Highly acclaimed UCLA Women's gymnastics coach of 7 NCAA championships
Valorie Kondos Field shares insights on how to use uniqueness and
authenticity to achieve success.

Former professional ballerina Valorie Kondos Field--or Miss Val, as she's affectionately
known--has never tumbled, flipped, or even played any type of organized sports, and
yet she has been able to craft a legendary coaching career through curiosity, creativity,
attention to detail, and unwavering care for the overall well-being of her athletes. For
Miss Val, it's not about winning and losing, it's about choreographing your life and
owning the choices you make.

Miss Val has shaped her UCLA Gymnastics program as a life skills class and now she's
sharing those lessons with you, whether you're an athlete, business leader, or simply
someone who wants to own their destiny. Miss Val's philosophies are timeless. Her
coaching style is unorthodox. Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance is a thoughtprovoking,
fun journey through the anecdotes of the 35-year career of a
dancer/choreographer turned athletic coach.

The book includes unforgettable stories of the Olympians and athletes with whom she's
worked-including the inspirational journey of Katelyn Ohashi, whose joyful
transformation under the tutelage of Miss Val was evident to the world when her
perfect 10 floor routine went viral -- reaching over 100 million viewers. Other triumphs
include Olympian Jamie Dantzscher, who found her confidence at UCLA and learned the
tools to combat her previous abuse; and sensation Christine Peng Peng Lee, who
helped the Bruins clinch the 2018 NCAA championship with back-to-back 10's. Miss Val
also shares her favorite memories of her mentor, legendary basketball coach John
Wooden, as well as her thoughts on Larry Nassar and the gymnastics sexual abuse
scandal.

Miss Val reveals how her coaching journey had a rocky start before she found her own
best approach. In time she realized that her dance background wasn't a detriment, it
was a gift. When she embraced this, Miss Val led the Bruins to victory. Life Is Short,
Don't Wait to Dance is packed with great advice for anyone on a quest for success,
delivered in Miss Val's reassuring and inspirational tone. She took the same approach
to her breast cancer diagnosis, explaining how she made that struggle into one of the
best years of her life. For Miss Val, it's all about attitude. Life Is Short, Don't Wait to
Dance is a powerful book that shows you how to make the leap of faith in choosing
your own path to greatness.