Be Where Your Feet Are

Book excerpt: Scott O'Neil, one of America's most successful sports executives, shares seven principles to keep you present, grounded, and thriving. When we’re moving at 115 MPH, we rarely see the wall coming. But it comes for all of us and when it does, we grasp for lessons, for meaning, for purpose. Each moment (good or bad) and each win or loss, provides us an opportunity to learn, and if we choose to take it, that opportunity can change our lives-and the world- for the better. The human spirit craves connection. Authenticity. Belonging. Touch. Gratitude. Purpose. We need to make our interactions count. Whether it’s the death of a friend, loss of a job, a bad break-up or the isolation of COVID-19, those who manage to be where their feet are will grow, stretch and emerge stronger, smarter and more prepared as we find peace and gratitude in the pause. In Be Where Your Feet Are, Scott O’Neil, CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, offers his own story of grief and healing, and shares his most valuable lessons in what keeps him present, grounded and thriving as a father, husband, coach, mentor, and leader. Scott avails his network to share poignant life lessons from an array of people including professional athletes and sports executives, a world-famous Movie Director, Saudi royalty; and his teenage daughters, among many others. Be Where Your Feet Are provides a humbling and vulnerable peek behind the curtain as well as a framework, anecdotes, and exercises to guide the reader towards self-discovery. A gifted storyteller with an uncanny ability and willingness to bare raw emotion, Scott weaves in and out of stories that have left deep imprints on him and are written to lift and inspire.