Legacy
Book Reviews aim to provide succinct, thoughtful summaries of books I have read. They contain quotes from the book, thoughts from others, and also some thoughts of my own. Typically they will be structured in the following order: author, introduction, message and purpose, remarkable chapter, and conclusion. This review will cover Legacy, a book written by James Kerr that reveals what the New Zealand All Blacks can teach us about life and leadership.
Author
James Kerr
Introduction
In this brilliant book, James Kerr recalls stories from the world's most successful sporting team, the legendary All Blacks of New Zealand. How do the best in the world stay the best in the world? What are the secrets of sustained success? How do you maintain exceptional standards, day after day, week after week, year after year? How do you develop ownership, leadership and accountability in your team? These questions and more are uncovered in James Kerr's best-selling book Legacy.
Message and Purpose
Filled to the brim with stories and first-person narratives, Legacy reveals fifteen leadership lessons from the All Blacks and Māori culture. From the world-famous Haka to personal experiences from former players and coaches, this book provides a deep look into what makes the best in the world different from everyone else. The lessons discussed and expounded upon are:
Character. SWEEP THE SHEDS. Never be too big to do the small things that need to be done.
Adapt. GO FOR THE GAP. When you're on top of your game, change your game.
Purpose. PLAY WITH PURPOSE. Ask 'Why?'
Responsibility. PASS THE BALL. Leaders create leaders.
Learn. CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. Leaders are teachers.
Whānau. NO DICKHEADS. Follow the spearheads.
Expectations. EMBRACE EXPECTATIONS. Aim for the highest cloud.
Preparation. TRAIN TO WIN. Practice under pressure.
Pressure. KEEP A BLUE HEAD. Control your attention.
Authenticity. KNOW THYSELF. Keep it real.
Sacrifice. CHAMPIONS DO EXTRA. Find something you would die for and give your life to it.
Language. INVENT YOUR OWN LANGUAGE. Sing your world into existence.
Ritual. RITUALIZE TO ACTUALIZE. Create a culture.
Whakapapa. BE A GOOD ANCESTOR. Plant trees you'll never see.
Legacy. WRITE YOUR LEGACY. This is your time.
Learning from the aforementioned lessons can help create a successful culture in whatever business, team, or organization you're a part of.
Remarkable Chapter
Perhaps the most notable and well-known chapter in Legacy is the first chapter. And with good reason. The "sweep the sheds" concept is something that has been used by business and teams all around the world since the release of this book. It talks about how nobody is too big to do the little things.
After defeating Wales in a heated rivalry match in 2010, two players enter the locker room (known as the 'sheds') and epitomize what the character aspect of the All Blacks is all about:
"Two of the senior players — one an international player of the year, twice — each pick up a long-handled broom and begin to sweep the sheds. They brush the mud and the gauze into small piles in the corner.
While the country is still watching replays and schoolkids lie in bed dreaming of All Blacks' glory, the All Blacks themselves are tidying up after themselves.
Sweeping the sheds.
Doing it properly.
So no one else has to.
Because no one looks after the All Blacks.
The All Blacks look after themselves."
This humility and demeanor is a lesson for us all: if you can't do the little things right, you'll never do the big things right.
Conclusion
Legacy has reached worldwide acclaim for a reason. Even if you know nothing about the All Blacks, rugby, or sports in general, there are meaningful takeaways tucked into the pages of this book that will impact the way you live. It's a pleasant read, it's insightful, it's funny, and it's a book that I find myself recommending to people all the time. Legacy enables you to take a look at yourself and reassess how you can do things better, which is something everyone can benefit from.