Author of 97 books, latest, It's Not Who You Know, It's Who You Are (2015)
Co-founder/Senior Vice President of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, 1987
Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame (2012)
Served as General Mgr. for Chicago, Atlanta, Philly, including 1983 Champion 76ers
Motivational speaker
Radio host
Featured in Sports Illustrated, Readers’ Digest
Education:
BS, Wake Forest
Masters, Indiana Univ.
Doctorate in Humane Letters, Flagler Univ.
Married to Ruth
Father of 19 children (4 birth kids, 14 internationally adopted, 1 by remarriage)
14 grandchildren
Guest
Pat Williams of the NBA’s Orlando Magic Shares His Secret to Success
Pat started his sports career in Minor League Baseball as a catcher then left in 1968 and took his first NBA job as the business manager of the Philadelphia 76ers. Pat says he got some advice he will never forget from Bob Carpenter, owner of the Philadelphia Phillies. He told Pat, “Keep your eyes and ears open – on and off the field.” Pat learned early in life that learning how to become successful from those who have achieved success was the key to reaching his goals. He used their words of wisdom to shape his own view of what success is and how to achieve it.
He has been in the NBA as general manager for teams in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia—including the 1983 World Champion 76ers—and now the Orlando Magic, which he co-founded in 1987 and helped lead to the NBA finals in 1995 and 2009. Pat has been an integral part of NBA history, including bringing the NBA to Orlando. He has traded Pete Maravich as well as traded for Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Penny Hardaway. He has won four NBA draft lotteries, including back-to-back winners in 1992 and 1993. He also drafted Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney and Darryl Dawkins. He signed Billy Cunningham, Chuck Daly, and Matt Guokas to their first professional coaching contracts. Nineteen of his former players have become NBA head coaches, nine have become college head coaches while seven have become assistant NBA coaches.
LIFE LESSONS FROM WINNERS
Everyday Pat has tried to learn life lessons from winners in every walk of life from his encounters with presidents, religious leaders, civil rights leaders, and athletes to name a few. Pat shares a few of the insights he has gained from these individuals below:
- Pat Robertson - Through the years, Pat has gotten a chance to know Dr. Pat Robertson. “I go on the show about once a year to promote a new book, and he is always very kind to me. He has invited me to Regent University on four occasions to speak,” shares Pat. Several years ago, Pat remembers having lunch with Dr. Robertson after a Regent graduation. They began reminiscing about the 1988 presidential primaries. He asked Dr. Robertson what prompted him to enter the presidential race. Pat said Dr. Robertson looked at him as if he had just asked the silliest question ever uttered. “Because I thought I could win,” he said. Pat admires Dr. Robertson success and winning attitude.
- Billy Graham - Pat met Billy Graham in 1962. Pat was a senior at Wake Forest. Pastor Graham was on campus for a couple of days so Pat took his tape recorder and went to see him. Pat talked with him about baseball and all the sports he loved to play. Pat says it was one of his best interviews ever. Ten years after his first encounter with Pastor Graham, Pat was the general manager of the Chicago Bulls, and he had become a Christian. Pastor Graham came to Chicago for an evangelistic crusade and invited Pat to share his faith before an audience of forty thousand at the McCormick Center. In his encounters with this iconic man, Pat was impressed by Pastor Graham’s gentleness and humility. He just has a big heart for people. In order to become a great leader, Pat says you must become a person of excellence.
- Bill Veeck – Bill was a great baseball owner and innovator who presided over teams such as the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. Pat says Bill was a mentor or role model for him. One year, after a difficult season as the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, Pat was frustrated with the team’s lackluster performance. Pat talked to Bill on the phone and poured out his frustrations. Bill asked him, “How many people did you draw to the ballpark this season?” Pat told him 114,000. Bill asked if those people had a good time. Pat replied I think so. Bill said, “Name one other thing you could of done this summer that would of provided as much fun to that many people.” Pat could not think of another thing. Pat was thankful for Bill’s encouragement. He realized that he was doing something important for thousands of people despite where his team had finished in the rankings.
Pat encourages young people to learn life lessons from mentors in their life. A mentor can be a family or friend or even a mentor in history such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, or Mother Teresa.
His definition for success is “figuring out where your best talent intersects with your greatest passion.” Pat says, “That is your sweet spot.” He encourages young people to determine their talent/passion early in life. As a father of 19 children, ages 29 - 42, Pat practices what he preaches. He says most parents want their child to be successful. He gave his children three choices when they reached the age of eighteen: Go to college (and he would help them), join the military or join the workforce. He says all of his children chose different career paths, but are all doing well.
HEALTH UPDATE
In 2011, Pat was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer of the blood and bone marrow). Pat says “In many ways, the diagnosis of multiple myeloma has turned out to be a blessing – and an opportunity. We all have influence, we all have an impact on the people around us – and we have all been shaped and impacted by the influencers in our own lives.” Hopefully, people will be inspired to build a positive legacy in the lives of others and take the role of influencer to heart. After a stem cell transplant in 2012, chemotherapy treatments and daily oral medication Pat’s cancer is now in its fifth year of remission. He is doing well and keeping a full schedule. Pat is still writing books, speaking, and enjoying his family.
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