"There are impressively good leaders who have intrinsic persuasive and inspirational charisma, who don’t read much, but they limit their potential substantially, and as a result, they never become truly great leaders. Others which with average charisma, but who read and think while they read, learn how to inspire individuals and smaller large groups through their reading, as well as as to comprehend what to do better than anyone, and they become great leaders." - about Ulysses Grant in "The Leader’s Bookshelf"
Commit to learning, study, and use of analogy. Often great achievements in history can fly under the radar.
Hiram Ulysses Grant was plucked from selling firewood on a St. Louis street corner into the Civil War. An average student at West Point, he was out of the Army in 1854 with a drinking problem. He entered the Civil War as a colonel.
Grant rose to Lieutenant General and Commander of Union forces. He received Lee's surrender at Appomattox. With his Civil War prominence, he became President in 1868. How?
In addition to his effective command leading to decisive and important victory at Vicksburg, he had three vital leadership qualities.
1) Grant possessed remarkable determination and believed strongly in the cause of the Union.
Coaching - Within basketball, it's unfair to single out one coach for being unusually resolute. Indiana football Coach Curt Cignetti would fit that label.
2) He was a skilled communicator and excelled at delegating. He issued notoriously clear orders. Delegation and clarity earned him trust and loyalty from subordinates.
Coaching - There's no "best communicator" in coaching. I admire Dean Smith for his unselfishness in encouraging Michael Jordan to leave, for his work in the community, and his bequest to former players upon his death.
3) Grant was humble. He shared both responsibility and credit. His humility earned him many followers unlike some other Union generals such as "Fighting Joe Hooker."
Coaching:
Dean Smith said, "A lion never roars after a kill." Jay Wright shared, "If you're not humble, it's hard to be coached." Coach Gregg Popovich and his staff were described as "really humble" by fellow coach Dave Joerger.
- Praise is specific; criticism is private.
- Credit flows outward; accountability flows inward.
- Standards are non-negotiable; ego is optional.
The key messages are: communicate, stay hungry and humble.
Lagniappe. It's hard to coach without 'enjoying' good actions.
If you are a coach looking for a ton of good actions to run, I recommend watching Iowa play
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) January 29, 2026
Ben McCollum is a surgeon
This “77” action is really hard to cover and executable at all levels
(Via @JoeHulbertNBA 🎥)
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