The Difference You Make: Changing Your World Through The Impact of Your Influence by Pat Williams with Jim Denney


4.0 out of 5 stars You Can Make A Difference!

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2013

Every one of us has influence, whether we realize it or not. In everything we say and do, we are influencing those around us. What if we became more aware, more intentional, and more strategic about our own influence? Well, we might just change the world.

True influence, says Pat Williams, isn't about getting what you want--it's about serving others. Using personal stories from his own life and the lives of others, Williams shows readers the difference between influence and manipulation, how to influence others through both words and deeds, and ultimately how to change the world for the better, one relationship at a time.

This book will inspire readers to build a positive legacy in the lives of others and take the role of influencer to heart. Each chapter includes questions and ideas for personal reflection and practical application, and can be used to guide group discussions as well. Includes a foreword by Joe Girardi, manager of the New York Yankees.

Biography

Pat Williams is the senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic. As one of America's top motivational, inspirational, and humorous speakers, he has addressed thousands of executives in organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies and national associations to universities and nonprofits. Clients include AllState, American Express, Cisco, Coca-Cola, Disney, Honeywell, IBM, ING, Lockheed Martin, Nike, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Tyson Foods to name a few. Pat is also the author of over 70 books, his most recent title being "NBA LIST JAM!"

Since 1968, he has been in the NBA as general manager for teams in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia--including the 1983 World Champion 76ers--and now the Orlando Magic, which he co-founded in 1987 and helped lead to the NBA finals in 1995 and 2009. Twenty-three of his teams have gone to the NBA playoffs and five have made the NBA finals. In 1996, Pat was named as one of the 50 most influential people in NBA history by a national publication. Pat is also a recipient of the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Pat has been an integral part of NBA history, including bringing the NBA to Orlando. He has traded Pete Maravich as well as traded for Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Penny Hardaway, and he has won four NBA draft lotteries, including back-to-back winners in 1992 and 1993. He also drafted Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney and Darryl Dawkins. He signed Billy Cunningham, Chuck Daly, and Matt Guokas to their first professional coaching contracts. Nineteen of his former players have become NBA head coaches, nine have become college head coaches while seven have become assistant NBA coaches.

Additonally, Pat served for seven years in the United States Army, spent seven years in the Philadelphia Phillies organization--two as a minor league catcher and five in the front office--and has also spent three years in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Pat and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four nations, ranging in age from 23 to 36. For one year, 16 of his children were all teenagers at the same time. Pat and his family have been featured in Sports Illustrated, Readers Digest, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, The Wall Street Journal, Focus on the Family, New Man Magazine, plus all of the major television networks, The Maury Povich Show and Dr. Robert Schuller's Hour of Power.

Pat teaches an adult Sunday school class at First Baptist Church of Orlando and hosts three weekly radio shows. In the last 13 years, he has completed 53 marathons--including the Boston Marathon 12 times--and also climbed Mt. Rainier. He is a weightlifter, Civil War buff and serious baseball fan. Every winter he plays in Major League Fantasy Camps and has caught Hall of Famers Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins, Rollie Fingers, Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro, Tom Seaver and Goose Gossage.

Pat was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, earned his bachelors degree at Wake Forest University, and his master's degree at Indiana University. He is a member of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame after catching for the Deacon baseball team, including the 1962 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship team. He is also a member of the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame

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My Review ~

Pat Williams is senior vice president and co-founder of the Orlando Magic basketball team and a well-known motivational speaker who shares valuable lessons regarding how to impact and influence others. His vast experience with numerous successful individuals of influence has played a significant role in establishing and sharing the concrete steps to becoming an influential person. Athletes play a major role in influencing countless people through their attitudes and actions. The old adage, "Action speaks louder than words" strikes a cord in how people react to those influencers. People can be impressed by others, but they are influenced by how we treat others. Our words and actions have a great deal of impact on others. By using examples of well-known and popular individuals Pat Williams has created a wealth of information pertaining to the successful actions and influence these influencers have on our lives. Mentoring is a valuable action in how we proceed in impacting others. A person of great influence knows how to build others up and empower them to emulate those character traits themselves. In our attempts to influence others our deeds need to reflect our words or there is no credibility. We can talk the talk, but being a true influencer we need to walk the walk and set the pace for those who are observing us.

Pat Williams has written a very interesting and informative book, sharing his experiences with numerous famous individuals who have had a major influence in his life. He introduces the reader to many famous sports people, motivators and high achievers. His diagnosis and treatment for cancer have also impacted his life, and he shares his reactions very openly and in a candid manner. His philosophy of being truthful sets a positive pace in this highly motivational book. His basic principals for how to go about becoming a positive influence on those around us are valuable lessons we can all put into use every day in every way. 

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book by BookFun.org in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and I have received no monetary compensation for this review. Thank you to Fred St. Laurent from The Book Club Network and Revell for offering this reviewer program.