Phil Jackson Quotes

Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the Me for the We.

The strength of the team lies within the individual. And the strength of the individual lies within the team

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.

You can't force your will on people. If you want them to act differently, you need to inspire them to change themselves

No one plays this or any game perfectly. It's the guy who recovers from his mistakes who wins.

Like life, basketball is messy and unpredictable. It has its way with you, no matter how hard you try to control it. The trick is to experience each moment with a clear mind and open heart. When you do that, the game - and life - will take care of itself.

The real value in everything you do is in the details.

The sign of a great player is how much he elevates his colleagues' performance.

Before a vision (dream) can become a reality, it must be owned by every member of the group.

Leadership is not about forcing your will on others. It's about mastering the art of letting go.

The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for success, then let go of the outcome. The ride is a lot more fun that way.

You're only a success for the moment that you complete a successful act.

In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way. Of course, it's no accident that things are more likely to go your way when you stop worrying about whether you're going to win or lose and focus your full attention on what's happening right this moment.

If you give the future all your attention, the present will pass you by.

I won't coach this team next year if he is still here. He won't listen to anyone. I've had it with this kid.

Coaching is about, "How do I get people to play at their peak level?" It is a spiritual quest. And if it's not that, you don't have a challenge, you don't have a mission. Forming a brotherhood and trying to move it forward - that's what coaching is.

Love is the force that ignites the spirit and binds teams together.

If you have a clear mind . . . you won't have to search for direction. Direction will come to you.

Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart.

Your problems never cease, they just change.

The ideal way to win a championship is step by step.

Winning is important to me, but what brings me real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever I'm doing.

Make your work your play and your play your work.

Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball.

If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.