134: An NBA Legend on 12 Character Qualities You Cannot Live Without (feat. Pat Williams)

Today’s conversation is about character. In 2019, looking at culture, and the chaotic way so many people interact in relationships, on the news, through social media, and in politics, I believe we’re in a society that is in a huge deficit of character. So today, we’re talking about twelve specific qualities of character that you and I should ensure that we employ every single day, especially when no one else is watching.

Overlooking the Hudson River on the campus of the United States Military Academy at West Point are 12 granite benches, each inscribed with a word representing a key leadership virtue: compassion, courage, dedication, determination, dignity, discipline, integrity, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, service, and trust. These benches remind cadets of the qualities that lead to victory and success, not just on the battlefield, but in all of life. Joining us today to talk about these twelve virtues for life is NBA legend, co-founder and senior vice president of the Orlando Magic, Pat Williams.

Pat Williams has been a lifelong student of life and leadership. As a young man, he learned that who you are on the inside is vastly more important than what you do on the outside. As co-founder and senior vice president of the Orlando Magic, Pat, a basketball Hall-of-Famer, is responsible for drafting Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, and led the Philadelphia 76ers to a world championship in 1983. But life hasn’t always been on the up for Pat. In February of 2011, Pat was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable form of cancer. Miraculously, though, after several rounds of treatment, Pat’s doctors have told him that they are unable to detect any myeloma in his body and have given him a clean bill of health.

Pat’s love for family is demonstrated with his wife, Ruth, as they are the parents of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four nations. With his signature enthusiasm and insight, today, Pat Williams is going to share the incredible stories of West Point graduates who exemplified 12 essential qualities of leadership character, from the Civil War to the War on Terror. And He’s going to teach all of us how to develop these 12 essential virtues in our lives, whether you are in the corporate world, the academic world, the military, the church, or in some other sphere.

Buy the Book

Overlooking the Hudson River on the campus of the United States Military Academy at West Point are 12 granite benches, each inscribed with a word representing a key leadership virtue: compassion, courage, dedication, determination, dignity, discipline, integrity, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, service, and trust. These benches remind cadets of the qualities that lead to victory and success, not just on the battlefield, but in all of life. With his signature enthusiasm and insight, Pat Williams shares the incredible stories of West Point graduates who exemplified these traits, from the Civil War to the War on Terror. He shows readers of all backgrounds how to develop these 12 essential virtues in their lives, whether they are in the corporate world, the academic world, the military, the church, or in some other sphere. Buy Character Carved in Stone: The 12 Core Virtues of West Point That Build Leaders and Produce Success now.

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“So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!”