Elite Minds Book Review and Giveaway

Let’s face it. I’m protective of my time, as I am sure you are too. So, when I was asked to review the book, Elite Minds, I quickly went to Amazon to read the introductory pages to see if it floated my boat.



I got sucked in from word one. If you read this blog, you know I don’t believe in excuses and rationalizations. I embrace discipline and commitment. Quite simply, I think people need to do what they say there are going to do without bitching and complaining (hence, the name of this blog). The first page of this book, entitled Disclaimer, states:

“Do not read this book if you are looking for a quick fix, motivation or just want to feel better. There is no such thing. Happy is for children. Being happy is not the purpose of your life. Being fully  alive and awake is the purpose of your life. That includes the pain and struggle that is a critical and necessary component to human existence.”

BOOM!

Too often people think that if something is hard, it is not worth doing (e.g., running). Where and why did we develop this belief? How can you live fully and be awake if you are not willing to be uncomfortable?

Dr. Stan Beecham, author of Elite Minds, is a Sport Psychologist who has spent years studying why athletes, sports teams and business are successful. Not surprisingly, he discovered that the key to best performance is learning how to control the mind – “When you truly study top performers in any field, what sets them apart is not their physical skill; it is how they control their minds.”

When I began this book, highlighter in hand, I covered every single page in my fluorescent yellow markings. So much so that my kids thought I had entered another master's degree program (oh, Lord, no).

Yes, those are Hot Tamales in my lap. I think they make me fully alive.

 

So, why do you need to read this book if you do not aspire to be an elite athlete?

This book is about understanding and tapping into your full potential. This book is about understanding the power of failure and what it can teach us. This book is about showing you how your fears keep you from reaching your goals. The 172 pages contain life lessons and nuggets of wisdom that could honestly change how you train, pursue professional goals, and overcome challenges.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

• “If you are setting a goal without  understanding the reason for it, then maybe you should reevaluate the goal in general.” – Beecham believes that when we set goals, we “play it way too safe” and tend to choose those that we think we can accomplish. He encourages us to stretch ourselves and take risks. He believes that “failing” at reaching our goals is part of reaching the goal.
• “Goals that are not frightening are not worth having.” Amen.
• “I believe we are truly at our best when we accept what is and work with it versus trying to change or stop it.” If you've ever heard the expression – “Embrace the suck” (I think it is a military thing), then you know we are better off accepting our discomfort than dwelling on it. What we resist, persists.
• “If you truly want to get better, then you have to want your workouts to be hard, to be painful.”
• “Fear is what keeps you from being fully motivated, passionate, driven, and setting big hairy-assed goals.” YES! And, any author who uses the term “hairy-assed” is my hero.
• “The more ego you have, the more fear you have. Ego makes you self-aware, self conscious and makes you focus on yourself. Ego makes you wonder and care about what others think about you. The less afraid you become, the less you think about yourself and that allows you to instead think about what you want.” In short, I think this means – stop comparing, run your own damn race.
• “You need to get over yourself. The less time you spend thinking about yourself and the more on what it is you want to do, the better of you will be.”

I could go on and on, but I think you get a taste of Beecham’s medicine. But, don’t take my word for it. Read the book yourself and see what speaks to you.

Want a copy? I have two hairy-ass books to give away. Or, if you hate giveaways, go buy it yourself HERE ($19.95 paperback, $8.95 Kindle).

Open to US residents only.
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SUAR

BookLogix sent me this book to review and provided the giveaway items. As always, all opinions are my own.