Book #67: “Elevate and Dominate” by Deion Sanders
Elevate and Dominate
Deion Sanders
Released: March 12th, 2024
My 10th book for 2025 was Deion Sanders' “Elevate and Dominate”.
I feel behind on my reading goal. I set out to read 63 books this year. So far, I'm only 10 in. I keep reminding myself that at this point last year, I was still on my first book of the year and still hit 27 books. Slowly getting there.
I was a little surprised by this book. I expected an autobiographical piece, yet it's actually a full-on leadership book. Lots of great lessons for not only life, but work and home life as well.
Primetime himself. Deion Sanders. You will never find another athlete who not only can talk the talk, but back up that smack talk time and time again.
Growing up, I was a Washington Redskins fan. So I knew of Deion from his time with the Dallas Cowboys. I hated watching them dominate us year-in, and year-out. We won a few games, and even in the year 2000, we recruited him away from Dallas. Sadly, he was closing out his Hall-of-Fame career as he finished up down the Beltway in Baltimore.
I saw him play once in my life. That was my first time attending a Monday Night Football game live in person. October 30th, 2000, Tennessee Titans vs Washington Redskins. (I included the link for your viewing pleasure. Bonus Challenge: See if you can find me the couple times I pop up. I'm wearing a red and yellow jacket.) I just came home from school, and my mom told me to get ready because my dad was coming home from work in Washington D.C., and taking me to the game that night. That was a wild game. Let alone that, I've never sat closer in an NFL game before. We sat front row, right behind the goal post. The Titans absolutely cleaned our clock, but it was fun to see Deion, Darrell Green, Champ Bailey, Brad Johnson, Jeff George, Steve McNair, Eddie George, LaVar Arrington, Bruce Smith, Dan Wilkinson, Dana Stubblefield, all night long.
This book was really strong, and I think most leaders should add this to their TBR list at some point.
Deion tackles lessons and take aways he developed growing up, being a 2-sport professional athlete, and even into his time as a college football coach. He even hits on a deeper level, talking about his family, marital issues, and even a suicide attempt. Huge stuff, but very meaningful.
Here's What I Learned: [Blogger's Note: Each chapter reflects a different set of lessons. I'm going to write what I learned, followed by his actual lessons in Bold lettering.]
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- The foreword is by John C. Maxwell.
- When John offered to sign books for Deion, Deion declined in a respectful manner.
- “I wouldn’t do that to you. I’m sure people ask you to sign things all the time. They just want to make sure they can show other people they met you. I don’t want anything from you except your presence and the chance to learn from you.”
- The most valuable thing we can give someone isn’t our autograph or any material thing for that matter. It’s our human connection, the ability to relate and find common ground, the honest desire to teach someone a better way and help their life.”
- Deion has two lakes on his Texas ranch, Lake Prime, and Lake Time.
- He grew up in the Jones Walker Apartments in Fort Myers, FL.
- His nickname is “PrimeTime” which was given to him by his friend Richard Fain on the basketball court.
- The nickname became his alter-ego.
- He went to Florida State for college where he played under coach Bobby Bowden.
- He is the only athlete to appear in both the Super Bowl and the World Series.
- He played 14 seasons in the NFL.
- He won Super Bowl championships with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.
- He played 9 seasons in the MLB.
- He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
- “Everybody’s passion isn’t YOUR passion.”
- He served as offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in Dallas, TX.
- Jackson State was his first college-level head coaching job.
- He had 2 toes amputated from his left foot due to femoral arterial blood clots.
- He got a toe injury from a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
- He had 3 surgeries on it as a player, but the pain has never left his left foot.
- The blood clots nearly cost him his life.
- You never give up, no matter how bad it gets.
- “If your problem is about money, it’s not a problem. You can get more money. If it’s about health, that’s different.”
- “Celebrate every little victory, every little step forward. Because that’s what success is made of. It’s not about the end result. It’s about the journey. It’s about the stories you’ll tell your grandchildren one day.
- Being honest with your feelings and asking for help isn’t something a lot of people feel comfortable with.
- When life knocks you down, get back up.
- The strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire.
- Nobody's living a perfect life -- forget about what you see on social media -- so you're not the only on who's facing some problems.
- Show each other compassion, life each other up, and support each other.
- Take care of yourself physically and don't ignore your mental health.
- “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Will Durant.
- Don’t worry about the failures or struggles of yesterday, or focus on tomorrow. Be present today.
- Success is about discipline.
