University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
The Power of Playing Offense
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The Power of Playing Offense

A Leader's Playbook for Personal and Team Transformation

Paul Epstein
Amplify, 2021
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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Comprehensive
  • Applicable
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Paul Epstein’s enthusiasm leaps off the pages of this thoughtful guide to sharpening your leadership capabilities and maximizing your team’s potential. The author, echoing contemporary workplace philosophy, urges managers to foster a values-based environment and a people-first approach. Attracting and retaining talent requires organizations to provide purpose and meaning, as well as a paycheck. Employees need to know they matter. They need you to acknowledge and appreciate their contributions. Epstein spent years working for professional sports teams before forming his own company, and he offers a rare understanding of the emotions of motivation.

Summary

After 15 years as a sports executive, Paul Epstein turned his focus from play to purpose.

Paul Epstein loved his job as head of sales and business development for the San Francisco 49ers football team. Working for a National Football League team was exciting and prestigious – a dream come true for a lifelong sports fanatic.

But Epstein had higher aspirations. He decided to strengthen and expand his professional leadership expertise by entering the University of Michigan’s Executive MBA program. When his executive coach asked him what he’d loved most about his former job, Epstein cited the gratification he’d gained from helping people maximize their potential.

Pressed further, though, Epstein admitted that the bulk of his responsibilities with the 49ers had little to do with motivating and inspiring others. He once hoped to ascend through the organization one step at a time, yet he surprised himself by discovering that the idea of changing the course of his career intrigued and energized him. He had invested 15 years in the sports industry and considered the 49ers an ideal employer. But now his mind turned to the...

About the Author

Paul Epstein is founder of Purpose Labs and a former professional sports executive in the NFL and NBA.

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