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    It's Not Who You Know, It's Who You Are: Life Lessons from Winners
    It's Not Who You Know, It's Who You Are: Life Lessons from Winners
    It's Not Who You Know, It's Who You Are: Life Lessons from Winners
    Ebook209 pages2 hours

    It's Not Who You Know, It's Who You Are: Life Lessons from Winners

    By Pat Williams and Jim Denney

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    About this ebook

    We live in a culture obsessed with celebrity. When we're not trying to make a name for ourselves, we're following the big names on Twitter, liking them on Facebook, and taking selfies with them if we are lucky enough to run into them in real life. We love winners and we want to be winners. But take it from a man who knows more famous people than most of us will ever meet--it's not who you know that's important, it's who you are inside.

    With short, story-driven readings, Pat Williams draws from over fifty years of brushing shoulders with the greats, offering readers motivation to do their best, be themselves, and continually strive to be the people God made them to be. He shows that being a "winner" is more about character, attitudes, values, and faith than it is about coming out on top. Stories from legendary sports figures, leaders, and fascinating people from all walks of life help readers develop true character that speaks for itself.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateJan 27, 2015
    ISBN9781441221216
    It's Not Who You Know, It's Who You Are: Life Lessons from Winners
    Author

    Pat Williams

    Pat Williams is the senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic as well as one of America's top motivational, inspirational, and humorous speakers. Since 1968, Pat has been affiliated with NBA teams in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, including the 1983 World Champion 76ers, and now the Orlando Magic which he co-founded in 1987 and helped lead to the NBA finals in 1995. Pat and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of nineteen children, including fourteen adopted from four nations, ranging in age from eighteen to thirty-two. Pat and his family have been featured in Sports Illustrated, Readers Digest, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, The Wall Street Journal, Focus on the Family, New Man Magazine, plus all major television networks.

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      Book preview

      It's Not Who You Know, It's Who You Are - Pat Williams

      © 2015 by Pat Williams

      Published by Revell

      a division of Baker Publishing Group

      P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

      www.revellbooks.com

      Printed in the United States of America

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

      ISBN 978-1-4412-2121-6

      Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

      Scripture quotations labeled TLB are from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

      Pat Williams has captured the essence of every successful person: it’s never complicated. Their secrets are always simple and succinct. This isn’t just a book, it’s a companion to be read and reread many times.

      —Ernie Accorsi, longtime NFL executive

      Pat Williams has been an important part of the sports world for a long time, and along the way he has met a lot of interesting personalities including Sandy Koufax, Pete Maravich, and Kevin Durant. But as you will see in this fine book, Pat Williams is more interesting than any of them. His stories about the rich and famous will inspire you and make you smile. Consider yourself lucky to have spent quality time with the always entertaining Mr. Williams.

      —Peter Golenbock, bestselling sports author

      Pat Williams’s new book is packed with fascinating stories and life lessons for all ages. This may be his best book yet.

      —Jerry Reinsdorf, Chicago White Sox chairman

      "I love Pat Williams, but I don’t understand him. How can someone be so relentlessly optimistic? Every book he writes leaves you feeling better than when you started, and It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are is the latest example. He may also have met every single famous person alive, and you will hear from them, or about them, in this delightful tome."

      —Bob Ryan, Boston Globe/ESPN

      "Pat Williams has always served as an inspiration to many, and now he’s compiled some of the best stories I’ve ever read which will inspire you if you’re an athlete, a business person, or a parent. These stories are absolute gems which you’ll want to read and read again and again and again. It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are is a winner—just like Pat."

      —Ernie Johnson, Inside the NBA on TNT studio host

      "No one has studied leadership, success, and winning more than Pat Williams. There is hardly a winner in the sports world (or any other part of society) that Pat has not studied and talked to. The lessons from It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are will impact anyone in any profession."

      —Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations and head coach

      Pat Williams has amassed a collection of fascinating stories and anecdotes over his long career in sports. I had a hard time putting this book down; you will too.

      —Marv Albert, Basketball Hall of Fame sportscaster

      In today’s sound-bite world, Pat has captured the characteristics of successful leaders in sports, politics, and business through quick and powerful stories. Each vignette provides insight for success and the traits that led to outstanding careers by people who we always recognized as leaders—and now we know why they were so successful. Pat has hit another ‘grand slam’ with this book!

      —Ron Wellman, Wake Forest University director of athletics

      "It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are is a must-read not only for sports fans but for anyone who wants to achieve success in life. Pat Williams has enjoyed a remarkable career and shares with the reader the life lessons that he’s learned from a wide variety of people. It’s truly an inspiring book."

      —Mark Murphy, Green Bay Packers president and chief executive officer

      Thank you, Pat, for sharing the life lessons you’ve learned from these inspiring winners. Dad would have been honored that you included him in your latest book. You’re a winner in my eyes!

      —Nan Wooden, daughter of Coach John Wooden

      Pat Williams has done it again! His new book is loaded with great material, amusing anecdotes, and inspiring stories. This is a wonderful book that I could not put down.