- There are two types of people in life, Believers, and Beliefs.
- Beliefs only do what people tell them. They follow paths others have mapped out.
- Believers rise above the noise and determine their own destiny. They take the limitations others have put on them and expand their capabilities.
- The morning is when you set the temperature for your day.
- You should establish a good morning routine.
- This one is REALLY important. Either you're a BELIEVER or you're a BELIEF.
- Don't buy into all those false thoughts and crazy mental images that run through your mind.
- To jump-start any morning, you've got to DO SOMETHING.
- “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” - Ecclesiastes 9:10.
- Bruce Adrians, the former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers set the tone for work-life balance at his first coaches meeting.
- He made sure the coaches prioritized family life.
- Under Marty Schottenheimer, Adrians was expected to be in the office almost constantly.
- In order to see his son’s games, Bruce would tell people he was going jogging, and then sneak away. He would cover his face in water upon his return.
- When Michelle Obama was First Lady, she mapped out all her events after family events were planned and scheduled.
- Plan your time and time your plan.
- Break them down.
- Prioritize your tasks.
- Schedule.
- Leave time for flexibility.
- Take breaks throughout the day.
- Reward yourself.
- As a parent, you do not ever have to be perfect, but you have to be present.
- You get to the point where you loosen up on your expectations, meaning you want them to live their own lives instead of imposing your plans on them.
- “Most of us are dying and we aren’t living.”
- If you want to be great, you must be detail oriented.
- Put our best effort into EVERYTHING you do and concentrate on the task at hand.
- Have a plan for your day so you don't waste any opportunities.
- Visualization is one of the most powerful forms of belief.
- If you have kids, be PRESENT in their lives.
- Once you know how to be where your feet are, your biggest task is WINNING YOUR DAY.
- Deion doesn’t wear cologne.
- “Don’t allow my confidence to offend your insecurity.”
- Sanders rarely gambles, but when he does, he bets the roulette on 21 Black.
- Be Kind.
- Be honest.
- Be forgiving.
- Be respectful.
- Arrive EARLY for appointments.
- Be POLITE to everyone.
- Take care of your BODY.
- LEARN something new every day.
- GIVE something back.
- Confidence means everything, y'all.
- Your consistent performance is always going to be your best job security.
- Be who you say you are.
- Is it even possible to be CONFIDENT and HUMBLE at the same time? Yes, it is!
- Little things mean a lot.
- The best leaders are usually great listeners.
- A good leader keeps people Informed, Involved, Interested, and Inspired.
- Top reasons people leave jobs are Unchallenged, Uninspired, Not Valued, or Needing More Feedback or Structure.
- Deion isn’t great at remembering names.
- He is good at giving out nicknames to people.
- The better you know your people, the better the decisions you will make for them.
- When having a conversation about an issue, Be Specific, Be Fair, Be Consistent, and Be Respectful.
- To set one how to moving forward in challenging moments, Get all the Information you can, Consider All The Options, Weigh the Pros and Cons of each option, Make a Decision and Stick to It.
- Everybody in a leadership position can tell you that half the crowd is usually doubting them.
- Leaders make DECISIONS.
- Communication is EVERYTHING.
- Be CLEAR and CONCISE with the expectations that you set as a leader.
- You must consistently hold people ACCOUNTABLE for your expectations of them.
- You can't shrink as a leader.
- The building blocks of success are Want, Work, Win.
- Specific.
- Measurable.
- Achievable.
- Realistic.
- Timely.
- The SMART system originated in 1981 by George T. Doran.
- Ditch any negative folks who bring you down.
- Focus on relationships with people who give you positive vibes.
- You never want to be the smartest person in the room.
- Successful people are always willing to share their tips and tricks, so take advantage of that.
- President Teddy Roosevelt meticulously planned his life.
- He would deep focus on one thing.
- You've got to really WANT it.
- Visualizing what you want keeps the DREAM alive, but ultimately you need an action PLAN.
- If you don't want to work, you will not make it in life.
- There's all sorts of WAYS TO WIN. Small wins can equate to big victories.
- Deion tells others he is in the people business. He builds teams who are smart, tough, fast, and disciplined with character.
- Extremely successful people have tremendous teams around them.
- Don't go HIDING behind a costume or a false front.
- Know who's on your team.
- Figure out your personal brand and PROMOTE it.
- Don't do this alone, y'all. Build a good NETWORK of people.
- If you're on a team, you gotta be a good TEAMMATE.
