LIEBERMAN $24.95 USA / $29.95 CAN (continued from front flap)

Praise for PLAYBOOK FOR SUCCESS Make business success a slam dunk with PLAYBOOK Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman • Assert your right to compete and lead “[Lieberman’s] advice on leadership and teamwork translates to any arena.” • Move comfortably in formerly all-male business —Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller FOR Nancy “Lady Magic” Lieberman has a passion domains Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten Alive for winning. One of basketball’s all-time greats, • Discover, use, and improve on your own “Nancy has written a terrifi c guide for success in any area. Her insights into sports she took home Olympic silver at age eighteen, strengths and weaknesses are vividly translated into specifi c tips for business success, and her points are well was a two-time national champion in college, led • Build and lead teams to achieve goals and not illustrated.” victorious teams in the WBL and WNBA, and was give up —Donald J. Trump, Chairman and CEO, Trump Organizations SUCCESS elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. After retiring

• Help others achieve more than they think possible SUCCESS FOR PLAYBOOK SUCCESS FOR from the court, she became a winning coach in “A commonsense, straightforward, insightful look at making improvements and ex- celling at work, at home, and in life.” A Hall of Famer’s the WNBA, an ESPN analyst, a sought-after public Nancy Lieberman understands the natural connec- —Billie Jean King, tennis great speaker and consultant, a philanthropist, and, most tion between excelling in both sports and business. Business Tactics for recently, the fi rst female head coach in the NBA’s Find the proven sports skills to bring your profes- “Losers are easy to spot, and winners, like Nancy Lieberman, are real fi nds. Nancy Development League for the has written a playbook on how to be a winner, not just in sports, but in the rough-and- Teamwork and sional A-game to your business, compete, and win affi liate the . tumble business world. There are some great lessons here.” with Playbook for Success. Leadership —T. Boone Pickens How did Lieberman blaze such a trail and break so NANCY LIEBERMAN is a basketball hall of famer, “As Nancy inspired me when I was playing girls high school basketball, so she in- many barriers, both in sports and business? By de- two-time Olympian, Head Coach of the Dallas Mav- spires me as a women in the sports industry today!” veloping and sticking to her own playbook for suc- ericks NBA Development team the Texas Legends, —Casey Coffman, Executive VP, Business Development and Operations, cess. Now, in Playbook for Success, she gives you Madison Square Garden (MSG) Sports former WNBA player, head coach, and general the tools to create a champion’s mind-set, achieve manager, broadcaster, analyst, writer, and moti- “Playbook for Success is a winner for you and your company.” peak performance, and win in the game of business. vational speaker. Nancy provides commentary for —Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner ABC, ESPN, and NBA-TV and has been a contrib- Your own personal coaching session with this leg- “Nancy’s combination of acute street smarts, phenomenal athletic ability, and uting writer for the New York Times and USA To- endary competitor, Playbook for Success speaks straight-up business acumen makes for a great how-to guide for all businesswomen.” day. She is also a motivational speaker, appearing in particular to women who are ready to play in —, Tennis Hall of Famer before Fortune 500 companies such as Merrill Lynch, any business arena they choose and push them- JPMorgan, MetLife, Home Depot, The Hartford, “In Playbook for Success, Nancy Lieberman clearly illustrates how the values of selves to exceed any limit before them. With this FedEx, Amway, AT&T, Bank of America, Prudential, sports—including teamwork, dedication, and discipline—can be effectively applied practical guide, you’ll get a tough-minded mix of off the court to achieve success in business. Her passion is palpable.” Express, Nike, and many more. no-nonsense inspiration, real-life examples, and —, NBA Commissioner hard-and-fast sports principles you can use to hone Visit www.NancyLieberman.com “Nancy Lieberman’s Playbook for Success is a ‘Life Guide 101’ for every female, ten to your winner’s edge each day. one hundred. Every page reveals a valuable lesson that will enable success from the Author Photo: Steve Foxall Photography classroom to the boardroom.” Start your training today with Playbook for Success —, three-time World Heavyweight Champion and discover tested exercises and approaches to: • Get over your fear of success NANCY LIEBERMAN Foreword by EARVIN “MAGIC” JOHNSON (continued on back flap) E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 4 E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 1

