MEDIA RELEASE
Leadership lessons from Steve Waugh exclusively at BIG W
Thursday, 15 August 2013: Cricket legend Steve Waugh today launches his new book at BIG W, sharing the lessons he’s learnt through his enduring career and multi‐faceted life. The book, The Meaning of Luck: Stories of Learning, Leadership and Love, focuses on mentoring and leadership against the backdrop of sport, business and family. Waugh has joined forces with BIG W because of the discount department store’s track record of supporting Australian books. “One of my passions is to get more Australians reading. I’ve partnered with BIG W because they are a favourite with shoppers due to their range and affordability.” Waugh says luck is commonly misunderstood as something that is completely random, “I've spoken to many people who have had a tendency to put their breaks down to sheer luck. But successful people don’t rely on fate but, rather, have a clear goal of what they want to achieve and seek to make the most of their opportunities.” The former Australian Test cricket captain uses his own experiences as an example, “No one described me as lucky if I was dropped on nought but then got out for 20. But if I went on to score 120, then I was seen as very lucky.” The book is also published by Waugh and profiles people who have experienced ‘luck’ – good and bad – and turned it to their advantage. Among these champions are Olympic gold medal winners Anna Meares and Steven Bradbury, acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo and the football coach Wayne Bennett. Waugh also speaks to some of the brave children he has come into contact with through his philanthropic work in India and Australia. Cricket features heavily in The Meaning of Luck, “With Australia and England in the full throes of the Ashes, the new book is a perfect opportunity to relay what I’ve discovered about success through my Ashes experiences and how that informed the rest of my career.” To coincide with the book’s launch, Waugh will be attempting to reach the goal of breaking the Guinness World Records title for the most books signed in one day. Taking place at the BIG W store in Penrith, Sydney, on Saturday 24 August, Waugh will attempt to sign more than 4,650 books for customers to snare the record, “My book is all about achieving your goals so I thought I’d see if I, and the people of Sydney, could beat one together.” Meredith Drake, Head of Books at BIG W, said The Meaning of Luck was sure to make a popular Fathers’ Day gift, “Book lovers and sports fans are the winners when you combine an Australian cricket hero and Australia’s lowest prices at BIG W.” The Meaning of Luck is now available at all BIG W stores, bigw.com.au and selected Woolworths supermarkets. More information can be found at www.stevewaughbooks.com and facebook.com/stevewaugh For further information and images please contact the BIG W Press Office on 02 8885 1033