Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Joe Gibbs is a three-time Super Bowl winning coach and a three-time NASCAR champion team owner, who has a heart for connecting with men on the issues they face. Joe and his wife have two grown sons, eight grandchildren and live outside Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Game Plan for Life

Zondervan

Contents

Time Line of Joe Gibbs........................................7From the Coach................................................9Winning the Game of Life......................................11The Perfect Coach.............................................14What Are Your Idols?..........................................17The Perfect Playbook..........................................20The Perfect Game Plan.........................................23Courage for the Wild Ride.....................................26Learning from Financial Disaster..............................30Creation and Common Sense.....................................34Letting God Take Control of Your Vocation.....................37A New Arrival.................................................41Change That Impacts Others....................................44our God of Second Chances.....................................47Not Compromising our beliefs..................................51Making Big Decisions in Life..................................54Nothing is Too Big for God....................................58Life is a Team sport..........................................61Storms of Life................................................65Rededicating My Life..........................................69Importance of Faithful Relationships..........................73Always Listen to Your Wife....................................76Whom Do You Trust?............................................79Taylor's Leukemia.............................................83Sometimes It Just Keeps Coming................................87Wisdom for Dealing with Life's Challenges.....................91God's Priority for Your Career................................96Trusting the Playbook.........................................100Are You Ready?................................................103You Can't Fail If God Is In It................................106Staying Strong Under Criticism................................110Man of Purpose................................................114Teammates in the Game of Life.................................117The Fourth Quarter............................................121Refusing to Lose..............................................124Finding True Peace at Night...................................128A Grandson's Love.............................................131Nothing Is Impossible for God.................................134It Could End at Any Time......................................137Audience of One...............................................141Still Battling................................................144

Chapter One

November 25, 1940 Born in Mocksville, North Carolina

1955 Relocated to southern California with family

1959 Graduated Santa Fe High School, Santa Fe, California

1959 - 1963 Attended Cerritos Junior College and San Diego State University (SDSU)

1964 - 1966 Graduated from SDSU and earned a master's degree in 1966

Started coaching career under Don Coryell as a graduate assistant

January 29, 1966 Married Pat

1967 - 1968 Offensive line coach for Florida state University

1969 - 1970 Coached under John McKay at Southern California (USC)

February 21, 1969 First son, J.D. Gibbs, was born

1971 - 1972 Coached under Frank Broyles at University of Arkansas

December 9, 1972 Second son, Coy Gibbs, was born

1973 - 1977 Rejoined Coryell as running backs coach for St. Louis Cardinals

1978 Offensive coordinator under John McKay for Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1979 - 1980 Rejoined Coryell once again as offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers

1981 Named head coach of Washington Redskins

January 1983 Redskins win super Bowl XVII

January 1988 Redskins win super Bowl XXII

1991 Announced the formation of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR)

1992 Redskins win Super Bowl XXVI

1993 JGR wins first-ever NASCAR race with the 1993 running of the Daytona 500

March l993 Gibbs retires as head coach of the Washington Redskins after twelve seasons

October 1997 Son, J.D. Gibbs, named president of JGR

2000 JGR wins its first NASCAR Cup championship, with driver Bobby LaBonte

2002 JGR wins its second NASCAR Cup championship, with driver Tony Stewart

January 2004 Gibbs returns as head coach of the Washington Redskins

2005 JGR wins its third NASCAR Cup championship, with driver Tony Stewart

January 2008 JGR Motocross (JGRMX) founded by son, Coy Gibbs, runs first race

January 2008 Gibbs resigns as head coach of Washington Redskins

2008 JGR wins NASCAR Nationwide series owner's Championship

August 2009 Game Plan for Life, Coach Gibbs' third book, becomes NY Times bestseller

2009 JGR wins NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver's and Owner's Championship

2010 JGR wins NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship

FROM THE COACH

What does it mean to win? How do you define success? My entire adult life has involved competition in two professional sports with over 100 million fans between them. As the head coach of the Washington Redskins, we won three Super Bowls and four NFC championships. As the owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, we've won three NASCAR Cup championships and over 175 races so far. Along the way I've learned a lot about what it takes to win. But, you know what? I also know something about losing.

Standing on the sideline in front of 91,000 fans at FedEx Field in Washington when a decision I made may have contributed to the Redskins' defeat is tough. Watching one of our cars dominate a 500-mile race only to get taken out by equipment failure is hard to take. In my personal life I haven't always been the perfect husband and dad. To be truthful with you, many of the most important lessons I've learned in my life have come from personal failures and professional losses.

Along the way I've learned the value of setting aside time to connect with the Lord by reading the Bible, praying, and doing a short devotional; this time is one of the most important resources I have to live successfully. My quiet time with the Lord gives me perspective and the strength to get up and move into the day with the assurance that my Heavenly Father cares for me and is interested in helping me find true success—as He defines it.

When it comes right down to it, I'm just your "average Joe" looking for practical solutions to the challenges life throws at me. I believe God gives us the guidance we need in His Word. Maybe you're like me, and if that's the case, my hope is that as you read these devotionals, you'll be encouraged to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" so that He can "make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

WINNING THE GAME OF LIFE

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

From the time I was a young kid in middle school my hope was to one day become a professional football player—I loved competing against other teams and taking on challenges with my teammates. Later, at San Diego State, it became clear to me that although I was a decent football player, I just didn't have the skill it would take to become a great professional player. I set my sights on coaching instead, starting as a graduate assistant at SDSU under Aztec head coach Don Coryell. Pat and I have never looked back—coaching is one of the things I was created to...