Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable

by Darrin Donnelly

Discover the five inner beliefs shared by the world's greatest achievers.If you want to take control of your life and achieve your biggest dreams, you must develop a "warrior mindset." This book will show you how to stop thinking like a victim and start thinking like a warrior.In this inspirational fable, Chris McNeely is a college football coach who is at the end of his rope after a hard-and-fast fall from the top of his profession. Now bankrupt and on the verge of losing his job, he has no idea what he’s doing wrong or how to get back on track.Angry, worried, and desperate for help, Chris receives mysterious visits from five of history's greatest John Wooden, Buck O’Neil, Herb Brooks, Paul "Bear" Bryant, and Vince Lombardi.Together, these five legendary leaders teach Chris how to "think like a warrior" and take control of his life. The "warrior mindset" he develops changes his life forever—and it will change yours as well.Discover the life-changing lessons of John Wooden, Buck O'Neil, Herb Brooks, Bear Bryant, and Vince Lombardi in this inspirational tale of what it takes to achieve your dreams—whatever those dreams may be.This book will show you how to...- Build your self-confidence- Develop mental toughness- Attack every day with joy and enthusiasm- Use a positive mental attitude to achieve more- Harness the power of positive self-talk- Explore the spiritual side of success- Be a positive leader for your family and your team- Become the person you were born to be- And much more…The five inner beliefs revealed in this book will empower you to take control of your life and overcome any obstacle that stands in your way.

Genres: Self Help, Sports, Psychology, Leadership, Personal Development, Nonfiction, Personal Growth

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2016

Reviews

[Alberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five principles to think like a warrior:
1. Focus only on the things you have control over: efforts and attitude
2. Love what you do and attack each day with joy and enthusiasm
3. Dream big and ignore the Naysayers
4. Be relentless and never give up on your dreams
5. Choose faith over fear

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

With no knowledge or experience in sports I am surprised that I read Think Like a Warrior. I believe it was serendipity. The details of the process by which we choose to live is brilliantly described in this parable. I plan to reread and outline as a guide. My only regret is that it comes in my 88th year. But the Apostles Paul and James have been here for me. Thank you, God.

[Espen Stølan Holten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enkelt budskap, relativt god historie for å fortelle budskapet.
Ingenting nytt her, men underholdende lesing.

[Jeremiah L · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When you make a commitment to only focusing on the things you have total control over- the effort you give, the attitude you carry, and the process of improving yourself in the present moment- when you focus on only those things and let the results take care of themselves, it’s been my experience that results beyond your wildest dream tend to follow.” I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sports. Also, it really has changed my perspective on not just sports but life. Furthermore, it was interesting to see that coach Mcneely got his five inner beliefs from well known coaches. Along with, I like how in the book he breaks it down into five inner beliefs that make us into a warrior, they really show you how to overcome adversity in harsh situations. Moreover, becoming a pro NFL coach isn’t really a realistic future but he finds a way to make his hardships relevant to everyone. However, the lesson was fairly simple and the ending was very predictable.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the format and story, but the leadership lessons were a little too simple for my taste. These lessons may be better suited for sports and coaching, but compared to business leadership the lessons are a little extreme. For example, you can’t work a team so hard that only the people that refuse to quit are left. That’s just not practical for everyday situations. I do not consider that to be good leadership. But overall it was a good read and worth the time.

[Beth Lunkenheimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read plenty of leadership books before that repeat the same principles over and over again. But what Darrin Donnelly has done is to put into a story you want to read because you want to know what happens next while also instilling five very valuable lessons that can be applied to any aspect of life, not just your career. This book has single-handedly fired me up to the point where I'm ready, if not eager, to face the next challenge.

[Ricky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is relentless optimism.
Inspirational.
Fill your mind with motivation and positivity.
Taught you how to overcome adversities in all areas of life.

[Chris Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great combination of a lesson to be learned, an interesting storyline and historical quotes. This book is really motivating.

[JoAnn Wages · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a massive sports fan, better yet I love sports history. All the advice struck me to the core. Love it all!!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is one of the best self-help books I have ever read. It's a fictional story based on real principles for life. It was just so good! I have already been teaching the 5 core principles to my kids and anyone else who will listen. I'm already "thinking like a warrior."

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in this series (Relentless Optimism) was recommended by a co-worker and I decided to start with the first one. I'm glad I did. I like the progression of the three books. I used to avoid "self-help" books, but it helps when there's an engaging story to pull you in.
I stole this from another review, but it sums it up!

