Leadership Is Worthless...But Leading Is Priceless - by Thom Mayer MD (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Leadership lessons that work when everything goes wrong, from the doctor who saved lives at Ground Zero, in war-torn Ukraine, and on the NFL sidelines.

From the NFL medical director who leads teams through life-and-death emergencies comes essential leadership lessons for leaders at every level.

Dr. Thom Mayer doesn't just talk about leadership--he lives it in the world's most high-stakes situations. From commanding the 9/11 Pentagon rescue operation to rushing onto NFL fields during medical emergencies to training doctors in war-torn Ukraine, Mayer has learned that leadership isn't about titles or positions--it's about action.

In this practical guide, Mayer reveals 11 provocative principles that flip conventional leadership wisdom: "Leadership is worthless...but leading is priceless." "Power is worthless...but influence is priceless." "Success is worthless...but failure is priceless." Through gripping stories from the Pentagon's smoking corridors, NFL sidelines, and Ukrainian hospitals, he shows how real leaders emerge not from corner offices but from moments of crisis when someone must step up and act.

Whether you're managing a team, raising a family, or facing your own crossroads, Mayer's hard-won insights will transform how you think about influence, teamwork, and making decisions under pressure. This isn't theoretical leadership--it's battle-tested wisdom from someone who has led when lives hung in the balance.

Now in paperback with a new discussion guide for leadership development programs.

Review Quotes

"Leadership is one of the greatest gifts that the world has to offer. As he always does in his books, Dr. Mayer explores the subject in detail and with pertinent, real-world examples from his outstanding work over the years, including 9/11, the NFL, and Ukraine. What is clearly 'priceless' is Dr. Mayer's perspective on relationship-based leadership, his passion for doing rather than talking, and embracing the fact we are all leaders--no matter where we are in our careers or lives."
--Mike Krzyzewski, former Head Coach, Duke Men's Basketball

"This book is 'badass, ' to borrow an apt term from its author, Dr. Thom Mayer, an American hero of 9/11 and an accomplished physician leader for the NFL Players Association, among other noteworthy endeavors. The reader is treated to a fast-moving torrent of anecdotes, aphorisms, quotations, witticisms, and wisdom, from which one emerges inspired, ready for action, and eager to lead."
--Sandy Williams, MD, Professor of Medicine and former Dean, School of Medicine, Duke University

"Dr. Thom Mayer's book on leadership is enhanced by a rich series of personal examples drawn from his own life and extraordinary experiences. Perhaps the greatest lesson he has to offer is not to be discouraged by failure but rather to use it as fuel--to take risks and get yourself back in the game. Leaders of all stripes can learn much from reading this book."
--US Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA)

"Dr. Thom Mayer's new book is not an easy read. You cannot 'flip through it.' It challenges us to rethink the way we approach the next five minutes, the next two minutes. Please don't 'read' this book. Dive in deep and reflect, and I guarantee it will change your life and the lives of those you work and play with. It is that good, that profound, that powerful."
--Tom Peters, New York Times bestselling author of Excellence Now

"At Bernstein, we work with many of the most successful, influential, and innovative leaders on the planet. Dr. Thom Mayer stands out with his unique high-stakes leadership experience, uncanny storytelling ability, and unique aptitude to always find the right historic quote. His gift to inspire others through anecdote and turn hard earned life lessons into actionable advice is unparalleled."
--Adam C. Sansiveri, Senior Managing Director, Bernstein Private Wealth Management

About the Author

Thom Mayer, MD, serves as medical director for the National Football League Players Association and founded Best Practices Inc. and Survival Skills Solutions. A clinical professor of emergency medicine at George Washington University and senior lecturing fellow at Duke University, he led medical operations during the 9/11 Pentagon attack and has commanded emergency response teams for over three decades. Dr. Mayer speaks at 40-50 conferences annually on crisis leadership, emergency medicine, and organizational resilience. He was the physician who treated Damar Hamlin during his on-field cardiac arrest and currently trains medical personnel in Ukraine's war zones.