- Power couples exist because both have tremendous value that they bring to each other.
- If you’re suddenly removed from the picture, people should look around and wonder what happened.
- “You will never be criticized by someone who is doing more than you. You will only be criticized by someone who is doing less.”
- Bringing out the best in your teammates.
- Sacrificing your ego.
- Showing respect.
- Leading by example.
- Being reliable.
- Competitiveness.
- Being a positive force.
- It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
- ALWAYS find ways to bring something to the table.
- Dedicate yourself to being the BEST at what you do.
- Do you job well. In fact, do MORE than your job.
- The world is constantly changing and so is the workplace. If you're open to new ideas, learning new skills, and taking on new challenges, you will make yourself into someone of great value.
- Become a connector of people.
- Deion took 9 interceptions, 6 punt returns, and 3 kickoff returns to the house.
- He batted .533 in the 1992 World Series.
- He once played a football game in Miami, before taking a plane to Pittsburgh and suiting up for a playoff baseball game in Pittsburgh.
- He considers Jerry Rice the best receiver to ever play the game.
- Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
- While typically they were fierce rivals, he and Rice won a Super Bowl together in 1994.
- In the social media age, we fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others.
- The best competition you will ever face in your life is yourself.
- Everyone needs a mentor.
- You're always going to remember the significant moments in your life, the times when you succeed and feel like you're on top of the world. But you don't get to those places without some discipline or somebody pushing you.
- If you're going to measure youreself against someone else and compare, MAKE SURE THEY'RE THE BEST.
- The reality is you can only do your best -- whatever that is -- and you probably know when you've reached that level.
- It's easy to criticize from the sidelines. It's different when you're in the game.
- No matter where you are in your career and life, getting a mentor can be invaluable.
- The first thing he teaches new players is that women will be respected or they are done playing football for him.
- Anybody with more age and experience can teach you a few things even if you think they’re old-fashioned and out-of-touch.
- When you boil it down, respect is love.
- If you don't have respect in your relationships, it's going to inevitably create problems.
- Your opinion matters, but you must show respect to authority figures and not automatically reject their requests.
- If you're running a company, a team, an office, or a household, learn from the lessons of servant leadership.
- Self-respect is an often overlooked -- but extremely vital -- part of respect.
- His father was a foreman for Wicked Lumber.
- “When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you play good. When you play good, they pay good.”
- Michael Strahan has his own clothing line at Men’s Warehouse.
- His favorite athletes growing up were Dr. J — Julius Erving, Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali, and O.J. Simpson.
- Looking the best you CAN -- and paying attention to your grooming -- will always help your situation.
- Looking good is an investment in YOU.
- If you're someone who wears a formal uniform, take PRIDE in that.
- People crave DISCIPLINE and being part of something bigger than themselves.
- Now that you look good and feel good, it's time to ACT good.
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- One day breaks down to 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, and 86,400 seconds.
- Time is your most valuable coin.
- Don schedules his life down to the minute.
- More people don’t know how to manage their time.
- He compartmentalizes everything.
- If you constantly react to the noise of life, you’re never going to get anything done.
- Do the nonnegotiables first.
- Kids take their cues from what they see, so you’ve got to be careful with the example you set.
- Your time must be prime.
- TIME IS MONEY.
- Get yourself a plan for each day.
- Everything has its own TIME and PLACE.
- Plan your work. Work your plan. Working hard without direction usually gets you NOWHERE.
- Start early. It's amazing how powerful you can feel when you get a lot of stuff done before the sun comes up.
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- Your goal must be bigger than just you.
- The best way to motivate others is to get to know them better.\
- We're all chasing something. That helps us discover our WHY.
- Find something that's going to get you out of bed without an alarm clock.
- If you aren't feeling it, try breaking down your goals into smaller, more manageable steps so they won't seem so overwhelming.
- You can have a bad moment, but don't have any bad DAYS.
- When you're helping other folks find their rabbit, you've got to be transparent and explain WHY something must be done.
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- “Has your life ever been changed in a profound way by someone you DON'T EVEN KNOW? Think about that. All the people in your life- your family, your classmates, your coworkers, everybody in the circle— and then some stranger makes an impact that you'll remember for years. And you don't even know the person's name? That's wild.”
- Successful leaders need to be part of their communities.
- Giving back is good for business.
- Life isn't about YOU. It's about what YOU can do for OTHERS.
- Never underestimate the power of helping someone in need.
- Get involved with people. Put them in a position to succeed.