Praise for Playbook for Success

‘‘Nancy has clearly experienced so much success in the world of basketball. She also possesses many great leadership qualities that have driven her to success off the court. She is a committed, confident, and resourceful person who has demon- strated the ability to lead people and accomplish great things. She is a true Hall of Famer not only in basketball, but also in life.’’ —NORBY WILLIAMSON EXECUTIVE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDIO AND EVENT PRODUCTION ESPN

‘‘Nancy has done something essential with Playbook for Success. She has produced a roadmap for decision making. She demonstrates that leadership requires ability to persuade and to make those who follow stronger as they move forward. Her passion to perform in sports and business is captured on every page. She has hit the most important shot of her illustrious career with this book!’’ —JERRY JONES OWNER OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS

‘‘There is no doubt that Nancy Lieberman’s personal playbook for life has been one geared to success. I have known her for most of our lives, and through all of her endeavors, she has demonstrated that hard work and a strategic approach to solving problems is what will get you far. We can all learn from her playbook.’’ —DONNA ORENDER WNBA PRESIDENT

‘‘I’ve been exposed to countless ‘how to succeed’ books over the years, but Nancy Lieberman’s Playbook for Success is my favorite. It contains the perfect blend of humor, personal experiences, strategies, and stories that make this book a highly entertaining read. It provides a legitimate pathway to a life of significance. It’sa truly amazing work!’’ —SAM CASTER CEO MANNATECH

‘‘It has been our pleasure to know Nancy on a personal level, and gradually come to learn how very many layers make up this phenomenal human being. While sharing her sense of humor, drive, success, and support of others Nancy has managed to E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 2

write a concise, thoughtful, and applicable plan for success in business and personal goals. Nancy has been able to bridge the gap between team sports and success in business. Her book is not only a must read, but a must give.’’ —MELISSA AND RUSSELL B. WIGHT DIRECTOR OF ALEXANDER,INC.

‘‘Nancy Lieberman is the best there ever was. An American legend, she brought home the gold for the U.S.A. She inspires millions of girls and boys to reach for the stars, to do their best, and to never give up. Business is a lot like basketball, and Nancy tells us—in words we can all understand—how to build great company teams and win competitive games in the economic market place.’’ —SAM WYLY BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR/ AUTHOR OF 1,000 DOLLARS &AN IDEA

‘‘At first glance one might think a Playbook for Success is a book written for women. However, a Playbook for Success is a ‘must read’ for every teenage boy and girl, young man and women, and business executive who is passionate about being a better person, student, player, leader, and business executive.’’ — FORMER MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL OWNER NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF USA BASKETBALL

‘‘Nancy’s Playbook for Success has rationalized clearly for me the relationship between a sports career or effort and overall success as an individual or team member. Trying harder, as she constantly brings up, is also the key factor in any success story. As an athlete I have been limited by pursuing a business career at the same time, but I am enjoying both enormously.’’ —JORGE PAULO LEMANN BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR

‘‘In sports and in business, teamwork is essential. When you have the right people in the right places working together to do the right thing, miracles happen. Nancy’s book teaches us a lot about the importance of teamwork and business.’’ —ROGER STAUBACH HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 3

PLAYBOOK FOR SUCCESS E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 4 E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 5

PLAYBOOK FOR SUCCESS A Hall of Famer’s Business Tactics for Teamwork and Leadership

NANCY LIEBERMAN

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 6

Copyright © 2010 by Nancy Lieberman. All rights reserved. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Published simultaneously in Canada. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646- 8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www .wiley.com/go/permissions. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. For general information on our other products and services or for technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at (800) 762-2974, outside the United States at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. For more information about Wiley products, visit our web site at www.wiley.com. ISBN 978-0-470-63552-0 (cloth) ISBN 978-0-470-90504-3 (ebk) ISBN 978-0-470-90506-7 (ebk) ISBN 978-0-470-90507-4 (ebk) Printed in the United States of America 10987654321 E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 7

