Don Yaeger

n 2016 the Cubs snapped a 108-year curse, winning the World Series in a history-making, seven-game series against the Cleveland Indians. Of the many storylines to Chicago's fairytale season, one stood out: the late-career renaissance of David Ross, the 39-year-old catcher who had played back-up for 13 of his 15 pro seasons.

Beyond Ross's remarkably strong play, he became the ultimate positive force in the Cubs locker room, mentoring and motivating his fellow players, some of them nearly… Show more

n 2016 the Cubs snapped a 108-year curse, winning the World Series in a history-making, seven-game series against the Cleveland Indians. Of the many storylines to Chicago's fairytale season, one stood out: the late-career renaissance of David Ross, the 39-year-old catcher who had played back-up for 13 of his 15 pro seasons.

Beyond Ross's remarkably strong play, he became the ultimate positive force in the Cubs locker room, mentoring and motivating his fellow players, some of them nearly twenty years his junior. Thanks to Cubs Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, "Grandpa Rossy" became a social media sensation. No one, however, could have predicted that Ross's home run in his final career at bat would help seal the Cubs championship.

Now, in Teammate, Ross shares the inspiring story of his life in baseball, framed by the events of that unforgettable November night. Show less

There is nothing more magical than watching a team come together, to manage adversity as a group, selflessly give to others, to find common purpose. Inspiring that to happen year-in and year-out is what keeps us in leadership. Don Yaeger has studied the best of the best. Now it is our turn to study this book.—Mike Krzyzewski, five-time NCAA Tournament Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medal Winning Basketball coach, Duke University Men’s Basketball

What makes a team great? Not just good… Show more

There is nothing more magical than watching a team come together, to manage adversity as a group, selflessly give to others, to find common purpose. Inspiring that to happen year-in and year-out is what keeps us in leadership. Don Yaeger has studied the best of the best. Now it is our turn to study this book.—Mike Krzyzewski, five-time NCAA Tournament Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medal Winning Basketball coach, Duke University Men’s Basketball

What makes a team great? Not just good. Not just functional. But great?

Over the last six years, long-time Sports Illustrated associate editor Don Yaeger has been invited by some of the greatest companies in the world to speak about the habits of high-performing individuals. Delivering an average of 80 keynote speeches per year, Don was approached by his most consistent client, Microsoft, to develop a talk on what allowed some teams to play at a championship level year after year. From Microsoft and Starbucks to the New England Patriots and San Antonio Spurs, what do some organizations do seemingly better than most all of their opponents?

Don took the challenge. He began building into his travel schedule opportunities to interview our generation’s greatest team builders from the sports and business worlds. During this process, he has conducted more than 100 interviews with some of the most successful teams and organizations in the country. From those interviews, Don has identified 16 habits that drive these high-performing teams.

Building on the stories, examples, and first-hand accounts, each chapter in Great Teams comes with applicable examples on how to apply these characteristics in any organization. Great Teams is the ultimate intersection of the sports and business worlds and a powerful companion for thought leaders, teams, managers, and organizations that seek to perform similarly. The insight shared in this book is sure to enhance any team in its pursuit of excellence.



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This is the little-known story of how a newly independent nation was challenged by four Muslim powers and what happened when America's third president decided to stand up to intimidation.

When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced a crisis. The new nation was deeply in debt and needed it economy to grow quickly, but it's merchant ships were under attack. Pirates from North Africa's Barbary coast routinely captured American sailors and held them as slaves, demanding… Show more

This is the little-known story of how a newly independent nation was challenged by four Muslim powers and what happened when America's third president decided to stand up to intimidation.

When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced a crisis. The new nation was deeply in debt and needed it economy to grow quickly, but it's merchant ships were under attack. Pirates from North Africa's Barbary coast routinely captured American sailors and held them as slaves, demanding ransom and tribute payments far beyond what the new country could afford.

Over the previous fifteen years as a diplomat and then as a secretary of state, Jefferson had tried to work with the Barbary states (Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco.) Unfortunately, he found it impossible to negotiate with people who believed their religion justified the plunder and enslavement of non-Muslims. These rogue states would show no mercy--at least no while easy money could be made by extorting the Western powers. So President Jefferson decided to move beyond diplomacy. He sent the U.S. Navy's new warships and a detachment of Marines to blockade Tripoli--launching the Barbary Wars and beginning America's journey toward the future superpower status. Show less

The Two Most Important Days of Your Life takes readers on an inspiring and emotional journey that will help chart the path to finding one’s true purpose, defining moments, service opportunities, passion, value, and worth.

Everyone struggles with purpose. Every person, team, or organization seeks relevance in the people they serve and the questions they ask. We all have been fortunate enough to have been born, but not all of us take the time to really consider why.

Drawing upon… Show more

The Two Most Important Days of Your Life takes readers on an inspiring and emotional journey that will help chart the path to finding one’s true purpose, defining moments, service opportunities, passion, value, and worth.

Everyone struggles with purpose. Every person, team, or organization seeks relevance in the people they serve and the questions they ask. We all have been fortunate enough to have been born, but not all of us take the time to really consider why.

Drawing upon their collective vision and creativity, authors and speakers Ty Bennett, Chad Hymas, and Don Yaeger have infused this engaging story with practical lessons of hope, change, and empowerment.

For thought-leaders, innovators, managers, athletes, and teachers and students of all ages and kinds, The Two Most Important Days of Your Life provides a compelling, powerful road-map to answer the toughest questions of life in order to bring out the absolute best in yourself and your team. After reading this book, you will be forever changed. Show less

No company in America has been more responsible for inspiring and improving the work productivity of employees than Simple Truths®.

They have used the Greatest performance tips from some of the world’s most famous authors and made them into more compact, quicker reading books. Now, they have taken my best-selling book Greatness and applied their amazing recipe for success, in which you can study and read within an hour!

What Makes the Great Ones Great is more than just a book… Show more

No company in America has been more responsible for inspiring and improving the work productivity of employees than Simple Truths®.

They have used the Greatest performance tips from some of the world’s most famous authors and made them into more compact, quicker reading books. Now, they have taken my best-selling book Greatness and applied their amazing recipe for success, in which you can study and read within an hour!

What Makes the Great Ones Great is more than just a book. It’s a roadmap to success. Over the last thirty years throughout my career as a journalist and sportswriter, I have interviewed some of the most exceptional, high performing individuals in the world of sports. From these interviews, I have condensed their valuable lessons into 16 characteristics of championship living into a “life book” that anyone can read and apply to their lives.

This book was written with the goal of inspiring others to work towards their personal and professional best. I strongly believe that Greatness is available to all of us and, with this book, I hope to inspire you to never be content with just being good. Show less

25 Stories of Strength and Resilience from America's Favorite Athletes.

A rare glimpse into the private lives of your favorite athletes and what gives these champion sportsmen and women a deeper satisfaction than any trophy or championship ring.

A look back at George Washington's widely unnoticed spy ring called the Secret Six.

From his countless interviews and discussions with some of the greatest sports figures of our lives, Don compiled a list of the 16 Consistent Characteristics of Greatness.

Michael Oher's journey from homelessness, to The Blind Side, and beyond.

The remarkable story of a father's devotion to his wheelchair-bound son and how their bond inspired millions of people worldwide.

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden gives an inspiring guide in the value of sharing knowledge, experience, and life lessons.

Running for My Life is the story of former NFL running back Warrick Dunn's struggle to confront his difficult past and face the grief that he hid for far too long.

Written during the last weeks of his life, Never Die Easy is the autobiography of Walter Payton, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.