Here are the basics of the lessons from the book on how to 'Think like a Warrior":
1.Only focus on the things that you have total control over like your effort and your attitude.
2.Do what you love for a living and attack it each day with joy and enthusiasm.
3.Dream big and ignore the naysayers.
4.Be relentless and never give up on your dreams.
5.Choose faith over fear.

[Wade Sarver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good and motivational

Quick read that, although somewhat far fetched, was enjoyable.
This writer made the realistic ups and downs of coaching and turned it into an inspiring story of faith and learning.
I enjoyed the ending, it was a feel good book where the writer touched my heart and taught me a lesson at the dame time.
Thanks for putting this in Kindle Unlimited so I could take a chance and learn how good I can feel.
I needed this encouragement!

[Linda Stymiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I struggle with finishing self help books, but this book was easy to read and I loved the football aspect of it. I loved the end when Vince Lombardi was brought in. I can use these inner beliefs in my own personal life.

[Slan Dizier · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm being fair if i say this book could have been a short article.

[Edp24punters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most common mistakes in soccer betting

Since football is the king of sports, it is naturally the most betted sport. A Roman proverb attributed to the philosopher Seneca states: "To err is human, but to persist (in error) is diabolical." See here for guidance on how to find the best bookmakers in the UK. In the world of football betting, mistakes that cost money are common. We all want to avoid them if possible, but since this is a game of luck, there is no way to predict the outcome and no surefire ways to avoid mistakes. However, there are things that players often do that lead to losing.



You don't understand sports



Just because all your friends bet on football doesn't mean you should bet on every derby if you don't know or like the game. Don't worry about not understanding or being interested in soccer. Stick to the sport you know best. You will best understand odds and markets if you are familiar with the sport and how the various teams perform. Betting on any unknown sport is a guarantee of failure. Ignoring team form and injured players



Gambling is not an easy road to riches. You have to work hard to succeed, and if you don't put in the hard work, you won't make any money. You need to know all the details about the team you are betting on as well as the opponent. There are many aspects to consider, but many bettors forget or rather ignore them. Thorough research takes time and energy, but in football betting, the little things count. This will save you a lot of time in research and allow you to take into account all the details of the meeting. Pay amounts using the methods specified by the host bookmaker. The most commonly used methods are electronic wallets such as PayPal and Skrill, as well as debit cards and bank transfers.



Bank mismanagement



Instead of diving in head first and making tons of bets without knowledge and experience, start slow. Small bets don't pay out much, but they are the foundation you can build on. The novice player's excitement, excitement and desire for big prizes is understandable.



A disastrous mistake many new players make is to spend most of their gaming budget on a single bet. Losing your entire bankroll with 1, 2 or 3 bets, especially if you are new to the world of football betting, is not a pleasant experience. It would be wise to set a percentage from your bank that you cannot exceed when betting. This percentage can be 2, 3 or 5%, but in no case should it exceed 10%. So for example, if you have €100 to play with, you can place bets of €10 each. It is very unlikely that all your bets will lose, so you can be sure that you will get at least some of your investment back. €10 bet. it doesn't sound impressive, but after a few successful bets your bankroll will increase and with it the maximum bet you have placed.



Avoid betting on your favorite team



If you bet based on statistics, logic and informed decisions, you have a better chance of making good and profitable bets. However, if you bet on your favorite team for subjective reasons and the desire to support the team with a bet, things can quickly turn downhill. Interfering with feelings and emotions in betting is the surest way to lose. If you can't bet against your favorite team, soccer betting might not be for you. Football betting is a game of statistics, logic and discipline, so put your anger and emotions aside before placing your next bet.

[Jeff Matlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

For the most part, I find the parable business books to be pretty cheesy (cue “the 5am Club”). The guides in those types of books tend to be over-the-top philosophers who come across as less Socrates and more parody.

So it’s odd that I give this book an 8 out of 10 rating. But Darrin did two things differently here.

First, the guides who helped the protagonist navigate his challenges were well known sports figures from the past. People like John Wooden. John’s philosophies (and those of the others) are available to read and understand.

What Darrin did in the story is have these already credible, real life sports figures describe how they succeeded.

This is far different than having some random bearded guy in a flowing robe walking through the desert and blabbering on about god knows what.

The other thing Darrin did is acceptance for the unbelievable elements of the story. For instance, if John Wooden appeared in the books by other parable writers, there would probably be a long discussion about how John Wooden is dead and how could he be in person and what was the room they were suddenly in and and and.

Darrin ignored all that. The protagonist met John Wooden and talked with him in a way one would when you meet a hero and they become a mentor.

Oh, wait, I still didn’t tell you the story.
Chris is a football coach who falls on hard times. Most of which are a result of his attitude towards life.