For every person that wants more from themselves and in life—trust your heart and love what you do. Just don't talk about it, be about it. Mom and TJ, you are the stars of my dream journey and with your love, I am who I said I would be. Nancy E1FFIRS_1 08/30/2010 8 E1FTOC_1 08/23/2010 9

Contents

FOREWORD EARVIN "MAGIC'' JOHNSON XIII

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS XV

Chapter 1 Why Sports and Business for Women? 1 Be Flexible: Don’t Play the Play, Play the Game 12 Succeed Together! 16 Accept All Challenges 17 Title IX Creates Equality 18 Chapter 2 The Playbook 23 Successful Strategies for Your Team 27 The Learning Plan 30 Establish Your Leadership Style 32 Don’t Be Late. Really. 35 Loyalty Matters 37 Chapter 3 Find Your Love and Passion 43 Toughen Up—Mentally 46 Michael Jackson’s Message: Man in the Mirror 48 Rucker Park: The Little White Girl Plays with the Best 50 Muhammad Ali’s Gift of Hope 51 The of a Woman’s Natural Traits: Empathy and Intuition 54

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x CONTENTS

Mentoring and Creating Opportunities for Others 55 Negotiating 101: Why Should I Have You on My Team? 56 Ladies, Dry Your Tears! 60 Chapter 4 Never Fear Success 63 Talk to Me 66 Utilize Criticism to Get Tougher and Better 68 Learn about Overcoming Fear from the Great Lou Holtz 71 Chapter 5 Think Like a Champion 75 Be Determined 79 You Are Who You Think You Are 84 My First Meeting with the Champ 87 Selective Hearing Not Allowed 90 Be Someone’s Hero 91 Chapter 6 It's All about Teamwork 95 A Promise to the Team 102 Teamwork Defined 103 Building a Team 104 Chapter 7 Do Your Homework 111 Google It! 119 Scouting Report 121 See the Future 122 Larry Fitzgerald Provides a Lesson on Observing 123 Chapter 8 Stay in Shape 127 Make a Commitment and Get Started 131 Minimize Stress 133 A Few Words for Women Only 134 Chapter 9 Sports Talk 139 Use the Morning Headlines 141 E1FTOC_1 08/23/2010 11

CONTENTS xi

Use Tickets as a Tool 142 Strike Up the Conversation 143 Learn to Tell a Story 146 Chapter 10 Game Time! 151 Are You Prepared? 156 Do What It Takes 157 Believe in Yourself 159 Set Minigoals 161 ‘‘B’’ Nice 163 Take a Sound Bite Lesson 164 Observe People 165 Game Time Rituals 166 Risk/Reward 167 It’s Okay to Be Great 168 Decision Makers 169 Is It in You? 171

SPORTS TALK—GLOSSARY 173

INDEX 177 E1FTOC_1 08/23/2010 12 E1FLAST01_1 08/23/2010 13

Foreword

y friendship with Nancy goes back almost 30 years. Our Mbasketball careers have been intertwined as we watched and cheered for each other’s success. As point guards, our competitive- ness, leadership, and overall commitment to make the people around us better helped lead us to our true calling as entrepreneurs. With this book, Lady Magic delivers again! It fills your appetite with wisdom, insight, and motivation. She’s a Hall of Famer and a winner. You can use her Playbook for Success as your daily routine for business and life’s success. She has taught countless men and women to have the mind-set of a champion and to never fear success. I had to help push me to greatness by winning five NBA Titles with the , but Nancy overcame the obstacles of not having a rival or WNBA in her prime but still had the passion and purpose to come back and be the oldest player in the inaugural season of the WNBA. I didn’t know it at the time, but Nancy tells the story of us sitting at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. I asked her while we were watching a game, ‘‘So are you going to play in the WNBA next year?’’ She said, ‘‘I hope so.’’ I said, ‘‘Nancy then you better get home and start training.’’ She did, and thus made history at the age of 39 with the . Today my friend is still making history. She is a

