Title–Quiet Strength
Author–Tony Dungy
Genre–Non-Fiction
Why I read this book:
Tony Dungy had accomplished quite a bit during his life. He made it to the NFL a a defensive back after playing most of his football career as a quarterback. Once his playing days were over, he began coaching defenses in the NFL and eventually became an NFL head coach. Eventually, Coach Dungy would become the first African American NFL head coach to win the Super Bowl. Immediately after he retired from coaching (which many say he retired way too soon), Coach Dungy began a very successful and lucrative career as an NFL analyst, which he still does today for NBC Sunday Night Football.
Coach Dungy has also had set backs–Making it in the NFL as a defensive player and NOT a quarterback because at the time black quarterbacks were thought of as not smart enough to hold onto such a position in the NFL, multiple seasons being criticized by the media as well as fans because his teams could not make it to the Super Bowl because Coach Dungy would never change his overall strategy or coaching philosophy, and he lost his son to suicide. But perhaps the most odd criticism of Coach Dungy as a Coach was what you did NOT see on the sidelines. Head coaches of every major sport are known to be “firey” on the side line, yelling at referees and curse words being thrown around like Halloween candy. Not so with Coach Dungy. Winning, losing, bad calls, and bone headed plays by his own team were all met with the same response by the head coach–Quiet. I respected this aspect of Coach Dungy and for that reason, I NEEDED to read this book and learn more about Coach Dungy.
What I learned:
Above all else, Tony Dungy was a Christian. The frequent drinking and drug use during his college and NFL playing days in the 60’s and 70’s never interested Coach Dungy. Late nights were full of Bible studies instead of parties. Coach Dungy had to make tough decisions at times that would not only affect his career path but also his family’s overall lifestyle. Moving from one part of the country with little to no notice is a given when it comes to coaching at the highest levels. That also means your wife and kids packing up and starting over again and again, no matter how comfortable they are. No matter the choice Coach Dungy had to make, he NEVER made a decision without first speaking to his wife and to God. Time after time, there would be little signs that would point Coach Dungy in the right direction and it never failed. I have relied on this process as well ever since my legal process began. I fully admit that from when I did begin to dive into the Bible just prior to me self-surrendering to today that God has yet to point me in thee wrong direction and I am forever thankful and loyal for that. No family, no matter what you see on TV or hear or read about is perfect. Tragedy avoids nobody. Coach Dungy learned one evening via phone call his son who was away at college committed suicide. Of course there was shock, but once again there was not anger, blame, resentment. According to Coach Dungy “Over the last 4 decades suicide rates have tripled for young men and doubled for young women. In 2005, 17% of high school kids SERIOUSLY considered suicide.” And that was PRIOR to the pandemic!! Again, Coach Dungy leaned on his faith and relied on God’s strength to push him forward as his son would have wanted. Coach Dungy referred to the story of Job and how his trials and tribulations were not “fair” but God has a plan. What can we learn and how can we help others? If I needed help coping with tragedy, Coach Dungy would be my first call.
How reading this book will help me succeed:
Myself and Coach Dungy are similar. No, I am not black, I never played football in high school let alone the NFL, I never coached above the High School level athletics, and I have thankfully avoided similar family tragedies. BUT, I consider us both “Quiet” leaders who care more helping others succeed than any awards or accolades or praise we may receive ourselves. The number of successful NFL coaches that started with Coach Dungy is
IMPRESSIVE. No matter the circumstances, we also believe leadership means the “buck” stops with the Coach/Manager. No excuses.
Coach Dungy was all about breaking stereotypes–A black football player is smart enough to be quarterback. A leader of men in an intense industry CAN lead with “Quiet Strength”. Losing a child unexpectedly is not about “Why me?” but more about “How can I use God’s plan to help others?”
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Myself and Coach Dungy are similar. No, I am not black, I never played football in high school let alone the NFL, I never coached above the High School level athletics, and I have thankfully avoided similar family tragedies. BUT, I consider us both “Quiet” leaders who care more helping others succeed than any awards or accolades or praise we may receive ourselves. The number of successful NFL coaches that started with Coach Dungy is IMPRESSIVE. No matter the circumstances, we also believe leadership means the “buck” stops with the Coach/Manager. No excuses.
Coach Dungy was all about breaking stereotypes–A black football player is smart enough to be quarterback. A leader of men in an intense industry CAN lead with “Quiet Strength”. Losing a child unexpectedly is not about “Why me?” but more about “How can I use God’s plan to help others?”
When I return to society, I fully intend to immediately begin working and making good money at a job that I love even though I am a convicted felon. The stereotypes of former prisoners are well documented: –They can’t be trusted.
–They will steal from you.
–They don’t deserve to make more than me.
–They will be back in prison soon so why bother?
I will always look for help from God to keep me on the right path and trust his judgement, I will continue to put others needs first before mine, and I will look to help ANYONE preparing for prison or while in prison. I will never lead with “Fire and Brimstone” but what comes naturally to me — “Quiet Strength”.
How about THOSE for convicted felon stereotypes?
About me:
My name is Jeff Piecka and I was sentenced to 34 months in a Federal Prison Camp in Oxford, WI, after committing and pleading guilty to a white collar crime several years ago. Before self-surrendering on June 6, 2022, I promised my wife and family that I WILL exit prison a better husband, son, brother, Christian, future employee, and overall better member of society because I am going to better myself in three ways: 1) Physically–Not just for vanity purposes but a better operating body equals a better operating mind. 2) Mentally–Reading books, papers, stories, and magazines that educate and elevate my mind and expand my vocabulary.
3) Spiritually–For ME, this means learning more from the Bible but it can mean whatever “Greater Good” you believe in.
Shortly after self-surrendering and reading Michael Santos’s book “Earning Freedom–Conquering a 45 Year Prison Term”, it inspired me to want to help just 1 person who is possibly heading to prison so I started emailing my family Posts that my sister uses to post as a Blog on Reddit dot com called “Letters From Federal Prison”. I believe to date it has close to 7,000 views and shares plus there are now 3 comments from people advising that the Blog has helped them. This has motivated me to keep writing (which I have NEVER done anything like this before) and i REALLY want to help more people when I return to society next year.