Aside from his career, Chris’ situation is completely relatable for most people who believed they’d be great at a job to find out it’s harder than they think.

Anyway, as Chris gets into a hole of self-doubt and anger, he meets five different sports legends, all of which give him one piece of advice on how to be a successful leader.

The advice is really good. After all, it’s coming from some of the best leaders out there.

I read this book in 24 hours and was hugely surprised by how insightful it was.

It’s well worth the read for anybody who strives for something better in life.

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable" by Darrin Donnelly is an inspiring book that follows the journey of a coach grappling with challenges both on and off the field. Throughout the narrative, the coach seeks guidance from legendary coaches, whose wisdom helps him rediscover his passion and purpose.

Key themes include:

1. **Inner Beliefs**: The book emphasizes the importance of cultivating strong inner beliefs that empower individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness.

2. **Mentorship**: The influence of experienced mentors plays a crucial role in the coach's transformation, highlighting the value of learning from those who have faced similar struggles.

3. **Resilience**: The story illustrates how resilience in the face of adversity can lead to personal and professional growth.

4. **Mindset**: Adopting a warrior mindset is central to the narrative, as it encourages readers to approach challenges with determination and confidence.

5. **Inspiration**: The anecdotes and lessons from legendary coaches serve to motivate readers to pursue their goals with unwavering commitment.

Overall, the book combines storytelling with practical insights, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their mindset and resilience.

[Kalyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t expect much from this book—it was a short audiobook I picked up for a long run, thinking it would be a light and motivational listen. As the title suggests, Think Like a Warrior plays on the word “warrior”—not just in the traditional sense, but also referring to the fictional football team, the Warriors.

The story follows a struggling coach who receives inspiration from legendary coaches of the past. Interestingly, the narrative uses a creative device where the protagonist “summons” these coaches in his imagination, and each one shares their key philosophies. It’s a fictional setup, but the lessons are drawn from real-life coaching legends.

The book’s core message revolves around a few timeless principles:
• Focus only on what you can control—effort and attitude.
• Let go of outcomes, much like what’s said in the Bhagavad Gita.
• Have unwavering confidence—it fuels action and faith.

It’s a short, simple, and motivating read, especially if you’re into sports or self-help books. That said, I’ve come across these ideas before in various forms, including movies like Remember the Titans. So while the book is good, it didn’t offer anything particularly new or profound for me.

A decent read if you enjoy motivational stories with a sports backdrop

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uh... yeah. I agree. And it applies to life... not only sports.

I used to hang out with people who motivated others... people like Tony Robbins. I get it. It works. It really does. It is somewhat magical but it is not a magic spell. You can't simply say the words. It has to become part of you. I can't imagine that happening unless you were raised with it, or you go through some life-altering event that causes you to question yourself, looking for a answer.

The book is set up as (what I presume to be) a fictional account of a sports coach who is failing at his job, but is then visited by several sports coaches of the past who point to the way out of his dilemma. It seems to be set in a similar framework as "Shoeless Joe" which was made into a movie entitled "Field of Dreams".

Quite inspiring. I gave similar advice to someone today... before I read the book. Imagine my surprise when the author came up with the same stuff I was talking about. (Yes. I read this book in an afternoon. I am a speed reader.)

So, I might read this book again some day... just to remind myself of what I want to be doing... all of the time.

[Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when your bankrupt? Chris McNeely learns how to be humble and overcome many challenges. This book is called Think Like A Warrior The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable, the author is Darrin Donnelly. This is not part of a series and was published with in the last decade. This book is about how an NFL coach went from being one of the best offensive coordinators to bankrupt in a year. Also, it explains what he did wrong in his live and how he was about to quite but kept moving forward. In addition, it says how he changed personality and character trait wise. I loved this book, I liked how it gave you a lot of life lessons such as don’t quiet, stay humble, and always try your hardest. I didn’t not like anything about this book, the only thing was that it was sad. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes lessons and things about sports. I would rate this book a 10/10 because of how it kept me wanting to read the next chapter because it would end with a cliff hanger, also, because the story's in it were so interesting and how he gave me advice that I could and should use in my life, one being to never give up.

