* Don't go for "fast buck". Play percentage game, rather than flashy strokes. Aim for win-win situations (not win-lose).

* The key words are: drive, patience, energy, a 'can do' attitude, efficiency and mental toughness.

* Be willing to dare. 'Be bold and unseen forces come to your aid'that is one of my favourite quotations.

* Have energy, persistence, determination and singlemindedness. N.B: INTEGRITY towards self and others is vital.

* An expectation of success - think big, but take small steps along way.

* Eagerness, enthusiasm and ability to make things happen

* The ability to define targets and goals and have dreams

* Think creatively. This is ability to see things differently to think new thoughts ("tink new torts").

In short, DEVELOP YOUR THINKING SKILLS - ALL of them.

For Eddie Robinson was poor, black, and he lived in segregated South. Three big strikes against him. In his book, "Never Before, Never Again," Robinson wrote, "Society said I would never be able to reach my third grade dream of coaching football."

Eddie Robinson went on to prove "society" quite wrong. And he did it because of 3 big reasons:

1. He was determined to live out his dream. 2. He educated himself about all aspects of his profession. 3. He gave 100% of his efforts at whatever he did.

After working his way through Leland College, he landed a job at Grambling State in 1941. Fifty seven years later he retired with 408 career victories, most in college football history.

To his players Robinson was far more than just a winning coach. He highly stressed importance of getting a good education. Robinson knew that he had a big responsibility to set an example for his players on and off field and often thought of himself as a "surrogate" parent to kids while they were at Grambling.

He also taught that winning does not have to be at any cost. He used football to teach kids honesty, integrity, and to help shape them into men.