Importance of Playing Well With Others

November 18th, 2009

To truly be at the top of your game – businesses must be skilled at developing relationships, inside and outside of the office, that will bring value to all parties. ESPN knows how to play well with others, and its current role as the leader in sports media is proof positive. Originally viewed as an underdog in the industry and blocked at many turns by their few competitors, many would have expected ESPN to “man-up” and “fight to win at all costs.” Instead, ESPN was forced, both by its circumstances and by its self-assigned goal to serve fans, to focus on the business of partnering well.

Read More...

No Comments » | Leadership | Posted by Dr. Anthony F. Smith

ESPN’s Playbook for Success

October 17th, 2009

My new book, ESPN The Company tells the fascinating story of how ESPN managed to sustain its growth, innovation and brand in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving marketplace. I share many of ESPN’s valuable business lessons in my book and will also do so here with this blog.

Read More...

No Comments » | ESPN The Company | Posted by Dr. Anthony F. Smith

Get the Blog via Email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Dr. Anthony F. Smith

Acclaimed Leadership Advisor and Best-Selling Author of "The Taboos of Leadership"

Dr. Smith is a Co-Founder and a Managing Director of the Leadership Research Institute, based in Rancho Santa Fe, and recognized as one of the leading management consulting firms in the world, specializing in Leadership Development and Assessment. He has served clients in a variety of fields, including, American Express, The National Geographic...
Read More About Dr. Smith...

The New ESPN Book: Essential Insider's Look at ESPN's Winning Ways!

ESPN The Company tells for the first time the insider tale of ESPN's unlikely rise from a fledgling, cash-poor regional sports start-up to a sports entertainment media empire valued at nearly $30 billion. ESPN The Company chronicles the evolution of the franchise, how it started, how it evolved, and the larger-than-life personalities who created it. Drawing on Smith's 20+ years counseling company leadership as they built an unrivaled sports entertainment superstar, readers have a behind-the-scenes look at how ESPN became the cultural influencer and sports media brand they are today. If you're a fan of leadership, business, competition or sports, this is a modern day success story filled with valuable commentary, insights, key lessons and leadership traits you can apply to your own winning game.

With a rare insider's viewpoint, Smith shares his insights on how ESPN succeeded in:

Coinciding with ESPN's 30th anniversary, Dr. Anthony F. Smith shares this inspiring behind-the-scenes look at the creation of one of the world's most influential brands. If you're a fan of business, competition or sports, this book explores the dedication to excellence that makes ESPN a success.

Informative, insightful and just plain entertaining, this fascinating book is full of real-life lessons on launching and growing a wildly successful enterprise.

The V Foundation

A significant percentage of proceeds from the sale of this book benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research which distributes 100% of it's direct donations to cancer research and related programs...

Learn more about The V Foundation...

Book Review: ESPN The Company

Let's say you and a group of friends have a killer business idea. You create a startup. After a lot of elbow grease, you scrounge up enough funds to get the startup off the ground.

Next, you aggressively market, hire, and expand enough to ensure your little company's survival. Once you've gained enough traction to do that, you work like a dog to ramp up your company's growth with new products, services, and markets.

Years later, you're a sizable corporation. Congratulations! Just don't grow complacent or egotistical. You'll threaten your own survival if you do that. Your challenge now is to thrive as an institution.

Handful enough for you? It is. That's why few companies make it from fanatical startup to established institution.

Read More

Advanced praise for ESPN: The Company

"Any sports fanatic can appreciate what ESPN has done for sports viewing. ESPN: The Company provides keen insights into the business plan, leadership, and passion that dramatically changed the scope of sports television."

T. BOONE PICKENS
Legendary entrepreneur and 2008 National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award winner

"The enormous success of ESPN did not happen by chance. The story and lessons of the powerful vision, decision-making, leadership, and corporate culture is captured in Dr. Smith's compelling book. Truly a must read!"

Mike Krzyzewski "Coach K"

Read more endorsements...

Check out Anthony Smith's new ESPN book, ESPN the company!

Check out Dr. Smith's recent bestselling book:

The Taboos of Leadership: 10 Secrets No One Will Tell You About Leaders and What They Really Think