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Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life

James Kerr

4.22 · Rating details · 5,169 ratings · 357 reviews

Champions do extra.
They sweep the sheds.
They follow the spearhead.
They keep a blue head.

In Legacy, best-selling author James Kerr goes deep into the heart of the world’s most successful sporting team, the legendary All Blacks of New Zealand, to reveal 15 powerful and practical lessons for leadership and business.

Legacy is a unique, inspiring handbook for leaders in all fi ...more

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Kindle Edition, 225 pages

Published November 7th 2013 by Constable

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Jun 11, 2014 Rachel C. rated it did not like it

Shelves: book-clubs, length-short, non-fiction, subj-sports, geo-oceania

Work book club selection. My overall impression: a sloppy mishmash of Maori folk wisdom and sound bites from other (better) books.

For a book about a sports team, Kerr fails to provide any real history for the All Blacks (including how they got that name), or any context about the game of rugby, a sport I know next to nothing about. This might have been fine in a book for rugby fans but this book is targeted at people in the business world.

All that aside, here's the main problem with books like t ...more

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Sep 13, 2017 Mike O rated it it was amazing

Outstanding book on leadership. It's more o a guide of how to be a better selfless person and leaving the world a better place than you found it. Highly recommend to read. ...more

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Aug 19, 2018 Sarah rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

Notes to self (because I read this for an interview):

If our values and beliefs are aligned with the values and beliefs of the organization, then we will work harder towards its success.

Martin Luther King 'gave the "I have a dream" speech, not the "I have a plan" speech... If you hire people who believe what you believe, they'll work for you with blood, sweat and tears.'

Seek the treasure you value most dearly; if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

The first stage of learning is sile ...more

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Nov 01, 2017 Thomas Kane-Berman rated it it was amazing

“Sweep the Sheds” is a phrase that is said throughout Legacy, and is the main philosophy of this book. The inspirational book Legacy by James Kerr is a powerful message that comes in the shape of a rectangle. With motivation and life lessons on every page, you are set up for success with this book. You are able to become a person you never thought you could be and help others discover who they can be as well.

James Kerr wrote an International Best Seller as his first piece of work. Legacy has t “Sweep the Sheds” is a phrase that is said throughout Legacy, and is the main philosophy of this book. The inspirational book Legacy by James Kerr is a powerful message that comes in the shape of a rectangle. With motivation and life lessons on every page, you are set up for success with this book. You are able to become a person you never thought you could be and help others discover who they can be as well.

James Kerr wrote an International Best Seller as his first piece of work. Legacy has topped the charts for inspiration books, and continues to change lives. Before writing, Kerr was a Keynote presenter that would meet with businesses or groups to help them reach their full potential. His main philosophy was to help people put in good things to get the best output in their specific field. Kerr was invited to spend time to advise the US and UK special forces on how to be the best they can be. His leadership strategies and team building were the main principles taught in his first piece of work.

Legacy is an inspirational book, that is based off a certain sport team that is the most winning sports team in the world, The New Zealand All Blacks. The book starts with the All Blacks not doing well and seeking a change. How they changed and what they did to change are the basis for this book. In each different chapter we learn a lesson that the All Blacks used to be successful. Chapter Two talked about how they must adapt to each situation they are put in, where as in Chapter Eight the All Blacks learn how to properly prepare for each match. Kerr then helps readers understand how they can use this in their everyday life. A section could be how each player on the All Blacks must earn their jersey, or how you have to be just a good person to be a good athlete. Kerr spoke his in Māori culture that each tribal member would have to earn their ranks, and their tribal symbols that they would wear. How do you earn your jersey in your business? The jersey could be seen as respect from your employees, and you have to earn it if you wish to lead them to success. This book has so many valuable life lessons that you never knew could all be in one spot.

