Why am I passionate about this?

I was the Head Coach of the Punahou School Boys Varsity Tennis Team for 22 years, and we were fortunate to win 22 consecutive State Championships. Since retiring as head coach in 2015, I felt compelled to become an author and share my system of coaching excellence which led to this unprecedented winning streak. I know there are distinct differences between great and superior which can be applied to everyone in business, sports, and life. I want to inspire everyone to maximize their potential and have peak performance as a parent, son or daughter, coach or player, leader or team member.


I wrote...

Superior: Creating a Superior Culture of Excellence

By Rusty Komori,

Book cover of Superior: Creating a Superior Culture of Excellence

What is my book about?

How do you go beyond good to great and achieve superior excellence in business, sports, and life? What does it…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Book cover of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Rusty Komori Why did I love this book?

I loved this book because it reminded me to be proactive and focus only on things within my control. I focus on making self-discipline a priority in my life because it leads to habits, which lead to results and success.

Building habits based on principles and character, such as integrity, humility, courage, and empathy, leads to fulfillment and true success. It also reminds me to consistently align my actions with my values in order to build meaningful relationships. Words and actions matter because they build trust and respect.

By Stephen R. Covey,

Why should I read it?

15 authors picked The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times bestseller - over 25 million copies sold
The No. 1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century

"[Thirty] years after it first appeared, the wisdom of The 7 Habits is more relevant than ever. On an individual level people are burning out, and on a collective level we are burning up the planet. So Dr. Covey's emphasis on self-renewal and his understanding that leadership and creativity require us to tap into our own physical, mental, and spiritual resources are exactly what we need now." Arianna Huffington

One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written,…


Book cover of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't

Rusty Komori Why did I love this book?

I loved this book because we all want to achieve greatness, and it clearly identifies practices, strategies, and habits that can take a good team and make them great. It’s a reminder for me to be disciplined as a person, control myself with disciplined thoughts, and exhibit disciplined actions.

I like how Jim Collins emphasizes strategic focus, disciplined decision-making, and the importance of sustained excellence for long-term success. His "Hedgehog Concept" is a great reminder for me to reflect on what I’m deeply passionate about, what I can be the best at, and what drives my economic engine.

By Jim Collins,

Why should I read it?

16 authors picked Good to Great as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

________________________________
Can a good company become a great one? If so, how?

After a five-year research project, Jim Collins concludes that good to great can and does happen. In this book, he uncovers the underlying variables that enable any type of organisation to make the leap from good to great while other organisations remain only good. Rigorously supported by evidence, his findings are surprising - at times even shocking - to the modern mind.

Good to Great achieves a rare distinction: a management book full of vital ideas that reads as well as a fast-paced novel. It is widely regarded…


Book cover of Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Rusty Komori Why did I love this book?

I loved this book because little improvements lead to habits, which leads to remarkable results. I like how James Clear provides clarity about the four rules by making it obvious, making it attractive, making it easy, and making it satisfying.

The Power of the 1% Rule is something that I have always believed in for myself and with my teams to achieve any goal we are striving for. I also liked the clarity about the most effective way to change your habits is not to focus on what you want to achieve, but instead on who you want to become.

By James Clear,

Why should I read it?

24 authors picked Atomic Habits as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The #1 New York Times bestseller. Over 4 million copies sold!

Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the…


Book cover of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

Rusty Komori Why did I love this book?

I loved how Patrick Lencioni provided clarity and simplicity in avoiding the pitfalls which cause dysfunction among team members.

It’s a great reminder for me to have awareness in the five areas which include the absence of trust, a fear of conflict, a lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results.

It also reminded me about the importance of building trust, being committed to the goal, holding each other accountable, and having open communication in building a healthy culture with your team.

By Patrick M. Lencioni,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The Five Dysfunctions of a Team as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Patrick Lencioni once again offers a leadership fable that is as enthralling and instructive as his first two best-selling books, The Five Temptations of a CEO and The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive. This time, he turns his keen intellect and storytelling power to the fascinating, complex world of teams. Kathryn Petersen, Decision Tech's CEO, faces the ultimate leadership crisis: Uniting a team in such disarray that it threatens to bring down the entire company. Will she succeed? Will she be fired? Will the company fail? Lencioni's utterly gripping tale serves as…


Book cover of Open: An Autobiography

Rusty Komori Why did I love this book?

I loved this book because of how raw and vulnerable Agassi was in sharing his insecurities and adversities during his time as a tennis pro. As a tennis pro myself, I completely related to Agassi sharing his experiences as a competitor and the internal challenges he faced mentally and emotionally.

There’s no doubt that sports have countless common threads that help us to succeed in life. When competing in tennis, you’re out there by yourself, alone with only your thoughts. Therefore, controlling your mindset and constantly striving for superior excellence is vital in giving yourself the chance for peak performance.

I also liked how he found fulfillment through personal growth and maturity in overcoming adversities which ultimately led him to have a deep love and appreciation of tennis, and finding the love of his life in marrying Steffi Graf.

By Andre Agassi,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Open as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

He is one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court - but from early childhood Andre Agassi hated the game.

Coaxed to swing a racket while still in the crib, forced to hit hundreds of balls a day while still in grade school, Agassi resented the constant pressure even as he drove himself to become a prodigy, an inner conflict that would define him. Now, in his beautiful, haunting autobiography, Agassi tells the story of a life framed by such conflicts.

Agassi makes us feel his…


Don't forget about my book 😀

Superior: Creating a Superior Culture of Excellence

By Rusty Komori,

Book cover of Superior: Creating a Superior Culture of Excellence

What is my book about?

How do you go beyond good to great and achieve superior excellence in business, sports, and life? What does it take to make it to the top of the mountain to be #1 and, more importantly, sustain success by defending the mountain?

Whether you’re a leader, coach or CEO with an undying passion to maximize your team’s potential, Superior serves as an unprecedented guide to shape a high-performance culture that does not settle for meeting expectations, but rather transcending them entirely. Readers will be equipped with a proven system to not just reach the elusive “great” tier, but to rocket past it by establishing an unparalleled standard of superior excellence. 

You might also like...

The Pact

By Lisa Darcy,

Book cover of The Pact

Lisa Darcy Author Of The Pact

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Cat lover Traveler Reader Amateur tennis player Foodie

Lisa's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

The Pact is a contemporary fiction novel about Australian sisters, Samantha and Annie, who are doubles tennis champions. This story amplifies the usual sibling issues and explores their professional partnership and personal relationships – similarities, differences, motivation, competition, abandonment, and grief – and how they each respond to the stress of constantly being under the media spotlight.

What happens when, at the pinnacle of fame, it all falls apart?

With dreams shattered and egos destroyed, how do they cope?

I have an older sister and although our rapport isn’t as dramatic, or as close, for that matter, I was able…

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in leadership, teamwork, and success in life?

Leadership 380 books
Teamwork 16 books
Success In Life 256 books