      —Wayne Embry, Basketball Hall of Famer

      "It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are is filled with a lot of success stories and nuggets of inspiration that can help us at any level that we’re at. I love how Pat is able to share so many stories that lighten the mood and set the stage for us becoming better people. Truly a great read showcasing lots of great people. There’s something for everyone."

      —Tamika Catchings, WNBA All Star

      I couldn’t put this book down. It is loaded with terrific stories, all with a strong message. It’s another slam dunk for Pat Williams.

      —Kevin Ollie, University of Connecticut men’s basketball team head coach, 2014 NCAA champion

      Pat Williams is a great storyteller. This latest collection is filled with good life lessons. I had a hard time putting the book down.

      —Steve Clifford, Charlotte Hornets head coach

      To the late Bob Carpenter and his son, Ruly, my good friend, in gratitude for the opportunity they gave me as a young ballplayer and front office exec. They made all these stories possible.

      Contents

      Cover    1

      Title Page    3

      Copyright Page    4

      Endorsements    5

      Dedication    7

      Foreword    13

      Acknowledgments    15

      Introduction: Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open    17

      Part 1: Success    21

      Stephen Olford    23

      Ted Williams    24

      Jentezen Franklin    25

      Ted Williams    26

      Sam Walton    28

      Jimmy Valvano    29

      Fess Parker    30

      Sandy Patti    32

      Billy Cunningham, Jerry Sloan, and Scott Skiles    33

      Bill Russell    34

      Joe Falls    35

      Amy Grant and Michael Jordan    36

      Max Patkin    37

      Pete Rose    39

      Sandy Koufax    40

      Mike Krzyzewski    41

      Bill Walton    42

      Bobby Bowden    43

      David Stern    44

      Alex Martins    46

      Johnny Kelley    49

      John F. Kennedy    50

      Larry Bowa    52

      John Havlicek    53

      Barry Manilow    55

      Martin Luther King Jr.    56

      Pat Robertson    57

      Stan Musial    58

      Jack Youngblood    59

      Kevin Garnett    61

      Paul Hornung and Jerry West    62

      Michael Jordan    64

      Don Shula    65

      Carol Channing and Mary Martin    66

      Les Paul    68

      Bob Feller    69

      Satchel Paige    70

      Kenny Rogers    71

      Part 2: Leadership    73

      Walt Disney    75

      Larry Catuzzi    77

      Bill Gaither    78

      Michael Eisner and Frank Wells    79

      Watson Spoelstra    82

      George McGovern    83

      Buck O’Neil and Ernie Banks    86

      Moses Malone    89

      Chuck Daly    91

      NBA Coaches    92

      Rudy Giuliani    93

      Howard Schultz    94

      Red Auerbach    95

      Chuck Daly    96

      Kevin Durant    98

      Michael S. Dukakis    99

      Doc Rivers    100

      Cal Ripken Jr.    101

      Larry O’Brien    102

      Pat Riley    105

      Fitz Dixon    106

      Mike Krzyzewski    107

      Harry S. Truman    108

      Donald Rumsfeld    109

      Bobby Bowden    110

      Walter Winchell    111

      Art Linkletter    113

      LeBron James    114

      Norman Schwarzkopf    115

      Joe Garagiola    116

      George McGovern    117

      Alvin Dark    118

      Joe Namath    119

      Phil Jackson    120

      Jack Ramsay    122

      Colin Powell    123

      Doug Collins    124

      Sparky Anderson    126

      Rich DeVos    127

      Hal Urban    128

      Tommy Lasorda    129

      Truett Cathy    130

      Vince Lombardi    131

      Part 3: Family and Friends    133

      Michael Jordan    135

      Oprah Winfrey    136

      Bill Bright    137

      Allan Houston    138

      Jameer Nelson    139

      Doc Rivers    140

      Laura Bush    141

      Paul Simon    143

      John Maxwell    144

      Mike Shula    145

      Harry, Skip, and Chip Caray    146

      Robin Roberts    148

      Brian Shaw    149

      Bobby Richardson    151

      Linda Evans    152

      Part 4: Impact and Influence    155

      Keith Tower and Rich DeVos    157

      Pete Maravich    158

      Wendell Kempton    161

      Bill Bright    162

      Roosevelt Grier    164

      Tony Dungy    164

      Warren Wiersbe    166

      Dick Bavetta    168

      Joe Torre    169

      Peter Gammons and Dean Smith    170

      Bill Stern    171

      Larry Bird    172

      Jesse Jackson    173

      E. H. Nelson and Danny Litwhiler    175

      Bill Veeck    177

      Florence Griffith Joyner and Sugar Ray Robinson    178

      Marian Wright Edelman    180

      Bart Starr    181

      Gil McGregor    183

      Gayle King    184

      Mitch Albom    185

      Eddie Sawyer    186

      Part 5: Becoming a Person of Excellence    189

      Henry Aaron    191

      Ernie Accorsi    192

      Richard B. Myers    194

      Bill Denehy    195

      George W. Bush    196

      Louis Armstrong    198

      Bob Johnson    199

      Andy Seminick    200

      Billy Graham    201

      Vin Scully    203

      Victor Oladipo    204

      Michael Jordan    204

      Brooks Robinson    205

      Alvin Dark    206

      Marvin Lewis    207

      Martin Luther King Jr.     208

      Watson Spoelstra    209

      James Dobson    210

      Stu Inman    211

      John Wooden    212

      Wendell Kempton    214

      Notes    217

      Books by Pat Williams and Jim Denney    220

      Back Ads    221

      Back Cover    225

      Foreword

      As a longtime sports executive and author, Pat Williams has met seemingly everybody. Not only has he met them but he has interacted with them on a meaningful level in one fascinating way or another. In this book, Pat has mined a lifetime of experiences to provide readers with a wide array of anecdotes and stories that are both immensely fun and wonderfully profound.