Kerr inspires readers through this book by speaking in first person throughout, but also having a lot of others speak in it as well. He spends a lot of time researching the All Blacks and interviewing people that are a part of the organization, he also used stories from the past to help convey his leadership principles. Kerr mentions the story of how John Wooden spent hours just teaching his National Championship Team how to put on their socks and tie their shoes. This was to teach his players to do the little things right in order for the big things to go right. The All Blacks used this to help players understand that it much more than just playing good; it is the desire to want perfection in every aspect of life. With each new chapter comes a new lesson that helped lead the team to success, but will also help readers succeed. Chapter One has all the knowledge about how each player had to have the best character if the team wanted to succeed. One bad ingredient would spoil the entire mixture. When the All Blacks lose, they don’t spiral into more loses. They look at what they did wrong and find ways to improve for the next match. Like Nelson Mandela said, “We don’t lose, we either win or learn.” Kerr then helps readers understand how loses in their life, whether in a business deal or a setback, don’t have to affect you forever. Kerr includes a lot of quotes from many people. This helped me because it was nit like it was just one person talking about their experiences. It had some of the most influential people commenting and being quoted on throughout. “All I was doing was trying to make it a better team to pass on to the next generation- Sean Fitzpatrick.” In the audio book, Kerr actually changes his voice to sound like the people he is quoting. I like how it is presented in the form that it is because it’s like an outsider looking in and explaining what he learned on the way. I truly feel that you have to get this as an audio book. Not saying the hard copy is so different or bad, Kerr uses so many different voices, and includes phrases from New Zealand’s native language: Māori. “Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e whai, Be a leader, not a follower.” It is hard to read that language in a book, but being able to hear it and understand what it means helped me enjoy the book a lot more. That honestly is one of the biggest reasons I loved this book. The whole All Black culture was founded on the Māori beliefs, and the fact he includes it in the book makes it come full circle.

Kerr was aiming for an older crowd to read this book. Even more specifically, he was focusing on the business community. He often refers to the lessons and principles of the All Blacks to give advice to businessmen. I remember he talks about how the All Blacks keep a “Blue Head” not a “Red Head.” This refers to the way you carry yourself throughout the day. The blue represents being calm, and red being angry or stressed. He relates that to how you act when you’re working in your job, and how you deal with costumers. This book is written for anyone that needs a little inspiration. I use the blue and red head to relate to my play on the football field. By staying in the blue, I am able to play a lot better. That is just one of the many life-changing lessons I learned while reading this. I believe the purpose of this book was to teach people how to conduct themselves and how to achieve their dreams through their daily actions. Kerr is able to do this because he was experienced first hand when people chase their dreams and reach them one day. He basically is putting out a blueprint from his encounters into a place where the whole world can learn.

I am not just saying this to say it, but I truly believe this is the greatest book I have ever read. My dad told me I had to read this book if I wanted to be successful on and off the football field. I decided to try it out. After the first few minutes, I was blown away with how much I learned. You don’t have to be just an athlete to read this book. Yes, it is based on a sports team, but the sports team is just used to draw ties to every day life. Remember how I said “Sweep the Sheds” in the beginning of this. Well, that phrase means that you are never too big to do the small things. Instead of a senior making a freshman clean the locker room, the senior should clean it to set an example for the young guy. Don’t be afraid to do the little things; will you “Sweep the Sheds?” ...more

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Sep 24, 2018 Robert Postill rated it it was ok

Shelves: business, sport

After reading some great books on leadership I was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately this book does not fall in the same category of both inspiring and practical.

The first thing to note is that book summarises other books and approaches. A lot. Viewed with a cynical eye the book is a reading list of the titles of the books you might want to read instead. This also has the effect of making the book feel flimsy. Second, the character sketches feel somehow incomplete, unable to transfer ...more

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Feb 17, 2020 Kyle rated it it was amazing

A must read for any coach, this book identifies 15 lessons on leadership learned from the All Blacks New Zealand rugby team. Really good stuff!!

“Sweep the Sheds - Never be too big to do the small things that need to be done.”

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Oct 18, 2020 magdalena dyjas rated it liked it · review of another edition

And now I need to watch All Blacks play rugby to see whether their leadership lessons work... 😉

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Oct 06, 2018 Jurgen Rose rated it liked it

Mashup of a lot of big ideas. A good rollup but not much originality.

The big ideas I liked:
Importance of mission command concept and harnessing initiative and innovation of the team.
Few organizations really interrogate the connection between strategy and structure, between an overall vision and the actions that take place over a working week...its all about learning and improving.
Saying YES to high performance means first saying NO...people think focus means saying yes to the thing you have got ...more

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Sep 06, 2017 Dawid Steenkamp rated it it was ok

Legacy is a cliche-ridden guide to success that has more catchy one-liners than a silicon valley startup guide. With so many forced rugby analogies it feels like it was written by my high school rugby coach.

I am sure there will be people who find this type of book inspirational. If that is your cup of tea then great.

