of way we structure our work... It's not like you can pick it up, read it and all of a sudden be able to take any day off you want at work because your family needs you to, or what not. But I do hope more people come to appreciate a lifestyle that in many ways defies what's common, in order to struggle for what's normal (the two must not be confused!)Finally, a word about football - although the preface states the book is not about football, by Dungy's own words football is the platform that has enabled him to live the way he does. If you don't know much about football, don't be afraid - I'm not an NFL fan though I knew enough about the sport to casually follow a game. But reading this book I learned about many aspects of game play and coaching I had no clue about. So if you don't know much, do not worry - the football in the book is more about "scenery" to make it a pleasant read than about knowing and learning about football. You will need minimum research, if any, to be able to follow through it all.

Welll written. Good advice.

Coach Dungy shows how staying true to your core beliefs and principles is key to true success. Pro sports are perhaps the most fickle business out there, but his calm determination not to change to suit the circumstances has made him very successful. In this book, he speaks at length about his career, but also speaks of his faith. He does so not in an evangelizing way that might turn many people off, but rather in a quiet, dignified fashion that epitomizes his personality. I wasn't a football fan before I read this, and really didn't know who Tony Dungy was. Now, I count him as an inspiration and role model, and his game accounts have drawn me into the world of the NFL fan. Success all around!

It's awesome to see how God used Tony Dungy in his life as a football. Even more so how Tony has been a man of integrity as a coach in the NFL. It's good to see that he didn't compromise. I would highly recommend this book to those who believe in God and those who don't believe in God. It's really an encouraging story of triumph in the midst of challenges...

I run a business and manage a fair sized group of people, my boys play football. I find a great deal in common with business and sports. I'm not religious but I find it interesting. I also like autobiographies. This book had it all and was amazing! I ordered it to start off 2011 with a good book, took a look over the holidays and then couldn't stop reading it so I landed up finishing it as the New Year started. I highly recommend this book.

Great read about a man of faith, character and integrity. God first, family 2nd and still an amazing passion for football in 3rd place. A good example and mentor to anyone who aspires a balanced, joyous and productive life!

Loved the book. Highly recommend to other readers.