I like reading the core values of successful organizations. I don’t think there’s necessarily any real magic in them. The magic is getting the team to align with those values and act accordingly. But I like reading them none-the-less. They can be very powerful.

Anson Dorrance, coach of the UNC women’s soccer team, built one of the greatest dynasties in any sport at any level. His teams have won 21 NCAA DI National Championships since he founded the program in 1979.

Here are the core values of the UNC women’s soccer team:

1. We don’t whine.
2. The truly extraordinary do something every day.
3. We want these four years to be rich, valuable and deep.
4. We work hard.
5. We don’t freak out over ridiculous situations or live in fragile states of emotional catharsis.
6. We choose to be positive.
7. We treat everyone with respect.
8. We care about each other as teammates and as human beings.
9. When we don’t play as much as we would like, we are noble and still support the team and its mission.
10. We play for each other.
11. We are well led.
12. We want our lives (and not just in soccer) to be never ending ascensions.

He goes into more detail in this PDF: UNC Women’s Soccer – Core Values.

If you want to read more about Anson Dorrance, The Man Watching by Tim Crothers is one of the best books I’ve read and I highly recommend it.