I was interested in the structure of a team like the All Blacks and what made them so successful. If I wanted a guide to success in business and life I’d read something more appropri ...more

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Jan 17, 2017 Glyn Blaize rated it it was amazing

Fantastic Book - and the author is just as fantastic in person. What is excellent is that James manages to extrapolate from the success of the All Blacks the key strands of their DNA in a way which can be applied to business, relationships and life in general, to the point that when phrases like ‘sweeping the shed’ are used you just get it.
This is a great read for managers, coaches and observers alike. I have now read it twice.

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Jan 11, 2020 Kent Winward rated it it was amazing

Hey, business (I own a couple) and rugby (I still play) combined into a book means I have to give this five stars, even if it only probably merits four, but for my particular brand of me, it worked. I enjoyed looking at my business through the eyes of playing rugby and team dynamics.

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Oct 11, 2018 Pete Wung rated it it was amazing

This book came highly recommended by a number of coaches whose opinion I respect, even though it is yet another business book which touts their own brand of motivation/leadership credentials. This book is unique because it tries to document the keys to success of one of the most mythical teams in world sports: the All Blacks of New Zealand. Indeed, their story has a magnetic attraction for those coaches who are believers in the simplicity and honesty of the All Black approach to working playing, This book came highly recommended by a number of coaches whose opinion I respect, even though it is yet another business book which touts their own brand of motivation/leadership credentials. This book is unique because it tries to document the keys to success of one of the most mythical teams in world sports: the All Blacks of New Zealand. Indeed, their story has a magnetic attraction for those coaches who are believers in the simplicity and honesty of the All Black approach to working playing, and conducting their work.
Since the book is already a best seller by the time I got to it, I fully expected a slick, by the book business tome, structured to present a lesson each chapter and the ubiquitous anecdotes which support the central point that the author wished to make. Most business books seem to come off as insincere as they tried to make their points. Mr. Kerr, however, has an unadorned style. He takes his own advice in regard to the power of telling a story and tells the story of the All Blacks sincerely and adroitly.
Some comments on the structure and style of the book. Mr. Kerr jumps in both feet right away, there are fifteen numbered chapters which are neatly summarized in the sixteenth, and the first unnumbered, chapter. Each chapter ends with a final summary page which succinctly encapsulates the lesson with an aboriginal saying and a short catch phrase. This structure allows the reader to easily reach back into the chapters and get the idea behind each chapter, as well as use the summary to create their own environment from these ideas.
The chapters though are the gold of the book. Each chapter contains a good number of anecdotes and descriptions of what the All Blacks coaches did to create their unique culture and belief system. It is refreshing to read this book because the anecdotes are relayed without overly dramatizing the stories. In other words, Mr. Kerr does not rely on being overly dramatic to sell books.
I recommend this book to anyone who are inspired by the mythology of the All Blacks, want to know the philosophy and a bit on the implementation of the ideas in real life but want to be spared the usual business/leadership book treatment.
...more

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Nov 22, 2017 Library at Oxley added it

Shelves: senior-non-fiction

A rugby match is a short, intense lifetime lived across two 40 minute halves, from the hopeful birth of the game to the crushing or triumphant end. Each game involves the sort of challenges many of us encounter over much greater lengths of time, often many years; self-doubt, arrogance, unrealistic expectations, opposition, injury, high stakes outcomes, trust, ego, intimidation and responsibility for others. A rugby team is a group of warriors facing a battle that is more than just physical, it i ...more

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Apr 09, 2018 James Wain rated it really liked it

Listened to this on audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the first 3-4 chapters, but then felt it faded slightly towards the end. Some excellent tips and anecdotes for life, work and the general self however; well worth a quick read.

Quite a lot of the statements are quotes / sound bites from other books, and although making it very well researched with some nice quotes, it does lack a degree of original thinking. Instead seems to have looked at the All Blacks success, then subsequently researched l ...more

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Dec 07, 2019 Ian Constable rated it it was amazing

The All Black way of life. Drawing from the experience of other top tier organizations like the United States Marine Corps to Apple, the science of performance psychology and coaching, and the ancient wisdom of the Maori people, the All Blacks have built their organization into one of the most successful of all time. This book details their leadership and team-building practices which are universally applicable.