[Christie Bane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is narrated by a football coach who’s gone from early promise to tanking as the coach of the Dolphins to trying to build back up again as the coach of a mediocre college team. Each time he encounters an obstacle with his team or with his approach to life in general, he has a magical, dreamlike encounter with a great coach from the past. They hand him one essential piece of wisdom at a time, all of which together help him to rediscover his potential and make his team into a dominant force in college football. I was hoping for advice on how to be a better triathlete, but what I really discovered from this book is that it’s kind of too much trouble to strive to be the best you can be. It’s easier just to be mediocre and figure that some day everything will just line up in my favor accidentally and I’ll be able to finish my Ironman and check it off my list and never touch it again. Nothing wrong with this book really other than that it didn’t do it for me.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended by the head of my 13 year old's baseball club. I decided to read it first to see if it was something he'd be into. It ended up being something that I was totally into.

The writing isn't the greatest and the story is pretty cheesy, but the message is so inspiring. I am a sucker for all those great underdog sports movies (Rudy, Hoosiers, Miracle, etc) and this book felt like a version of that.

Another cool part was reading about some of these amazing coaches from history. It had me looking a lot of them up. It was also fun quizzing my husband on who someone was without mentioning the name or team.

There's a lot of football in this, which I really don't care for, but it did help bring me around some.

Overall, just a really uplifting and motivating story that I will be definitely having my son read.

[Emoira M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at a hard point in life. I suggest this book for anyone. It is 5 major inner beliefs you must adopt to become a warrior in anything you do. Its about going to battle with yourself so you can reach a higher level of success, positivity, reach and achieve goals.

It is presented in a fictional sports story. In this one it features football. Chris is at the end of his rope, as a football coach. He thinks it's all over when he fails but he meets five hall of fame coaches under mysterious circumstances and converses with them. Over time he gets back up from rock bottom and becomes a better version of himself.

Learn about the Warrior Mindset and adopt it, becoming an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got to say that Darrin Donnelly's book "Think Like A Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable" is one of the finest motivational books I've ever read. Donnelly's fictional account, works through the football season through the eyes of a coach and the encounters he has with several of the greatest coaches of all time (multiple sports, not just football), and their advice to him. Though this book goes through life as if in the mind of a college football coach, the principles it teaches go way beyond sports and define a way of looking at life. You will love this book if you are looking for motivation. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is motivationally challenged and/or not feeling good about life in the present.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Think Like A Warrior and The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable by Darrin Donnelly is a fictional book about a coach that is struggling to win games and is on the edge of losing his job. Throughout the book he learns about the 5 beliefs to make his team unstoppable. I really like this book because I want to be a football coach when I grow up and I believe that these 5 beliefs could help me when I grow up. I was requested this book by dad who is a football coach and he said he thought the book was very beneficial. The book did take a little while for me to finish but I did just start reading. It was a long book but other than that I thought it was a very good book. I would request it to anyone who plays any type of sport or anyone who wants to become a leader.

[Lucas Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book “think like a warrior” By: Darrin Donnelly the main character meets with five legends that have passed away and they tell him one inner belief to achieve greatness and become one of the greatest coaches ever in the NFL that came from nothing

I personally loved this book because of the amount of creativeness used to create the book because of the visits from John Wooden and other sport legends that have passed long ago.

I think the age range to read this book is from 10-above because my mom and dad read this book and birthed loved it and my grandparents are the ones who told me it was a very good book.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially dropped this book back in January after reading the first few chapters thinking this was another motivational book with the usual pep talks. Two months later, I'm glad I finished it. "Think Like a Warrior" does contain a lot of advice many of us have heard before, but a few caught my attention, including this one: "I want to know why you think you're entitled to be so upset and bitter..."

Another book that everyone should re-visit once in a while, because no matter how good or bad things are in life, reinforcing the right beliefs and attitudes will eventually and always pay off.

[Mason London · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book to read I liked it because there were a lot of good lessons to take away. This book is basically about a coach that went from the hottest coach in the NFL to a lesser known college division team where he meets and learns lessons that he passes on to the team to bring the school to the peak athletic performance for football again. I liked it because this coach learns these lessons from very big headlined professional coaches and it was just really interesting. I would recommend this book.

[Mason Frierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the book, "Think Like A Warrior" - The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable and it is a fantastic read. No matter if you're an athlete, student, employee or teacher/coach. The book is written through the eyes of a college football coach but applies to all walks of life. Unlike many self-help books that are too complicated to convey its point(s), this book is simply written so that you can read it, understand it and benefit from it immediately. Don't pass up this little gem...

[Cradle2ACasket · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is amazing. The way he writes is very detailed I could imagine it in my head like a movie. It almost reminded me of remember the Titans. That’s how gripping his retelling of his stories were. The lessons in this book were so inspiring I feel like everyone can learn from this book no matter what kind of team you’re on. Or just in life. I want to buy everyone this book. Highly highly recommend it! You will not be disappointed.