Coach Bill Courtney From Undefeated

Our guest… Coach Bill Courtney from the documentary "Undefeated"  and author of the brand new book "Against The Grain" 

Love Love Love This Man!  No BS, talking with Coach Bill changed my life and the way I think about the future.  I learned a lot about life, faith, and the true definition of 'character'.

William B. Courtney (Coach), a native Memphian, founded Classic American Hardwoods, Inc. in 2001. Today, it employs 120 people with a 45 acre manufacturing facility and domestic sales offices in Memphis, TN and international sales offices in Shanghai, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In 2007, Classic American Hardwoods, Inc. won the Memphis Business Journal’s Small Business of the Year Award based on its growth and commitment to community service.

In 2003, Bill began volunteering at Memphis’ inner city Manassas High School in an effort to turn its underperforming football team around. In 2003, the team had 19 players with a dismal 4-95, 10-year record. In the 2008 & 2009 seasons, the team’s record improved to 18-2, with 75 players. The story was so compelling that a Hollywood film--Undefeated—was produced about it that won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Feature Length Documentary.

In 2011, Bill was inducted into Bridge Builders for leadership in diversity, community, and justice. He was the 2012 recipient of the Liberty Bowl’s Harry Zinn Spirit of 1776 award for distinguished citizenship, recipient of the Carnival Memphis’ King’s award for outstanding achievement in Business and Industry, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of fame Memphis chapter’s award winner for The Distinguished American for Contribution to Amateur Athletics. In 2013, he was inducted into the prestigious Society of Entrepreneurs as a result of his success in business and community service.

Today, Bill still operates as the President and CEO of Classic American Hardwoods. He’s a public speaker at a variety of venues from the Para Olympics in Colorado Springs to Nike, PepsiCo, FedEx, and other nationally recognized companies to churches, schools, and hospitals, and has written his first book "Against The Grain"- to be released in May of 2014. Courtney lives with his wife and four children in Memphis, Tennessee.

Even if you hate football you will love this book and documentary.  It's not about football, football could be interchanged with anything.  It's just the vehicle Coach Bill uses to guide and reshape people's minds and thinking.  He shows us how changing your mindset will change your reality and ability to succeed, and this can absolutely be applied nearly everywhere.

In this episode, we discuss life's ups and downs, and how to deal with them with dignity, pride, and character. 

• How did he become a motivational powerhouse? How does he consistently find the energy to help so many people?
• How did Coach Bill's childhood experiences with 5 different step-fathers influence him to volunteer with underprivileged kids?
• The REAL behind-the-scenes look at filming "Undefeated"- this documentary spans a full High School football season and took over a year to film...
• How did he go from being completely broke, to building a $40 million per year lumbar company?
• Coach Bill's view on politics, and what needs to be fixed in this country in regards to impoverished neighborhoods...
• And most importantly, what can we do to improve our own mindsets and lives, and achieve greatness in this world!

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Show notes and links (e.g. mentioned videos, resources) can be found below.

Please ping him on Twitter (@IamCoachBill) to let him know what you thought!
Enjoy!