Jimmy Johnson's Quotes

Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a person as if he were where he could be and should be, and he will become what he could be and should be.

The only thing worse than a coach or CEO who doesn't care about his people is one who pretends to care. People can spot a phony every time.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.

Do you want to be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance and be great?

Give people enough guidance to make the decisions you want them to make. Don't tell them what to do, but encourage them to do what is best.

But I was always a bit of a gypsy, anyway. I spent five years at Oklahoma State, five years at Miami and moved on after winning the national championship, and five years with the Cowboys. So, I was ready to move on. We won back-to-back Super Bowls, and I felt that I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish.

An objective truth and individual reason are feared above all.

And the main thing was that I wanted to live in south Florida. That's why I left the Cowboys; to live in south Florida.

I can't confirm any rumors. I'm happy doing what I'm doing. I have no interest in going back to coaching.

Military leaders aren't made. They are born. To be a good leader, you have to have something in your character to cause people to follow you.

Two to three years down the road, other companies not on a model like Dell's will be in trouble.

The other thing was that when I was at the University of Miami, we ran a pro-style offense and defense. I started each year by going to a pro training camp, I visited with various pro coaches, and I did this for five years.