Book Review: "Rebound Rules" By Rick Pitino and Pat Forde

Louisville Head Men's Basketball Coach, Rick Pitino, had the rest of his career already planned after accepting the biggest coaching contract in NBA history with the Boston Celtics in 1997. It was a failure and he talks about it in his second motivational book, "Rebound Rules" co-written with Pat Forde.

He says that it forced him to rethink about his entire career plan and his ten year, $50 million dollar contract. He chronicles his series of personal and professional setbacks including an unsuccessful stint witht the Boston Celtics, the tragic deaths of two brothers-in-law (one who died in the terror attacks of 9/11), and the loss of an infant son.

Coach Pitino tries to explain how adversity can create new opportunities to gain a better perspective on life and work. He offers advice on not "Chasing money and then find success" that if you have "Success the money will be like it's shadow". He takes lessons from on and off the court and applies them to "life". It's the advice about executing an new strategy when life doesn't go according to plan that spoke to me.

Usually, motivational books are about someone's success, but this book is how to deale with success, but professional failure, tragedies in life, and how to over come those things that come down your path in a way where you will be successful.

Coach Pitino talks about the principles and guidelines that apply to a business leader. He details the "Rebound Rules" at the end of each chapter with "Point of Caution". One rule was "If it's not broken, break it and make it better" One point of caution was "Don't surround yourself with "YES" people.

He explains how to surround yourself with the best team possible, how to hire and work with leaders, how to determine your own "worth" and value that you bring to others. Coach Pitino explains that you can give anyone a winning game plan to help them "accept detour, learn from the unexpected new path you're on and arrive at your destination with greater wisdom and an enhanced perspective".

I just couldn't put the book down the more I read. I was reading between classes, before and after basketball practices that I would go to watch, and at home. It spoke to me in a way a motivational book never has, but that is just me. You need to go by your local bookstore and check it out. I was very impressed by it and learned a lot from him. I just felt that it was the first time in all of his books that he totally let you see "him" and I connected with Coach Pitino and understood what he was talking about.

Coach Peterman

Title: REBOUND RULES: The Art of Sucess 2.0
Authors: Rick Pitino with Pat Forde
Publication Date: Oct. 1, 2008
Pages: 240
ISBN: 978-0-06-162663-0
Imprint: Collins

(Sold by any bookstore or located on the internet)