How Lance Does It: Put the Success Formula of a Champion into Everything You Do

by Brad Kearns

"’Lance hates losing, but is not afraid of it.’" This fearless approach gave Lance the freedom to take the risks required to achieve peak performance and to continue to seek improvement even while at the top of his sport."
--from How Lance Does It What is the secret to someone like Lance Armstrong’s consistent and phenomenal success? Is it something you’re born with, or is it something that can be acquired, developed, and perfected? Author Brad Kearns observes four success factors in Armstrong that can provide inspiration and direction to help you live like a champion every day. No magic tricks, silly acronyms, mind games, or gimmicks. How Lance Does It captures the pure essence of Armstrong from every angle, including the secrets for harnessing your own inner strength in every challenge you face, from business to parenting to stress management. "Brad Kearns has a refreshing perspective on peak performance that he captures eloquently in his writing. While being intensely competitive and focused on winning is great, Kearns reminds us that our greatest rewards come when we are motivated by pure love of the experience."
--Lance Armstrong

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2006

Reviews

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

The short version:

This book is really for someone who is a Lance Armstrong fanatic.


The long version:

This is basically a self-help book that follows Lance's mentality. I think I'm being a little generous with this book as the majority of it is just filled with quotes and praise of Lance. I can't tell you how many times I read phrases like, "Lance conquered the Tour de France with determination!" What drove me nuts is that the same quote/phrase would be on the same page or next page but in bigger font. The book is only 187 pages and honestly, with all repetitive/copied phrases to reinforce its points, I'd cut 30 pages from it.

I question whether this author is even qualified to write a self-help book. Some of his ideas were generalized and then mixed into Lance's lifestyle/abilities/experiences. Then he just references the most random things like Nicholas Cage's "The Weather Man" (!?!) to contrast it to a point he's making so that in itself is kind of humorous.

Really, I liked the idea of obtaining greater "focus" in life and goals. It had some interesting points in that respect, especially with athleticism and exercising. The last chapter was really the only best one where it referenced another book from an actual PhD researcher who examines the mind and fatigue. Best part of the book.

[Max Skidmore · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually finished this book last summer, before the truth came out about Lance Armstrong. According to the book, Lance's success was based on teamwork, hard work and extreme focus. After he confessed on Oprah, it was apparent that his success was built on bullying, selfishness and fanatical cheating. The author, Brad Kearns, must be getting a ton of requests for refunds since his book was initially sold as 'non fiction.'

I've seen a T-shirt on eBay that is a spinoff to Lance's "Livestrong" foundation. The T-shirt is black just like the official version, but it says "Dopestrong" across the front. I heard a sports broadcaster say, "Professional Cycling is dirtier than a truck stop bathroom in Pueblo, Colorado."

Where have all the heroes gone?

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed revisiting Lance's progression. This book interviews Lances' mentors, coaches, work out partners. It gives more detail to his childhood, his mentality, his way of dealing with Life: (criticism, family, divorce, love loss, continued growth). It does not talk enough about cancer, which is why It's Not About The Bike gives a little more insight into the true range of emotions. You have to see the bottom to understand the top. It's Not About The Bike goes all the way to the bottom; How Lance Does It really deals more with demeanor, maintaining work ethic, and love of sports.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ug...how many times can one "author" write "my friend Lance"? I thougth that it would be fun inspiration for the end of cross season...oops. Well, it helps me fall asleep anyway...Save some time and read the chapter titles for the meat of the book. Hint: be focused, be smart, be commited, and luv what you do. And have a positive attitude (maybe I should re-read that part...) zzzzzzz

[Marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too sycophantic , I ended up skimming the second half. Nothing really new here.

[Michael Powell · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was Ok. If you don't know anything about Lance, then it would be a "good" book. ONly a few interesting paragraphs for anyone who has followed his career.

[Katie Ballanco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a good book until the truth...

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kearns left out one of the most important things in Armstrong's success formula...performance enhancing drugs.