- We all need to make a living, but you and your company should stand for more than just profit.
- All your athletic trophies, material possessions, job promotions, and business awards will fade in time.
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How to determine your priorities:
- What are your VALUES?
- What are your goals?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your resources?
How to keep distractions out of your life:
- Be disciplined.
- Be organized.
- Take Breaks.
- Reward yourself.
- Bruce Lee and Steve Jobs were minimalists.
How to keep things SIMPLE:
- Don't try to do TOO MUCH at once
- Break down big jobs into smaller, more manageable steps.
- Ask for help. If you're struggling, reach out.
- Don't change EVERYTHING overnight.
- Don't try to do everything yourself.
- “Don't let your past define you. No matter who you are, you've got a past. You've made some mistakes. But don't let that hold you back. Learn from those mistakes and move forward with CONFIDENCE.”
- “Don't let other people's opinions CONTROL you. As you know, everybody has an OPINION. But that doesn't mean their opinion is RIGHT. Decide what's right for you. If other people have an opinion about it, let them talk — because they WILL talk-but don't let that sway you.”
- Don't buy into the illusion of multitasking as the be-all, end-all way of doing business.
- Determine your priorities. Consider your values, goals, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Distractions can knock you off the path to success, so you've got to stay DISCIPLINED and ORGANIZED.
- Keep it simple. If there's clutter in your life that's getting in the way of your progress, get rid of it -- immediately.
- No matter how difficult your situation seems, there's always a way to chase your dreams.
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- “We live in a world where people play the political game, always worried about what others think. Sometimes, they refuse to even give an opinion unless they know which way the majority is leaning. They're more concerned about fallout from negative comments on their social media instead of standing up strong and pushing back on an injustice.”
- “I will PROMISE you this: You'll never feel more alive than when you're fighting for something you believe in with all your heart and soul. And if you DON'T fight for it, that moment will haunt you because you'll always know that you weren't true to yourself.”
- “Don't be upset because you've got enemies. That's a badge of honor. If you have enemies, first and foremost, that means you're headed in the right direction. It also means you've stood up for something important. You want to have nothing but friends? Just nod your head and agree with everyone? Never stand up for anything? Sure, everybody might love you then. But they won't RESPECT you.”
- “Too many people do what's easy. I ask you — no, I BEG you - to always do what you think is right, even if it's hard or un-popular.”
- “I've heard some horrible stories about arguments in a family where one person refuses to take back the vicious words they've said, and as a result, the relationship between the two people is never the same. Sometimes, they stop talking altogether or maybe they're never together in a room again. That's no way for blood kin to act. Sometimes, you need to put that pride aside. Sometimes, winning a fight just isn't worth it.”
- “If it gets that bad in a family, I suggest FORGETTING about who's the winner and who's the loser in the argument. It ain't about WHO'S RIGHT. It's about DOING THE RIGHT THING. Put down your swords. Get to the table and do some talking.”
- “Here's what I learned when that would happen: Don't worry about what people say to you. Half the time people are just saying things to push your buttons and get a reaction. I don't bother having conversations with fools. I won't waste my time that way. The greatest gift I've ever possessed is knowing when it's time to walk away. If the situation has no upside, you just walk away.”
- You've got to fight for what you KNOW is right.
- If you choose NOT to fight at the moment of truth, if you put your head down because you don't want to get involved, that decision will HAUNT you.
- Conflict is EVERYWHERE these days -- in the workplace, within your family, sometimes in your own head.
- Be on the right side of history.
- Most people won't be looking for a fight in their workplace or out in public. But if the fight comes to you -- and the safety of you and your loved ones is at stake -- you need to be prepared.
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- “If your dream isn’t bigger than you, there’s a problem with your dream.”
- “There's no dream too big, too wild, too crazy to achieve. And I'm not just talking about becoming a superstar athlete. No, l'm talking about whatever your heart desires, whether it's building your own business, becoming a musician, or even taking a trip to every cool place you've ever imagined in this great big world.”
- “You can achieve whatever you want. You just need to have the right mindset and stop listening to all those folks who want to shoot holes in your dream.”
- He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of high school.
- “If you listen to folks who tell you, “Oh, be realistic…Don’t be so foolish,” you might be turning your back on your destiny. So don’t listen. And follow your heart.”
- “You don't have to be playing on national television or become a public figure to have doubters. Y'all know that, right? How many dreams and goals have y'all had shot down right in front of you? You ever been laughed at? Those things HURT, especially if it's your family or close friends who are doubting you. This is where you need thick skin and an unshakable belief in what you can offer this world.”
