The Score takes care of itself

Bill Walsh was the head coach of the San Francisco 49’ers. In his second year as coach, his team was preparing to play the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were a great team.

The 49’ers weren’t. If they lost this game, it would be their 8th loss in a row. THEY LOST. On the flight home that night, Bill Walsh sat in the front row of the plane and cried.

Sixteen months later, the San Francisco 49er’s were World Champions!. HOW? He didn’t talk about winning. He focused his team on achieving his Standard of Performance. Things like… No shirttails out… Positive attitude… Be on time… You have to remember:

“Champions behave like champions before they’re champions; they have a winning standard of performance before they are winners.”

Bill Walsh believed that if he focused on doing the right things… The Score Would Take Care of Itself.

It’s almost as if he were Henry Ford and walks into his factory. He told his employees: "I want you to focus on running the machines, not on making as many cars as possible." There are consequences for breaking the Standard of Performance. There are consequences for ignoring your system. Concentrate on what will produce results rather than on the results… Concentrate on the process rather than the prize.