Success Is The Only Option Essay

973 Words4 Pages

“Success is the Only Option”, by John Calipari and Michael Sokolove, is a book about The University of Kentucky’s basketball coach and how he has created a program that transforms former high school players into college basketball stars. Throughout the book he shares with his readers the specifics of a good leader, manager, and team builder. This text is not only about basketball; it can be utilized for business owners, coaches, teachers and leaders of all types. Coach Calipari is known for his recruitment of the country’s top high school players, but he believes that if we commit to each other without sacrificing your goals that we can achieve our dreams and more. This book inspires individuals who are looking to reach their best selves and contribute to a greater good. A basketball team according to Coach Calipari is a workplace, where blend is everything, and character matters. With this in mind, it allows the coach or leader to build a …show more content…

In the introduction of the book Calipari states, “There’s an old adage that one sign of intelligence is the ability to keep two opposing ideas in your head at the same time and still function.” This axiom is a brilliant description of what a coach, CEO, teacher, or military leader does to lead and inspire highly talented individuals. In the first chapter of the book Calipari provides an example of how to be a better person, and not simply look at the big picture. The story Calipari shared was about a student who had never received less than an A in any class in college. That said, the professor’s final exam was a blank piece of paper. On this piece of paper they were to write down the janitor’s name. This showed the student that just because you can do well in the class, does not mean you should treat others differently. Looking at the small details in people is