Local learned rules of success on football field

Local author, entrepreneurial businessman and keynote speaker Bob Beck has published his second book, "Winning in the 5th Quarter: Apply the Secrets of Football to Your Life-Strategy Playbook."

Beck credits his success in life to strategies he learned in the locker room and applied on the playing field.

Beck was captain of his high-school football team and played college ball at Defiance College and the University of Cincinnati, where he earned marketing degrees.

One day stands out in Beck's mind from many years ago of a conversation he had with an older man. The man told him that he graduated from college 40 years ago, but he couldn't remember any of the lessons he was taught.

"But you never forget football lessons," the man said.

The man's statement started Beck thinking about what lessons he learned on the field.

"What I leaned on the football field can't be isolated to one singular thing," said Beck, "but it can be surmised as the principles of success: commitment to a goal, discipline, courage, character and competitiveness. I believe that if you develop those attributes and follow those principles, you can't help but succeed.

"Football requires determination and conditioning and lays the cornerstones upon which to build a successful life. A football player's work ethic includes planning, practice and discipline, three key areas that will help lay the groundwork for success."

Interspersed throughout each chapter of his book are examples, questions and stories illustrating each of these tactics including preparation, teamwork, training, focus, confidence, profiting from adversity, decision making, lifelong learning and leadership.

Beck has spoken in 10 countries and to many different organizations, giving talks on success and sales training.

He is CEO and founder of Sales Builders Inc., a professional development firm for sales professionals. He also takes credit for taking three companies from start-ups to successful in his 28 years of experience of expanding and running organizations.

Beck began writing "Winning in the 5th Quarter: Apply the Secrets of Football to Your Life-Strategy Playbook" 10 years ago when his oldest son was 6 and began playing football.

"He was an outstanding athlete and he didn't work hard at it," remembers Beck. "So, I began writing it for him about the lessons he could learn if he applied himself. And he did apply himself and achieve."

Beck said he completed and finally published the book now because "in these times in this area, I wanted to touch people. My goal is to help people," he said.

Beck and his wife Laurie moved to Santa Rosa Beach from Atlanta five years ago. He has spoken to the Walton County Chamber of Commerce and at events in Destin and Panama City.

"Winning in the 5th Quarter: Apply the Secrets of Football to Your Life-Strategy Playbook" is available this month from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at Beck's Web site, www.Winningq5.com.

He also authored "Mutual Respect-The art and practice of the Quid Pro Quo Selling approach" in 2005.