George RavelingGeorge Raveling

George Raveling

Referred to by many as “Coach,” George Raveling has transcended the intersections of sports, business, and culture.

George Raveling, known to many as “Coach,” has transcended the intersections of sports, business, and culture. Following a standout college basketball career at Villanova University, he ascended to head coaching positions at Washington State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Southern California. After retiring from coaching, Raveling joined Nike at the request of Phil Knight. His achievements include induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Philosopher's Notes on George Raveling's Books

What You’re Made For
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Philosopher's Notes

What You’re Made For

by George Raveling and Ryan Holiday

George Raveling was known to many simply as Coach, and if you know anything about his life, you know that title barely begins to capture the man. From his extraordinary journey through basketball, leadership, mentorship, and service, to the way he impacted people like Michael Jordan, Phil Knight, and so many others, Coach lived a life that made a profound difference. Co-written with Ryan Holiday, What You’re Made For is not a memoir so much as an exploration of purpose and meaning, and a call to reflect on your own path, question the arbitrary limitations placed upon you, and ask what you were made for. It is packed with hard-won wisdom on trailblazing, studying books, winning the day, serving others, and making your life count. Big Ideas we explore include To Truly Live, To Be a Trailblazer, Study Books, Win the Day, and Make It Count.

Quotes by George Raveling

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You have to be willing to dream big. You have to allow yourself to believe that you were made for something special, something unique, something that only you can bring into this world. You have to let yourself hear that still, quiet voice within, the one that whispers of a higher calling, a greater contribution.
George Raveling
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The real competition, the only one that truly matters, is against ourselves. It’s about whether we are doing our best with what we’ve been given. It’s about whether we’re pushing our own boundaries, reaching for our own personal outer limits.
George Raveling
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Be a trailblazer. Find an untrodden path and blaze a trail. Find a void and fill it. Find a critical skill or area that most people are overlooking and become the foremost expert.
George Raveling
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For me, it starts with a simple but powerful choice every morning. As I put my feet on the floor, I say to myself, ‘Okay, George, you have two options today, and only two. You can be happy, or you can be very happy.’
George Raveling
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So go forth and love. Dispense it freely, without fear or reservation. It is the most powerful tool we have, the most precious gift we can give.
George Raveling
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The question isn’t whether you’re the best at what you do. The question is whether you’re doing the best that you can do. If you’re not doing that, why not?
George Raveling
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Kobe Bryant echoed this idea in The Mamba Mentality, writing, ‘You have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light. Meaning: It takes a lot of work to be successful, and people will celebrate the success, will celebrate the flash and hype. Behind that hype, though, is dedication, focus, and seriousness—all of which outsiders will never see.’
George Raveling
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We must live with urgency.
George Raveling
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Winning the day isn’t about grand strategies or long-term plans. It’s about what you do today, right now, to be better than you were yesterday.
George Raveling
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