What’s Important Now?

The news that legendary coach Lou Holtz passed away this week prompted me to spend some time revisiting his life and leadership. If you ever watched him speak, you remember the energy. He was passionate, motivating, and deeply principled. His success on the football field was remarkable, but what may have been even more impressive was the way he lived by the values he taught.

One of the ideas Coach Holtz often shared was the acronym W.I.N. — “What’s Important Now?” He challenged his players to ask themselves that question at least 35 times a day.

Imagine what that would require from us.

Discipline – Staying committed to what truly matters.

Action – Seeing a need and stepping in to meet it.

Choice – If we make roughly 30,000 decisions each day, let at least 35 of them bring us back to what matters most.

Presence – Being fully in the moment we’re in.

It won’t always be easy. In fact, the best things rarely are. If it were easy, everyone would do it.

But think about the impact if we consistently ask ourselves: What’s important now?

For the people we love and the people we lead, that question could change everything.

His final speech.

Features his three simple rules.

1) Do what’s right.

2) Be the best you are capable of being.

3) Show people you care.

Thanks for the lessons Coach. 

All the way to the end.