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Sep 02, 2017 José rated it really liked it

What's your legacy? Are you ready to prepare the next leader of your team? Do you want to learn how to the all blacks prepare their leaders? This is an inspiring story on how emblematic teams are build. What are their core values. And how those values are promoted and passed through time. In my opinion a must read for any leader. ...more

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Sep 05, 2018 Ellis Nickson rated it it was amazing

Inspiring

One of the best leadership/sport related books I've read for a long time. Have learnt so much that I will be looking to implement into my own profession. Great work James Kerr ...more

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Jan 17, 2019 Jay Dwight rated it really liked it

Not a huge reader of management books, but enjoyed this one.

Plenty of learnings from the All Blacks culture and systems that can be applied to business, and to life.

Written in an easy to digest format.

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Oct 15, 2019 Jack Adams rated it really liked it

Pretty good overview on the leadership culture within the All Blacks and how that helps them be successful and maintain an image.

Lots of useful parts and draws from a range of different sources.

Great book

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Sep 27, 2020 João Bastos rated it really liked it

Nice writing combined with lots references and a easy to follow lesson-based structure make up for a good read.

Sadly, not as in-depth as I'd expect in terms of practical examples from ab All Blacks perspective and a few of the lesson's details are somewhat generic.

Overall good read! ...more

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Oct 12, 2018 Bernie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Applicable to leaders everywhere. Invaluable mentoring for coaches wanting to explore the mental development of their teams.

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Nov 10, 2017 Nicky Billou rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Incredible book. Blew me away! I learned, I was inspired, I was energized.

What more can you ask from a book?

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Jul 22, 2020 Anthony Van Eeckhout rated it it was amazing

Great, inspiring and practical lessons applicable to businesses everywhere. It helped me define and shape the leader I aspire to be in the future.

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Dec 19, 2016 Fred Leland rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What is your legacy?

This is one of the best books I have read all year. It's not just a book on leadership, it is a book on decision making and self mastery. With ideas pulled from ancient and modern strategists and thought leaders this book I could not put down. Read it to inspire and united your team or organization. Educate and train your police officers because better people make better police departments. This fantastic book is really about continuous learning and improvement. I highly rec ...more

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Dec 31, 2016 C. Patrick rated it really liked it

This is a book I would have liked to write... if I knew anything about rugby. I am grateful to Ryan Pierce for bringing it to my attention. As an aside, I regard Ryan "The Most Interesting Person in the United States Navy", and we are lucky to have someone with his entrepreneurial spirit who likely could write his own ticket in the field of his choosing. Now, when I had asked Ryan what his takeaway from "Legacy" was, he said "sweeping the sheds." That was the first chapter, which left me wonderi ...more

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Feb 15, 2019 Jelmer Smits rated it it was ok

This book made the impression on me of that of a student's master thesis. The author has picked an incredibly interesting and complex subject, but studies it in a manner way too broad. He never really comes into specifics and hence fails to deliver true quality on the subject. A real structure is missing, random references are plentiful, indeed the tempo is off. It's like a thesis that has plenty potential, but should've received a lot more guidance from professors and co-readers in order to nar ...more

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Sep 04, 2017 Jared rated it liked it

Shelves: leadership, self-actualization

'Legacy' is a book that came highly recommended. It's a book that talks about the All Blacks rugby club and their formula for success. Even if you're not a fan of sport, there are plenty of enjoyable elements that you can learn from no matter what your vocation may be. Below are some of my favorite parts (in no particular order):

Building a high performance culture:
- ‘Lombardi Model’, which began with a simple statement: ——Only by knowing yourself can you become an effective leader.
- ‘What is my ...more

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Sep 18, 2019 Elan Hoffman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Through away every other book on business management/leadership you have and study this one.

It’s short, punchy and has enough wisdom for anyone in an authoritarian position to setup a great system for success.

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Jun 14, 2019 Kupono Fey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Absolutely love this book! Great values and lessons top to bottom! It really ties in Maori culture and the legendary All Blacks organization altogether showing how even when you are on top of your game, you can still change your game. I still use it as a guide to go back to and continue working on my own leadership skills to help with my everyday life and my professional volleyball career

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Nov 28, 2018 Mark Coleman rated it it was amazing

Legacy is a book written about the All Blacks, who have a pretty stunning 75% win rate in Test match rugby. I am someone that enjoys sport, so found this an interesting and engaging read, I also liked the fact that the author referenced different authors and viewpoints to strengthen his observations.

The book is broken up into 15 chapters, which is clearly no coincidence that there are 15 players on the field. I would definitely recommend this book to who that are interested in learning about lea ...more

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