      Pat has long possessed one of the greatest senses of humor in modern sport. For decades, sportswriters have relied on Pat’s insight, immense wit, and keen memory to bring their stories alive. It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are now brings that mother lode of his experiences and memories to his many readers.

      Among the multitude of voices, there’s the great Bill Veeck, who mentored Pat in the art of sports promotions, and other sports figures such as Ted Williams, Dick Bavetta, Joe Namath and more. It’s the kind of volume that’s destined to become an instant classic. After all, it just doesn’t get any better than Pat Williams on sports and life.

      And, as this impressive book clearly demonstrates, he has the memories and experiences to prove it.

      Roland Lazenby, legendary sportswriter and author of Michael Jordan: The Life

      Acknowledgments

      With deep appreciation, I acknowledge the support and guidance of the following people who helped make this book possible.

      Special thanks to Alex Martins, Dan DeVos, and Rich DeVos of the Orlando Magic.

      Hats off to my associate Andrew Herdliska; my proofreader, Ken Hussar; and my ace typist, Fran Thomas.

      Thanks also to my writing partner, Jim Denney, for his superb contributions in shaping this manuscript.

      Hearty thanks also go to Andrea Doering, executive editor at Revell Books, and to the entire Revell team for their vision and insight and for believing we had something important to say in these pages.

      And, finally, special thanks and appreciation go to my wife, Ruth, and to my wonderful and supportive family. They are truly the backbone of my life.

      Introduction

      Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open

      In 1968, I left Minor League Baseball and took my first NBA job. As the business manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, I was in charge of promoting the team and packing people into the arena.

      The Phoenix Suns had just entered the league as an expansion team, and their ownership group included a number of famous people, including Henry Mancini and Andy Williams. I read that Andy Williams was performing at a supper club across the river in New Jersey, so I typed up some advertising copy and lugged my portable tape recorder to the club. I managed to fast-talk my way into Andy Williams’s dressing room. After the show, he walked into his dressing room—and there I was, waiting for him.

      I introduced myself and told him what I wanted him to do. I set up the tape recorder and handed the advertising copy to him. Once the tape was rolling, Andy Williams, in that wonderful Moon River voice, recorded a season ticket blurb plus a promo for the Suns-76ers game later in the season.

      I had arrived without knowing if I would get within a hundred feet of Andy Williams, and I left with his voice captured on my tape recorder. He had been not only willing to help but also eager to help. His endorsement helped sell a lot of tickets and fill a lot of seats that season.

      Later that fall, Martha and the Vandellas performed at that same supper club, and I was able to get Martha Reeves to record a voice-over that sounded fantastic with Heat Wave playing in the background.

      What fun I had! I was all of twenty-eight years old, and I had my first big league job. I believed I could do anything, and I was absolutely fearless when I approached famous people for a favor.

      I have nineteen children—four biological kids, fourteen by international adoption, and one by remarriage—and I have encouraged all of them to be bold, to speak up, to introduce themselves, and to ask questions. There have been times when my kids have said to me, Hey, Dad, I saw Ken Griffey Jr. downtown today, or, I saw Monica Seles at the mall. I would always say, That’s great! What did you say? What did you ask? What advice did he or she give you?

      And almost always, my kids would reply, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to intrude.

      They didn’t want to intrude! Haven’t they ever seen ol’ Dad in action? Whenever I encounter accomplished people, I speak up. I ask questions. I’m always eager to have some of that person’s wisdom, insight, and success rub off on me. If I have time to ask a question or two, I grab my pen and a paper napkin and I fire away: What’s the most important word of advice you ever got? Who were your role models when you were growing up? What can I do to be successful?

      Over the years, I’ve crossed paths with many famous people, and I’ve always seized the opportunity. Sure, I’ve been rebuffed a few times, but so what? I’ve also accumulated a vast treasure trove of insights—and I’ve filled this book with those insights.

      If you encounter an accomplished, successful person, don’t be shy. Don’t squander the opportunity. Speak up! Introduce yourself! Ask questions!

      I got my first job in professional sports from Bob Carpenter, the owner of the Philadelphia Phillies. He gave me a word of advice before sending me to the Phillies farm club in Miami: Keep your eyes and ears open—on and off the field.

      I’ve never forgotten that advice. I have always kept my eyes and ears open. I have tried to learn something new every day. I have especially

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