Gold Medal Strategies: Business Lessons From America's Miracle Team [Hardcover]

Business lessons from one of the greatest Olympic teams of all time

It's been called the greatest upset of all time, the most memorable Olympic moment ever, the Miracle on Ice. No matter which superlative is used, no one can deny that the U.S. men's hockey team's defeat of the Soviet Union in the medal round of the Lake Placid Olympic Games was a defining moment for Cold War America.

The U.S. team's goalie was a Boston University student named Jim Craig, who is now a leadership expert and keynote speaker to business audiences. Gold Medal Strategies gives you Craig's unique lessons from the Miracle team on team dynamics, leadership, motivation, and other important management topics. With his unparalleled perspective, Craig dissects and analyzes the elements of a successful team, how to assemble one, and what philosophies will keep the team's shared goal a reality. This book outlines the necessary skills and details the specific techniques you need to maximize your business readiness, hone competitive cooperation, gather your strategies, and attack your challengers.

Foreword Jon “Jack” Luther xiii

Acknowledgments xvii

Introduction xix

Chapter 1 Great Teams Think of Themselves as Winning Underdogs 1

Chapter 2 Great Teams Have a Shared Dream 27

Chapter 3 Great Teams Make Personal Sacrifices 53

Chapter 4 Great Teams Hold Themselves and Others Accountable 75

Chapter 5 Great Teams Are the Product of Picking the Right Players 97

Chapter 6 Great Teams Have a Real or Invented Enemy 123

Chapter 7 Great Teams Stay Young in Spirit and Outlook 145

Chapter 8 Great Teams Manage Through Ego and Conflict 167

Chapter 9 Victory—The One and Only End Game 193

Index l£ª