The Winning Spirit

16 Timeless Principles That Drive Performance Excellence

Widely considered the best NFL quarterback of all time, Joe Montana is known not just as a winner — but as a leader. Since retiring from football he has become one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the country, drawing capacity audiences as large as twenty thousand from corporations across every industry.

In The Winning Spirit, Montana teams up with performance coach Tom Mitchell, Ph.D., to bring the truths of championship performance to every area of life. Their message: performance excellence is ultimately fueled by personal integrity. Winning the inner game — accountability, attitude, desire, enthusiasm, effort, and appreciation — is what makes winning the outer game possible and sustainable.

With compelling stories and practical strategies drawn from years at the highest level of competition, Montana and Mitchell deliver hard-won advice that applies to athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, and anyone who competes at anything.

”We who know the rigors of athletics honor Joe Montana’s career, because it demonstrated hard work, mental toughness, and the inner knowledge and confidence of doing the right thing. The Winning Spirit gives us an insider’s view of the makings of this warrior.”
— Phil Jackson, nine-time NBA championship coach

”Joe Montana showed me and all his teammates what courage is all about. He taught us that to be winners, we must never give up. That’s the winning spirit that makes Joe a giant both on and off the field.”
— Ronnie Lott, ten-time Pro Bowl selection, Pro Football Hall of Fame

”Joe Montana and Tom Mitchell are dedicated to transforming everyday management teams into high-performance leadership teams. We are fortunate to have these two pros sharing their secrets about enthusiasm, resilience, and the competitive spirit.”
— John Polumbo, President and CEO, AT&T Consumer