Winning the Game of Belief: Cultivating the Cultural Grit that Defines America’s Greatest Coaches

Charles Sullivan, one of the winningest coaches in the history of the sport of volleyball, is a physical education teacher and sports psychology professor at Springfield College by trade. His story provides the reader with a unique approach to winning in sports and success in life, employing a knowledge of psychology to define his program and craft an unparalleled record of success that reveals the power of culture. Rather than lecture his players about research and theory, Coach Sullivan most often teaches through metaphor and stories. These stories share his experience on the court while providing a unique lens that enables the reader to capture the core values that unite all iconic coaches. Kevin Sheehan shares the research on cultural grit, not only, bringing Sullivan’s success to life, but also providing a formula for successful leadership in any field or endeavor. There are lessons in this book that can change your life and cultivate a culture of grit in your organization that will lead to success that you could never have imagined.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Brian Magoffin Introduction: The Magic of Stories Research without Going to the Dentist’s Office Brain Research: The Fragile Nature of Memory Brain Function and the Magic of Stories Who is Charlie Sullivan? Five Take Aways from The Power of Stories The Big Idea from The Power of Stories Part I: Beyond Winning Chapter 1- The Culture of Winning Springfield Volleyball: A Culture of Winning Winning Coaches under the Microscope Why It Is Some Coaches Win All the Time? Winning the Game of Belief Five Take Aways from The Culture of Winning The Big Idea from The Culture of Winning Chapter 2- Welcome to the Game of Belief Meet Charlie Sullivan: Welcome to the Game of Belief The Power of Culture: You Were Made for This! More than Pep Talks: Beyond Winning Five Take Aways from Welcome to the Game of Belief The Big Idea from Welcome to the Game of Belief Chapter 3- Turning Obstacles into Opportunities What Stands in the Way, Becomes the Way Eighteen Pencils and a Lost Coin Toss Lessons from a Lost Coin Toss Less than Successful Playing Career: Obstacle or Gift? Five Take Aways from Turning Obstacles into Opportunities The Big Idea from Turning Obstacles into Opportunities Chapter 4- The Power of Personality NFL Draft Day: You Are on the Clock Selection Results: Did You Make the Same Decision as the NFL? The Birth of Grit: Angela Duckworth Finds Her Passion What Makes Gritty Individuals Gritty? Driven From Within: The Power of Effort and Will The Tom Brady and the Power of Belief and Effort Resume versus Eulogy Virtues Five Take Aways from The Power of Personality The Big Idea from The Power of Personality Part II: Building Cultural Grit Chapter 5- Core Values: Failing Well Trial by Fire: Core Values Born of Struggle, Frustration and Failure Winning Coaches and Core Values Five Take Aways from Core Values: Failing Well The Big Idea from Core Values: Failing Well Chapter 6- Cultural Grit The Unexpected Phone Call: Science Meets Sport Making the Case for Cultural Grit The Cultural Grit Pyramid Level One: Shared Effort and Belief Level Two: Striving for Perfection in Process Level Three: Identity and Meaning Five Take Aways from Cultural Grit The Big Idea from Cultural Grit Chapter 7- Belief More than Pep Talks: Belief Borne of Consistent Effort Belief and Effort: A Two Way Street Data Driven Cultures Built on Feedback Transformational Leadership Five Take Aways from Belief The Big Idea from Belief Chapter 8- Process Maintaining Focus on Process Over Product The Power of Being in the Moment Winning by Not Focusing on Winning Focus on Product Begins Early: A Baseball Story Five Take Aways from Process The Big Idea from Process Chapter 9- Identity Which Ring? The Power of Identity Debunking the Great Player Myth Team Identity Built on Great Communication Collective Efficacy: The Research behind Team Cohesion Fostering Collective Efficacy at Springfield Five Take Aways from Identity The Big Idea from Identity Part III Maintaining Belief in the Face of Challenge Chapter 10- Cultures Under Fire The Haircut: Holding Fast to Core Values Team First: Even When It Hurts Maintaining Belief: Getting on the Bus with Elmo The Initial Challenge: Maintaining Belief in Building Your Culture Five Take Aways from Cultures Under Fire The Big Idea from Cultures Under Fire Postscript from Coach Sullivan- Raise Your Hand: Applications to Business Unbelievable Five Take Aways from Raise Your Hand: Applications to Business The Big Idea from Raise Your Hand: Applications to Business A Baker’s Dozen of Big Ideas to Move Your Organization Beyond Inspiration Appendix A: The NFL Draft: How Did You Do? Appendix B: April Emails Appendix C: Springfield Core Values References About the Authors

About the Author :
Dr. Kevin Sheehan is a tenured associate professor at Molloy College where he has served on the faculty for over a decade as well as being an internationally recognized coach in the world of lacrosse. In the lacrosse world, Kevin’s accomplishments are numerous including helping to coaching Adelphi University to three Division II National Championships, the Australian National Lacrosse Team to two Bronze Medals, and Massapequa High School to its first New York State Championship on the scholastic level. A member of the Long Island Metropolitan Branch of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Kevin, believes that all of these coaching efforts have been shaped and influenced by positive psychology research that defines this book. Charlie Sullivan will enter his 21st season as head coach of the men's volleyball team during the 2018-19 academic year, and will once again be an assistant professor of physical education at his alma mater. In 20 previous years at the helm, Springfield has established a pedigree of championship success and has an overall record of 396-181 for a .686 winning percentage. In addition to his role as the men's volleyball coach at Springfield, Sullivan has also had several stints with the U.S. National Team. Recently, Sullivan was chosen to receive USA Volleyball's All-Time Great Coach award in the Donald S. Shondell Contemporary Division for 2015.

Review :
This book is a must read for, not only young coaches, but for veteran coaches as well. Having coached for thirty-seven years, this book is just as valuable for me today as it would have been when I started out. The book will be a tool to reinforce to my current team the extreme importance of the culture of our program. In addressing this area, the book is without parallel. Kevin and Charley have truly shared the secrets to “A Winning Culture”! I have known Kevin for years as a coaching peer and friend. He has coached at every level from youth to college, and clearly understands that there are consistencies that apply to successful coaching no matter what the sport or the age one is working with. His passion for coaching, his attention to detail, and his in-depth research into the field helps make him a perfect resource for those seeking success in any area of life. This is a must read for those who want to succeed in this business or in any business for that matter. Building belief is what we do as coaches do, and this book clearly articulates a plan for all of us, in any field, on how to create cultural grit in our organization. The lessons that can be drawn from the stories on these pages have impacted my coaching and my team in ways that are truly beyond belief and that I could not hope to share in such a limited space. I am confident that this book will have the same impact on your leadership, and the grit that you cultivate in your organization.