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xiv FOREWORD

successful business leader, inspiring role model, and the first female to ever coach in the NBA’s Development League team for the Dallas Mavericks. She definitely has a roadmap for success on and off the court. Her book Playbook for Success is nothing more than how she has led her life. Well done my friend! —Earvin ‘‘Magic’’ Johnson E1FLAST02_1 08/23/2010 15

Acknowledgments

ften in life, we get pigeonholed by others, people who think Othey know who we really are. I am a basketball player, so what can I possibly have to tell people, especially women, about business? My answer is, I have a lot of life to share. I also have a lot of thanks to share with those who helped me in the writing of this book. To Dan Ambrosio at John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: You are priceless for giving me a platform from which I can share my experiences. Special thanks to Ashley Allison and Peter Knox. To Jared Sharp at PTA: I am deeply grateful. To Christine Moore: For all your painstaking time spent editing my manuscript and working through my tender-loving sarcasm and humor. To Sally Giddens Stephenson: You worked the ‘‘two-minute drill’’ like nobody else in dealing with our deadline. I am so thankful for your willingness to pursue this project and for your focus to succeed. You are a true winner! To Nena Madonia: I was told a few years ago that Jan Miller was the of publishing agents, and she has the rings to prove it. Michael had , and Jan has Nena Madonia, who was my ‘‘go-to player’’ on this book. I have never seen you have

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xvi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

a bad day, and your spirit and love never wavered for my vision for Playbook for Success.I’m deeply grateful. To be successful, I have always needed someone who had my back. This responsibility falls daily on the shoulders of my favorite MSU Spartan, Theresa Pusateri. She is more than my trusted assistant; she is a true rock of a human being. She keeps my days organized. She is my memory, my right and my left hands. T, you have been a true blessing to me and TJ Thank you for your endless hours to help keep me focused, allowing me to make a difference for others! TJ, I wake up each day proud to be your mom, and wanting to be your hero in life. I love you dearly. And to many of my friends and family who heard me say, ‘‘I’ll get back to you; I have to finish my book,’’ thank you all for your patience. E1C01_1 07/29/2010 1

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Why Sports and Business for Women? E1C01_1 07/29/2010 2 E1C01_1 07/29/2010 3

Never stop working, wanting, or dreaming. —NANCY LIEBERMAN

ow does a poor girl from Far Rockaway, New York, defy the Hodds and become a Hall of Fame basketball player, coach, author, television analyst, entrepreneur, and mom? The simple answer is luck, and in many cases, I created my own luck. However, the complete story about how I got from there to here involves love, passion, faith, vision, fearlessness, and a stubborn will to succeed. I’ve lived my own Playbook for Success, and it comes naturally to me. Now I’m putting it all down in this book to share what I’ve learned with you: the secrets and steps that will take you to new levels of success you didn’t think were possible. Well, they are! I know this from firsthand experience. My life has been about overachieving and showing people that they, too, could do anything they wanted to do—if they had a plan and were willing to put in the hard work. The streets of New York gave me a toughness that has helped me to survive and keep moving forward when everything seemed hopeless. If not for the playbook provided to me at a young age by Lavoiser Lamar, one of my coaches in Harlem, you might not be reading my book—or absorbing and utilizing this plan for your own personal growth and success. My days on the courts proved invaluable in developing my competitive spirit. They taught me not only how to win but also how to use my losses as tools for evaluating myself, zeroing in on my weaknesses, and turning them into strengths. I had to be honest: Did I make myself and others around me better? Now, you might be shaking your head and wondering, ‘‘How does athletic experience translate into business success?’’ Well, whether you’re a female doctor, lawyer, stockbroker, sales or marketing associate, business

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