- He wants to become the first black coach to win a national championship in major college football.
- “So here's my lesson for you. Don't just HOPE for your dreams to come true. VISUALIZE yourself getting to your own end zone. Surround yourself with like-minded people on your team. Put your plans into action. BELIEVE. Always believe. Don't settle for average. If you do those things, I promise you, success will come your way.”
- Don't dream AVERAGE. Dream BIG.
- You've got to believe in yourself. If you don't, who will?
- Life is really a series of moments and some of them are bigger than others. You need to identify YOUR big moments and be ready to meet them when they happen.
- I always wanted to be DIFFERENT. Don't be scared of that.
- Sometimes, sticking to your dream requires a tremendous amount of discipline and restraint.
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- “Want to be successful? The. You better be CONSISTENT.”
- “When you find out who you really are, it becomes much easier to be consistent.”
Ways to make your plans better:
- Be honest with yourself.
- Be accountable.
- Learn from your mistakes.
- Take action.
- Celebrate your success.
Ways to maintain your character and integrity:
- Think before making a promise.
- Plan ahead.
- Be flexible.
- Communicate.
- Ask for help.
- You can't fake your way to CONSISTENCY.
- Believe it or not, most people lead double lives.
- We al have strengths and weaknesses. The trick is exploiting those strengths and showing them off.
- One person should take responsibility for your life -- and that's YOU.
- Keeping your promises is the best way to show you are a consistent person of INTEGRITY.
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Ways to adapt to change:
- First, we need to be OPEN to change.
- Second, we need to be FLEXIBLE.
- Third, we need to be resilient.
- “We should all network with people who are different. It helps you to get fresh perspectives and learn new things.”
- “The world is full of different people and different approaches. The ones who succeed are the ones who can adapt and thrive in that environment.”
- We were NEVER meant to all be the same. Diversity is a huge part of our world.
- Judging people on the surface is never a good idea.
- Change is the only constant in all our lives.
- Make it a point to network with people who are DIFFERENT.
- It's easy to stay in our own little world. Parents, prepare your kids and then push them to get out there.
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Ways to stay inspired when the going gets tough:
- Establish realistic goals.
- Be sure to track your progress.
- Don't compare yourself to others.
- His greatest fear is not finishing something.
- “There are times in life when we shouldn't have started something in the first place. It usually has something to do with relationships. This can be a volatile subject, but a lot of people stay in relationships longer than they need to. The quality of finishing is inside them, so they don't give up. But some situations present themselves as toxic and ignorant and you've got to get out.”
- Always finish what you start in life.
- If you quit something once, the odds are great that you'll quit again. So...DON'T QUIT.
- Everything in life moves FORWARD.
- Finishing is always the end goal. But remember to enjoy the PROCESS and the JOURNEY.
- Sometimes you do have to abort the mission.
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- He attempted suicide by driving off a cliff in 1997.
- He became a born-again Christian following this.
- True joy is found in the process, not the achievement itself.
- He stopped using profanity at 19.
- He has been clean and sober his entire life.
- Everything starts with FAITH.
- Faith has got to be a part of your DAILY life.
- Remember that faith isn't faith unless it's challenged.
- When you have your faith in order, listen closely to find your peace.
- Always focus on the good side of things.
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Memorable quotes that inspire Prime:
" Stay right when the crowd goes left."
"Don't allow my confidence to offend your insecurity."
"A play don't care who make it, so it might as well be YOU!"
"I practiced like I played so when I played it was like practice."
"My calling is not built on a location, it's built on a destination."
"My emotions ain't qualified to make a decision, but I AM."
"The Man never tries to be the Man because that's WHO HE IS."
"I ain't never been one for peer pressure, but I do put PRESSURE on my peers."
" I don't use cologne because confidence is my natural odor."
"A fan only blows when you're hot."
"A cheetah never stretch before he go get his prey."
"I LOVE the life I LIVE...and I LIVE the life I LOVE."
"You look good, you feel good...You feel good, you play good...You play good, THEY PAY GOOD!"
"I was called by GOD to make a DIFFERENCE."
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Overall, an excellent read. There is a lot of great advice and memorable quotes and facts that Deion goes through in this book. If you're a leader or aspiring to something greater, I highly recommend checking out this book.
Highly Recommended!
On to Book #68: "The Abductors: Conspiracy" by Jonathan Frakes.
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