Bo's lasting lessonsOver the holidays, I bought my daughter the book, Bo’s Lasting Lessons, by Bo Schembechler and John Bacon. She being a avid football fan, I knew she would like it.

Hummm, turns out I loved the book. Yea, the history of Michigan football is all there and that is fun to read. But, the lessons on leadership are unbelievable. Regardless of what field or career in life you have chosen this book with take you up a notch in learning how to be an effective leader.

The majority of everyone Bo coached over his years at Michigan went on to become leaders in whatever career they chose. John Bacon hounded Bo for 10 years to get the book written, because John felt Bo had a message to get out to everyone about leadership. Yes, he did John you were right, he did.

I’ve always heard, from people all my life, “do what you love to do and the money will follow”. Bo Schembechler was a man of passion, he loved what he did. He makes that quote come alive. From the time he was a Graduate Assistant Coach for Woody Hayes, not making a dime and getting coffee, picking up laundry and anything else the coaches asked him to do, he did it with his whole heart and never complained. Here he was at 22, doing what he loved to do and not making a dime from coaching. You’ll have to read the book to find out what he did learn during the years of being Woody’s gofer.

One of the most interesting things I learned in the book, and did not know, having not grown up a Michigander, was Bo’s love for Woody Hayes. When we moved to Michigan 26 years ago, the rivilary was already under way. So I assumed that Bo and Woody absolutely hated each other. Not so. The Michigan vs. Ohio State rivilary is full of fun and yes, hate. But, Bo loved Woody and had the utmost respect for him. He credits him with being the greatest teacher and hardest worker he had ever seen.

One day, I was reading the book at the Saline Rec Center while on the elliptical machine. I had tears streaming down my eyes. Now I’m sure people were thinking, what is Missy crying about reading a book on football. Little did they know… The last chapter of the book is titled If I Could Have One Week. After first wanting all his family home and near him, this is what he said,

“Next, I wouldn’t ask to coach another game. No. Give me one more week of coaching in preparation for the Ohio State game. And make it against the great Wayne Woodrow Hayes. Just give me a week-from our film session on Sunday to my pre-game speech on Saturday-to get our guys ready for that game against the old general on the other side of the field. That would be it.” “I’d sit on the corner of my bed in the hotel room and I’d just go, ahhhh.”

You see, to Bo being a leader was all about the preparation.

Review to be continued….

You can order the book on Amazon here. A great read, while it’s too cold to go out in Ann Arbor, MI.

 

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