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Next Play: How to Focus on What Matters Most and Improve Performance, Productivity, and Fulfillment
What’s your Next Play? An elite performance coach reveals the life-changing two-word philosophy for simplifying success.
It’s easy to become convinced that the secret to a great career, a high-performing team, or a fulfilled life must be hidden in a complex formula or framework.
The truth about success is that it isn’t complicated. We just tend to make it that way.
For corporate keynote speaker and performance coach Alan Stein Jr., nothing drove this concept home more than his firsthand observations of how NBA stars like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant prepared during the unseen hours. Their highly focused training, centered mostly on mastery of fundamentals, revealed what most people simplicity is the foundation upon which excellence is built.
Drawing from the philosophy of all-time great Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski that what just happened isn’t nearly as important as what is happening right now—your Next Play—and his work with top brands such as Pepsi, Charles Schwab, American Express, Spotify, and Starbucks, this book contains 34 powerfully simple strategies and 35 practical exercises designed to show how reaching the top of your game doesn’t require more. It requires less but better.
Next Play is the ultimate handbook for improving performance, increasing productivity, and living a more fulfilled life.
Includes special interview with ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.
It’s easy to become convinced that the secret to a great career, a high-performing team, or a fulfilled life must be hidden in a complex formula or framework.
The truth about success is that it isn’t complicated. We just tend to make it that way.
For corporate keynote speaker and performance coach Alan Stein Jr., nothing drove this concept home more than his firsthand observations of how NBA stars like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant prepared during the unseen hours. Their highly focused training, centered mostly on mastery of fundamentals, revealed what most people simplicity is the foundation upon which excellence is built.
Drawing from the philosophy of all-time great Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski that what just happened isn’t nearly as important as what is happening right now—your Next Play—and his work with top brands such as Pepsi, Charles Schwab, American Express, Spotify, and Starbucks, this book contains 34 powerfully simple strategies and 35 practical exercises designed to show how reaching the top of your game doesn’t require more. It requires less but better.
Next Play is the ultimate handbook for improving performance, increasing productivity, and living a more fulfilled life.
Includes special interview with ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.
Audible Audio
First published November 4, 2025
11 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 9, 2026
Next Play distills elite performance into a deceptively simple philosophy with wide-ranging impact. Drawing on years of experience coaching NBA superstars and advising major global brands, Alan Stein Jr. delivers a practical, grounded framework for staying focused, resilient, and effective in an increasingly distracted world.
What sets this book apart is its emphasis on presence and execution rather than outcome obsession. By returning repeatedly to the question “What’s my next play?”, Stein reframes pressure, failure, and success into manageable, actionable moments. The result is a mindset that encourages consistent excellence without burnout one that applies equally to athletes, executives, creatives, and anyone striving for sustained performance.
The book balances insight with application. The 34 strategies and 35 exercises are concise, accessible, and immediately usable, reinforcing the idea that improvement doesn’t require complexity only clarity and commitment. Stein’s real-world examples from professional sports and business add credibility while keeping the tone motivating rather than preachy.
Next Play is a reminder that fulfillment and productivity are not competing goals. When attention is placed on what matters most right now performance improves naturally. This is a book that rewards rereading and reflection, offering readers a practical philosophy they can carry into every arena of life.
What sets this book apart is its emphasis on presence and execution rather than outcome obsession. By returning repeatedly to the question “What’s my next play?”, Stein reframes pressure, failure, and success into manageable, actionable moments. The result is a mindset that encourages consistent excellence without burnout one that applies equally to athletes, executives, creatives, and anyone striving for sustained performance.
The book balances insight with application. The 34 strategies and 35 exercises are concise, accessible, and immediately usable, reinforcing the idea that improvement doesn’t require complexity only clarity and commitment. Stein’s real-world examples from professional sports and business add credibility while keeping the tone motivating rather than preachy.
Next Play is a reminder that fulfillment and productivity are not competing goals. When attention is placed on what matters most right now performance improves naturally. This is a book that rewards rereading and reflection, offering readers a practical philosophy they can carry into every arena of life.
December 11, 2025
Next Play is a powerhouse of clarity, focus, and transformative performance insight. Alan Stein Jr. distills years of coaching top NBA legends and global brands into a remarkably actionable guide that makes elite performance feel attainable for anyone. Every principle is sharp, practical, and rooted in real-world discipline, offering readers a shortcut to sustained productivity, stronger habits, and a more meaningful life.
What makes this book stand out is its simplicity and impact. Stein doesn’t overwhelm, he equips. With 34 high-leverage strategies and 35 exercises, Next Play becomes less of a book and more of a personal operating system. Whether you’re a leader, athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone striving to perform at a higher level, this book delivers clarity, purpose, and momentum on every page.
What makes this book stand out is its simplicity and impact. Stein doesn’t overwhelm, he equips. With 34 high-leverage strategies and 35 exercises, Next Play becomes less of a book and more of a personal operating system. Whether you’re a leader, athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone striving to perform at a higher level, this book delivers clarity, purpose, and momentum on every page.
December 7, 2025
I loved this book. It was a quick and easy listen and it was short enough that it just felt like a podcast. I subscribe to the so what next play mentality fo begin with, but this helps give some insights on how you can better do that, or get others to buy into that, or integrate into your daily life. Well done.
December 27, 2025
I'm know I'm biased, but Alan's message(s) always resonate with me.
March 24, 2026
Great book for anyone looking to level up their life in personal or business! Love the sports analogies and examples!! Lots of great tips to incorporate daily.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews