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Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best
Performance coach Alan Stein Jr. shares the secret principles used by world-class performers that will help you improve your productivity and achieve higher levels of success.
High achievers are at the top of their game because of the discipline they have during the unseen hours. They have made a commitment to establish, tweak, and repeat positive habits in everything they do. Raise Your Game examines the top leaders in sports and business and proves that success is a result of the little things we do all the time .
The basic principles provided in Raise Your Game are simple, but not easy. We live in an instantly downloadable world that encourages us to skip steps. We are taught to chase what's hot, flashy and sexy and ignore what's basic. But the basics work. They always have and they always will.
Raise Your Game will inspire and empower you to commit to the fundamentals, create a winning mindset, and progress into new levels of success.
High achievers are at the top of their game because of the discipline they have during the unseen hours. They have made a commitment to establish, tweak, and repeat positive habits in everything they do. Raise Your Game examines the top leaders in sports and business and proves that success is a result of the little things we do all the time .
The basic principles provided in Raise Your Game are simple, but not easy. We live in an instantly downloadable world that encourages us to skip steps. We are taught to chase what's hot, flashy and sexy and ignore what's basic. But the basics work. They always have and they always will.
Raise Your Game will inspire and empower you to commit to the fundamentals, create a winning mindset, and progress into new levels of success.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
June 6, 2019
This is a very good book for beginners in leadership. It references a lot of other books.
Unfortunately I read most of the books referenced in this one. Still I've got at least one I will want to read. For me it was like a recap of the main ideas.
Only 3 stars because aside from the information from other books, it provides very little tangible unique content. Yes, the author has a great experience. Yes, he has great stories to tell. But most of the original content is anecdotes about the ideas from other books, by other leaders.
If this would have been my first leadership book, I would have given it 5 stars. It's a great starting point.
Unfortunately I read most of the books referenced in this one. Still I've got at least one I will want to read. For me it was like a recap of the main ideas.
Only 3 stars because aside from the information from other books, it provides very little tangible unique content. Yes, the author has a great experience. Yes, he has great stories to tell. But most of the original content is anecdotes about the ideas from other books, by other leaders.
If this would have been my first leadership book, I would have given it 5 stars. It's a great starting point.
January 15, 2020
As hard to believe as it is, there are many aspects of my life I could probably improve upon. I don’t eat enough apples, I brag about my running and the races I will be competing in this weekend, instead of heading home after work I often go out drinking with my subterranean sewer friends, I will wear vertical stripes and horizontal stripes in the same outfit, and many more. Like most people I see the New Year as a chance to start over and correct some of these deficiencies. So I have been reading a bunch of improvement books. Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best by Alan Stein Jr. uses coaching, sports experiences, and the successes of NBA players to show what I need to do to improve my life.
While not exactly revolutionary, Raise Your Game brings up many good points such as the importance of controlling the controllables and not getting upset about the rest. Be disciplined and accepting feedback are other areas to focus on if you want to be like Kobe Bryant. Stein brought up an area of importance that I particularly liked: be curious and ask questions. What about this point struck a nerve with me? Why do I feel this is important? Am I not asking enough questions currently? How many questions should I ask a day? Is 83 too many to ask? Or should I double that number of questions? Why don’t my sewer friends invite me to their sewer holes after the sewer bars close? Is it because I talk too much about my job and I show no interest in their subterranean lives? Is it the glistening film of mucus that coats their bodies or their scary pet alligators that make me want to leave after only a few beers? Am I really that self-centered?
As improvement books go, Raise Your Game is pretty motivating and centering. It makes even a sad sack like me feel he can right the ship and change for the better.
While not exactly revolutionary, Raise Your Game brings up many good points such as the importance of controlling the controllables and not getting upset about the rest. Be disciplined and accepting feedback are other areas to focus on if you want to be like Kobe Bryant. Stein brought up an area of importance that I particularly liked: be curious and ask questions. What about this point struck a nerve with me? Why do I feel this is important? Am I not asking enough questions currently? How many questions should I ask a day? Is 83 too many to ask? Or should I double that number of questions? Why don’t my sewer friends invite me to their sewer holes after the sewer bars close? Is it because I talk too much about my job and I show no interest in their subterranean lives? Is it the glistening film of mucus that coats their bodies or their scary pet alligators that make me want to leave after only a few beers? Am I really that self-centered?
As improvement books go, Raise Your Game is pretty motivating and centering. It makes even a sad sack like me feel he can right the ship and change for the better.
January 21, 2019
Wow! Such a powerful book. I have followed Alan Stein for many years to learn ways to help my players and students improve not only in basketball, but also life.
When I read he had a book I pre-ordered right away and devoured this book as soon as it arrived. I took time to process each chapter to absorb all the ideas.
At first, I was skeptical because there are so many books that cover these topics, but I was blown away by this book. This book challenged my thinking, had me discussing topics with my family, and has provided me key teaching points to my youth teams.
I also see many opportunities to weave these ideas when working with educators and administrators about how to get better.
My Evernote file is loaded with notes. My pages are scribbled and highlighted with ideas. My brain is full. This book is a must read for 2019. I am not sure there will be too many other books that come close to helping the reader get focused on what matters to being successful in life. Anyone looking for new ways of understanding self-awareness, passion, discipline, failure, confidence, vision, culture, servant, character, belief, unselfishness, role clarity, communication, and cohesion needs to read this book.
When I read he had a book I pre-ordered right away and devoured this book as soon as it arrived. I took time to process each chapter to absorb all the ideas.
At first, I was skeptical because there are so many books that cover these topics, but I was blown away by this book. This book challenged my thinking, had me discussing topics with my family, and has provided me key teaching points to my youth teams.
I also see many opportunities to weave these ideas when working with educators and administrators about how to get better.
My Evernote file is loaded with notes. My pages are scribbled and highlighted with ideas. My brain is full. This book is a must read for 2019. I am not sure there will be too many other books that come close to helping the reader get focused on what matters to being successful in life. Anyone looking for new ways of understanding self-awareness, passion, discipline, failure, confidence, vision, culture, servant, character, belief, unselfishness, role clarity, communication, and cohesion needs to read this book.
December 10, 2019
Deeply, systematically sexist. I stopped reading.
January 11, 2019
Wow! As the wife of an athlete Alan’s book is the perfect resource. His message and stories resonate with me. Elite athletes at the top of their game still practice and are coachable. This book is written in a clear and concise manner while still reading like a novel. I couldn’t put it down. Every “boss” , coach and leader needs to read this. My sons will all get a copy.
October 29, 2020
Any business book is essentially a self-help book, this one connects sports principles to teambuilding and leadership, which really worked for me because it’s something I believe in. Your mileage, based on your affinity with sports and this medium, will strongly vary.
July 10, 2023
Like the leadership + sports metaphors.
July 12, 2026
Sports Performance coach, basketball coach, and leadership speaker, Alan Stein Jr. wrote a very practical and inspiring book devoted to players, coaches and teams. I found it both very practical AND theoretical. It caused me to think and ponder a lot, as well as re-evaluate what I have been doing as a coach and leader.
I took WAY too many notes, but here are some of the things that stood out:
Each of these three parts (Player, Coach, Team) contain the five characteristics required to be successful in that specific role:
Elite players want to be developed by a coach and be an asset to the team
Elite coaches put players in the right role to help the team achieve success
Elite teams require players and coaches that put the team’s needs ahead of their own
Introduction:
The STARS, in their private workout routines have 2 things that stand out:
They stick to the basics–to make them automatic
They work harder than anyone else
“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.” (xvi)
My goal for the book is simple–to educate and inspire readers to take immediate action to improve their mind-set, habits and value. (xvii)
The happiest, most influential, and most successful people I’ve ever met are able to put their full attention into the present moment, focusing on 3 things:
The next play
The controllables
The process
…I’ve found that the traits that are needed to be a successful player, coach and teammate are the same characteristics that are used to run some of the biggest and most significant companies in the world. (xvii)
So it’s not necessarily about knowledge…Why? Although people know what they need to do, they just don’t do it.
This book will help us drill down on your answers to these vital questions:
What sacrifices do I need to make?
What skills do I need to acquire?
Whose help would I benefit from?
What challenges should I expect?
What habits do I need to change? (xviii)
When it comes to improving performance–in any area of life–the most basic and effective strategy is to close performance gaps. These are the gaps between what we know we are supposed to do and what we actually do. (xix)
Pages xxii-xxvii provide a paragraph summary of EACH chapter of the book.
Ch. 1: Self-Awareness
“Embrace the people who tell you you’re full of crap” (Gary Vaynerchuck). (3)
Self Test
What do you do really well?
What do you need to improve on?
What is your plan for addressing #2? (4)
Self-awareness offers the needed element of perspective: the clarity of the big picture and your place in it.
The most dangerous people in the world are the ones who don’t know what they don’t know. EX: Taking a bad shot is one thing. Not knowing it is is even bigger. (7)
Self Test
What specific thing do you do at a very high level?
If I polled the people closest to you, what would they say you do really well?
How many opportunities do you have to do this thing? (8)
“Don’t worry about them. Let them worry about you” (John Wooden). (9)
Self-awareness is about knowing where your control begins and where it ends…control the controllables. (attitude & effort)
…you control how you respond and how you react.
One thing that separates elite from average players is the ability to focus on their own effort and attitude. Average players worry about what their coach is doing, what their teammates are doing, what their opponent is doing, even what the referee is doing! (10-11)
Every season at UCLA one of the first things John Wooden would do in the locker room was to teach his players how to correctly put on their shoes and socks to avoid chaffing and blisters. (11)
Self Test
Rate yourself from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree):
I have high expectations for myself and my team
I constantly ask questions to my close friends, family, and colleagues
I work on my craft daily and am constantly learning and growing
I handle pressure well and embrace adversity
I am focused on the right things, and my schedule is aligned with my priorities
I am an active and empathetic listener
I communicate clearly and effectively
I encourage feedback and questions, and I accept criticism well
I openly admit when I am wrong and accept responsibility
I have a healthy way of dealing with disappointment, anger, and frustration
Focus on who you are and what you do well. That is how you succeed. (13)
Well-rounded is overrated.
Find the one thing you do better than anyone else and continue to pour into that.
A Gallup poll of thousands of organizations showed that when an organization focused on an employee’s strength, the level of that employee’s engagement was nearly 75%. And when they didn’t? It was 9%.^5 (14)
Be Willing to Close the Store (i.e. Starbucks)
Know Thyself
Know yourself in the way your competitors do.
Think of political campaigners…
Also, think of how Eminem used this to take out his opponent in 8 Mile… (15)
Markelle and the Power of Self-Awareness
I have seen self-awareness make or break people in sports, business and life.
Fultz could have went to any school, but he chose DeMatha even though the coach promised him nothing. But Markelle wanted to work hard and get better.
Self Test
Identify three people that you feel know you best. Then ask them to rate you #1 (low) to 10 (best)):
Do I communicate well? Do I effectively convey my message?
Am I courageous? Am I unafraid to take risks?
Am I disciplined? Do I commit to the process of doing things?
Am I focused? Can I block out distractions?
Am I generous? Am I a giving person?
Do I show initiative? Do I start things on my own?
Do I use sound judgment? Do I know what is truly important?
Do I listen? Do I hear others, or only hear what I want to hear?
Am I optimistic? Do I choose to see the good in every situation?
Am I a resolver? Do I just identify problems…or actually fix them?
Am I responsible? Do I hold myself accountable?
Am I secure? Do I trust those around me?
When finished, see how it compares to what you might think…
What sticks out?
“We can’t change what we don’t notice” –Tony Schwartz, author and journalist (23)
That’s where the real hard work comes in–being able to look in the mirror and know what we’re scared of and what we’re insecure about.
Key Point: Learn your strengths and weaknesses, inside and out, because self-awareness makes everything else possible.
Remember:
If you don’t know who you are and what you do, nothing else you know or learn will matter
Control the controllables. Don’t get caught up in things outside your frame of influence.
Recognize what you can contribute–where your value is–and others will notice. And they will reward you for it.
Avoid the arrogance that blinds you to areas in which you need to improve. (24)
Ch. 2: Passion
If you have a love for something, then all the work that follows is easier. (25)
“You don’t have to love the hard work. You just have to crave the end result so intensely that the hard work is irrelevant.”^1 –Tim Grover, NBA Trainer (25)
Mind set shift: Turn “have to” to “get to”!
Daily mantra: “I didn’t come this far to only come this far.”
Resilience: “That’s a muscle that needs to be developed. You can be born with great grit and resilience but you have to continue to develop that muscle as well.” –Steve Nash
Passion is: Putting a realistic goal in front of you and stretching to accomplish it. What is it for you? (29)
Mark Cuban turned boredom into opportunities by trying to learn as much as possible about whatever and wherever he was. This opined up future possibilities.
Bill Belichick took the worst job for no pay and got no credit for it. And he asked to do it (breaking down film). This enabled him to REALLY learn the job.
Or think of Erik Spoelstra.
Or Jeff Van Gundy, who said, “Box out. Take charges. Dive for loose balls. Make the extra pass. Those are all things everyone can do, yet very few actually do.”
He also said, “Experience gives you instinct.” (in terms of what’s most important)
Self Test
Is there a job, skills or knowledge that would be invaluable if they existed inside one employee? If not, find out! Master them. Make it so no one can do what you do.
Create Your Own Opportunities
Think of Tim Grover
Passion is necessary to get you through the time periods when the opportunities just aren’t there.
Think of Tom Brady–ready for the moment. He’s not just passionate about football, but about preparing for it.
Competition is Good for your Health
Statistics show that basketball teams that are down by 1 at halftime win more often than teams who are up by 1.
Think of races too!
Obstacles
Aron Ralston fell rock climbing and had to cut off his arm!
“Like oxygen to a fire, obstacles became fuel for the blaze that was their ambition…Every impediment serves to make the inferno within them burn with great ferocity.”^17
Obstacles are rich energy sources.
Self Test
Write 3 obstacles from my life.
In what way can they become motivators?
How can I turn them to fuel?
“When you stop growing, you start to decay.” –Coach K
Low performers crave comfort; high performers don’t just tolerate or do well in discomfort, they seek it out.
Make being uncomfortable, comfortable.
It’s the reps AFTER you’re tired that make the difference!!!
If you have 0% chance at failure, you ALSO have 0% chance of success!
Key Point:
Passion is the engine that powers us through what we have to do. If you know what yours is, tap into it as much as you can. If you don’t, commit yourself to searching and finding it.
Remember:
Passion is what will separate you from others and your life’s work from anyone else’s
No one makes it by coasting on talent; skill alone rarely gets the job done
Your attitude and approach determine whether it’s a “grind” or a journey
Care about the result so much that you are willing to do what it takes to get there
Use your passion as a guide to what you should be doing
Ch. 3: Discipline
What most people call luck is actually the expected collision between preparation and opportunity.
Was Tom Brady lucky?
Ask yourself: Are the actions you are taking today on par with the dreams you have for tomorrow?
How to be Prepared
Read
Study
Observe
Evaluate
Reach Out
Risk
“Good habits are hard to form and easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to form and hard to live with” –Mark Matteson, author and speaker. (44)
Multitasking is a myth, researchers say.
In fact, a Harvard study says, “People spend 46.9% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they’re doing.”^5
The Swish Standard
Steph had to swish FIVE 3’s before he could leave
Drew Hanlen: unseen hours
Pablo Picasso was asked by a woman while in his later years to sketch her something. He agreed, sketched it, handed it back and said, “That will be 5 thousand francs.” She was dumbfounded–it only took 5 minutes! “Ah, but madam, that took me my whole life.” (50)
“People are rewarded in public what they practice for years in private” –Tony Robbins.
Discipline is a choice:
Decide exactly what you want
Determine the price you have to pay
Choose whether or not you are willing to pay it
Stein worked out Kobe in his prime, and after meeting for a workout at 4am, he asked Kobe: “You’re the best player in the world. Why do such basic stuff?” He smiled and said, “Because I never get bored with the basics.”
The basics are simple, but not easy. (53)
Active listening is the most basic component of anything.
A hack is a shortcut.
The 5 Steps to Mastering Any Skill (pyramid)
Skill Mastery
Produces
Refined Experience
Creates
Honed Instincts
Develops
Specific Feedback
Requires
Purposeful Practice
Passion might be the why, but discipline is the how.
Preparation is a controllable competitive advantage. (57)
When you focus on the process, the outcome will take care of itself.
Some scouts come to the gym 6-8 hours before a game to see people’s preparation.
Larry Bird shot 500 free throws before school each day.
“In the end, we are our choices” –Jeff Bazos.
And remember, not working hard is actually a choice.
Key Point:
Create habits and structure that will give you an edge in your business. Discipline means having, maintaining, and refining a system in place to work on your game.
Remember:
There’s no such thing as “finding” success, as if you stumbled upon it. You create success by building the habits to reach it.
It’s the consistent habits that make the best the best. Build a schedule and a structure of habits that put first things first.
Knock out distractions. Consider how to spend your time wisely and efficiently. Be ruthless in trimming out the “fat” from your day.
Use your unseen hours. Make the most of your time–those at the top do not waste a second. Focus on what matters.
Ch. 4: Coachability
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” –John Wooden (61)
In the world of athletic performance training, Stein was raised on a philosophy called high-intensity training, an incredibly intense training methodology that calls for you to take every set to the point of MMF (momentary muscular failure). You push the weight until you can’t push any more. He is conditioned to do this.
Think about it. If a basketball player does a thirty minute workout and never loses the ball, then he did not get any better! All he did was replicate what he was already doing. In order to progress, you’ve got to push past your current limits. (62)
Arthur Blank, who ran Home Depot, said, “I’d always stop the customers who walked out of the store and bought nothing. They were the ones who taught us the most.”^2 (63)
How we react to failures is going to be one of the most crucial aspects of our game. Some things are outside of our control. But it is how we use those failures. In fact, those with a growth mindset don’t consider them as failures at all. They’re just opportunities to learn. (63)
At the dinner table, her parents asked “What did you fail at today?” (68)
Those who see failures as walls will do nothing to get past them. Those who see them as doors will do the work to get them open. (70)
Frank Shamrock, former UFC Champ lived by the +, =, - system:
(plus): He finds someone ahead of him and learns from him.
= (equals): He finds someone equal to him and exchanges with him.
- (minus): He finds someone he is ahead of and shares with them. (71)
Key Point:
It’s a journey, not a destination. The successful ones never stop growing. Accept that you have more to learn, and be willing to get it from anywhere and anyone.
Remember:
You control your “knowledge advantage.”
Never quickly judge who or what is worth paying attention to. Be open.
Great ideas are in the air all around us. Train your eyes to recognize them.
Embrace failure for the teaching tool that it is.
Feedback is the sound of the world responding to us.
Ch. 5: Confidence
“You can’t possibly become better than me because you’re not spending the time on it that I do, so I already won” –Kobe Bryant (73)
Self Awareness
+ Passion
+Discipline
+Coachability
=Confidence
DeMatha Coach Jones said “Next Play” one hundred times in a game.
Seven Things I Learned on Stratton Mountain
Complacency is the enemy of growth. You must take off the “cruise control” and intentionally push your limits as often as possible.
Physical discomfort creates emotional connection. You will make your best friends outside of your comfort zone.
Successful, smart, driven people want to spend time with successful, smart, driven people. Like attracts like.
You aren’t competing with anyone else–in life or in business–you are always competing with yourself.
Breaking challenges into smaller pieces makes them manageable. Take things step by step.
View life as a series of privileges, not obligations. Change your “have to’s” to “get to’s”. I didn’t have to climb a mountain. I got to climb a mountain.
The climbs I did with others felt much easier than the ones I did by myself. The engaging and mutual support made a huge difference. Challenges are not meant to be tackled alone. (84-85)
“If everyone in the league worked as hard as I did, I’d be out of a job.” –Steve Nash
In How Champions Think: In Sports and In Life, Rotella wrote that the first essential quality of champions is optimism.^7 (86)
“If no one thinks your goals are crazy, you’re probably not aiming high enough.” –Bob Rotella, sports psychologist (86)
Key Point:
Earned confidence is the result of knowing yourself, caring about what you do, and committing to getting better. Confidence attracts success.
Remember:
There is nothing more damaging than false confidence and nothing more powerful than properly grounded confidence.
Confidence is a contagious force that shines a light on your work and gives energy to others.
Don’t be a jerk, but make sure your confidence comes through in how you talk and do your work.
Earned confidence is a magnetic force that will get you what you want.
PART II: COACH
Ch. 6: Vision
“A person who knows how may always have a job, but the person who knows why will always be his boss” (John C. Maxwell). (91)
To get ahead…Ten years ago it was strength and conditioning and nutrition; five years ago it was sports psychology, yoga and film breakdown/analytics. Soon it will be wearable technology, virtual reality training tools, and customized nutrition and supplementation based on blood types. (93)
The most successful (in ANYTHING!) study the future and see where things are heading (advanced analytics/statistics). See Daryl Morey; Billy Beane & Paul DePodesta. (94)
“A good player knows where they are on the court. A great player knows where everyone is on the court” (Don Meyer). (95)
People have to believe in the who before they believe in the what. (95)
Think about yourself: Do you have a clear vision? Is it communicated? Consistently?
Most business people cannot name their company’s top three priorities.
Know your vision, and communicate your vision.
Self Test:
Ask yourself:
Do your direct reports know what your vision is?
If I asked them, could they answer? Without any preparation?
Do you emphasize why everyone is coming to work every day?
Do you regularly communicate what they are all working toward?
If you do, how often?
If not, why not? Is it because you don’t know? Is it because you don’t think they need to know? Is it because you’ve never thought about it?
Answering these questions might be sobering, but do it anyways! (96)
I took WAY too many notes, but here are some of the things that stood out:
Each of these three parts (Player, Coach, Team) contain the five characteristics required to be successful in that specific role:
Elite players want to be developed by a coach and be an asset to the team
Elite coaches put players in the right role to help the team achieve success
Elite teams require players and coaches that put the team’s needs ahead of their own
Introduction:
The STARS, in their private workout routines have 2 things that stand out:
They stick to the basics–to make them automatic
They work harder than anyone else
“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.” (xvi)
My goal for the book is simple–to educate and inspire readers to take immediate action to improve their mind-set, habits and value. (xvii)
The happiest, most influential, and most successful people I’ve ever met are able to put their full attention into the present moment, focusing on 3 things:
The next play
The controllables
The process
…I’ve found that the traits that are needed to be a successful player, coach and teammate are the same characteristics that are used to run some of the biggest and most significant companies in the world. (xvii)
So it’s not necessarily about knowledge…Why? Although people know what they need to do, they just don’t do it.
This book will help us drill down on your answers to these vital questions:
What sacrifices do I need to make?
What skills do I need to acquire?
Whose help would I benefit from?
What challenges should I expect?
What habits do I need to change? (xviii)
When it comes to improving performance–in any area of life–the most basic and effective strategy is to close performance gaps. These are the gaps between what we know we are supposed to do and what we actually do. (xix)
Pages xxii-xxvii provide a paragraph summary of EACH chapter of the book.
Ch. 1: Self-Awareness
“Embrace the people who tell you you’re full of crap” (Gary Vaynerchuck). (3)
Self Test
What do you do really well?
What do you need to improve on?
What is your plan for addressing #2? (4)
Self-awareness offers the needed element of perspective: the clarity of the big picture and your place in it.
The most dangerous people in the world are the ones who don’t know what they don’t know. EX: Taking a bad shot is one thing. Not knowing it is is even bigger. (7)
Self Test
What specific thing do you do at a very high level?
If I polled the people closest to you, what would they say you do really well?
How many opportunities do you have to do this thing? (8)
“Don’t worry about them. Let them worry about you” (John Wooden). (9)
Self-awareness is about knowing where your control begins and where it ends…control the controllables. (attitude & effort)
…you control how you respond and how you react.
One thing that separates elite from average players is the ability to focus on their own effort and attitude. Average players worry about what their coach is doing, what their teammates are doing, what their opponent is doing, even what the referee is doing! (10-11)
Every season at UCLA one of the first things John Wooden would do in the locker room was to teach his players how to correctly put on their shoes and socks to avoid chaffing and blisters. (11)
Self Test
Rate yourself from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree):
I have high expectations for myself and my team
I constantly ask questions to my close friends, family, and colleagues
I work on my craft daily and am constantly learning and growing
I handle pressure well and embrace adversity
I am focused on the right things, and my schedule is aligned with my priorities
I am an active and empathetic listener
I communicate clearly and effectively
I encourage feedback and questions, and I accept criticism well
I openly admit when I am wrong and accept responsibility
I have a healthy way of dealing with disappointment, anger, and frustration
Focus on who you are and what you do well. That is how you succeed. (13)
Well-rounded is overrated.
Find the one thing you do better than anyone else and continue to pour into that.
A Gallup poll of thousands of organizations showed that when an organization focused on an employee’s strength, the level of that employee’s engagement was nearly 75%. And when they didn’t? It was 9%.^5 (14)
Be Willing to Close the Store (i.e. Starbucks)
Know Thyself
Know yourself in the way your competitors do.
Think of political campaigners…
Also, think of how Eminem used this to take out his opponent in 8 Mile… (15)
Markelle and the Power of Self-Awareness
I have seen self-awareness make or break people in sports, business and life.
Fultz could have went to any school, but he chose DeMatha even though the coach promised him nothing. But Markelle wanted to work hard and get better.
Self Test
Identify three people that you feel know you best. Then ask them to rate you #1 (low) to 10 (best)):
Do I communicate well? Do I effectively convey my message?
Am I courageous? Am I unafraid to take risks?
Am I disciplined? Do I commit to the process of doing things?
Am I focused? Can I block out distractions?
Am I generous? Am I a giving person?
Do I show initiative? Do I start things on my own?
Do I use sound judgment? Do I know what is truly important?
Do I listen? Do I hear others, or only hear what I want to hear?
Am I optimistic? Do I choose to see the good in every situation?
Am I a resolver? Do I just identify problems…or actually fix them?
Am I responsible? Do I hold myself accountable?
Am I secure? Do I trust those around me?
When finished, see how it compares to what you might think…
What sticks out?
“We can’t change what we don’t notice” –Tony Schwartz, author and journalist (23)
That’s where the real hard work comes in–being able to look in the mirror and know what we’re scared of and what we’re insecure about.
Key Point: Learn your strengths and weaknesses, inside and out, because self-awareness makes everything else possible.
Remember:
If you don’t know who you are and what you do, nothing else you know or learn will matter
Control the controllables. Don’t get caught up in things outside your frame of influence.
Recognize what you can contribute–where your value is–and others will notice. And they will reward you for it.
Avoid the arrogance that blinds you to areas in which you need to improve. (24)
Ch. 2: Passion
If you have a love for something, then all the work that follows is easier. (25)
“You don’t have to love the hard work. You just have to crave the end result so intensely that the hard work is irrelevant.”^1 –Tim Grover, NBA Trainer (25)
Mind set shift: Turn “have to” to “get to”!
Daily mantra: “I didn’t come this far to only come this far.”
Resilience: “That’s a muscle that needs to be developed. You can be born with great grit and resilience but you have to continue to develop that muscle as well.” –Steve Nash
Passion is: Putting a realistic goal in front of you and stretching to accomplish it. What is it for you? (29)
Mark Cuban turned boredom into opportunities by trying to learn as much as possible about whatever and wherever he was. This opined up future possibilities.
Bill Belichick took the worst job for no pay and got no credit for it. And he asked to do it (breaking down film). This enabled him to REALLY learn the job.
Or think of Erik Spoelstra.
Or Jeff Van Gundy, who said, “Box out. Take charges. Dive for loose balls. Make the extra pass. Those are all things everyone can do, yet very few actually do.”
He also said, “Experience gives you instinct.” (in terms of what’s most important)
Self Test
Is there a job, skills or knowledge that would be invaluable if they existed inside one employee? If not, find out! Master them. Make it so no one can do what you do.
Create Your Own Opportunities
Think of Tim Grover
Passion is necessary to get you through the time periods when the opportunities just aren’t there.
Think of Tom Brady–ready for the moment. He’s not just passionate about football, but about preparing for it.
Competition is Good for your Health
Statistics show that basketball teams that are down by 1 at halftime win more often than teams who are up by 1.
Think of races too!
Obstacles
Aron Ralston fell rock climbing and had to cut off his arm!
“Like oxygen to a fire, obstacles became fuel for the blaze that was their ambition…Every impediment serves to make the inferno within them burn with great ferocity.”^17
Obstacles are rich energy sources.
Self Test
Write 3 obstacles from my life.
In what way can they become motivators?
How can I turn them to fuel?
“When you stop growing, you start to decay.” –Coach K
Low performers crave comfort; high performers don’t just tolerate or do well in discomfort, they seek it out.
Make being uncomfortable, comfortable.
It’s the reps AFTER you’re tired that make the difference!!!
If you have 0% chance at failure, you ALSO have 0% chance of success!
Key Point:
Passion is the engine that powers us through what we have to do. If you know what yours is, tap into it as much as you can. If you don’t, commit yourself to searching and finding it.
Remember:
Passion is what will separate you from others and your life’s work from anyone else’s
No one makes it by coasting on talent; skill alone rarely gets the job done
Your attitude and approach determine whether it’s a “grind” or a journey
Care about the result so much that you are willing to do what it takes to get there
Use your passion as a guide to what you should be doing
Ch. 3: Discipline
What most people call luck is actually the expected collision between preparation and opportunity.
Was Tom Brady lucky?
Ask yourself: Are the actions you are taking today on par with the dreams you have for tomorrow?
How to be Prepared
Read
Study
Observe
Evaluate
Reach Out
Risk
“Good habits are hard to form and easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to form and hard to live with” –Mark Matteson, author and speaker. (44)
Multitasking is a myth, researchers say.
In fact, a Harvard study says, “People spend 46.9% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they’re doing.”^5
The Swish Standard
Steph had to swish FIVE 3’s before he could leave
Drew Hanlen: unseen hours
Pablo Picasso was asked by a woman while in his later years to sketch her something. He agreed, sketched it, handed it back and said, “That will be 5 thousand francs.” She was dumbfounded–it only took 5 minutes! “Ah, but madam, that took me my whole life.” (50)
“People are rewarded in public what they practice for years in private” –Tony Robbins.
Discipline is a choice:
Decide exactly what you want
Determine the price you have to pay
Choose whether or not you are willing to pay it
Stein worked out Kobe in his prime, and after meeting for a workout at 4am, he asked Kobe: “You’re the best player in the world. Why do such basic stuff?” He smiled and said, “Because I never get bored with the basics.”
The basics are simple, but not easy. (53)
Active listening is the most basic component of anything.
A hack is a shortcut.
The 5 Steps to Mastering Any Skill (pyramid)
Skill Mastery
Produces
Refined Experience
Creates
Honed Instincts
Develops
Specific Feedback
Requires
Purposeful Practice
Passion might be the why, but discipline is the how.
Preparation is a controllable competitive advantage. (57)
When you focus on the process, the outcome will take care of itself.
Some scouts come to the gym 6-8 hours before a game to see people’s preparation.
Larry Bird shot 500 free throws before school each day.
“In the end, we are our choices” –Jeff Bazos.
And remember, not working hard is actually a choice.
Key Point:
Create habits and structure that will give you an edge in your business. Discipline means having, maintaining, and refining a system in place to work on your game.
Remember:
There’s no such thing as “finding” success, as if you stumbled upon it. You create success by building the habits to reach it.
It’s the consistent habits that make the best the best. Build a schedule and a structure of habits that put first things first.
Knock out distractions. Consider how to spend your time wisely and efficiently. Be ruthless in trimming out the “fat” from your day.
Use your unseen hours. Make the most of your time–those at the top do not waste a second. Focus on what matters.
Ch. 4: Coachability
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” –John Wooden (61)
In the world of athletic performance training, Stein was raised on a philosophy called high-intensity training, an incredibly intense training methodology that calls for you to take every set to the point of MMF (momentary muscular failure). You push the weight until you can’t push any more. He is conditioned to do this.
Think about it. If a basketball player does a thirty minute workout and never loses the ball, then he did not get any better! All he did was replicate what he was already doing. In order to progress, you’ve got to push past your current limits. (62)
Arthur Blank, who ran Home Depot, said, “I’d always stop the customers who walked out of the store and bought nothing. They were the ones who taught us the most.”^2 (63)
How we react to failures is going to be one of the most crucial aspects of our game. Some things are outside of our control. But it is how we use those failures. In fact, those with a growth mindset don’t consider them as failures at all. They’re just opportunities to learn. (63)
At the dinner table, her parents asked “What did you fail at today?” (68)
Those who see failures as walls will do nothing to get past them. Those who see them as doors will do the work to get them open. (70)
Frank Shamrock, former UFC Champ lived by the +, =, - system:
(plus): He finds someone ahead of him and learns from him.
= (equals): He finds someone equal to him and exchanges with him.
- (minus): He finds someone he is ahead of and shares with them. (71)
Key Point:
It’s a journey, not a destination. The successful ones never stop growing. Accept that you have more to learn, and be willing to get it from anywhere and anyone.
Remember:
You control your “knowledge advantage.”
Never quickly judge who or what is worth paying attention to. Be open.
Great ideas are in the air all around us. Train your eyes to recognize them.
Embrace failure for the teaching tool that it is.
Feedback is the sound of the world responding to us.
Ch. 5: Confidence
“You can’t possibly become better than me because you’re not spending the time on it that I do, so I already won” –Kobe Bryant (73)
Self Awareness
+ Passion
+Discipline
+Coachability
=Confidence
DeMatha Coach Jones said “Next Play” one hundred times in a game.
Seven Things I Learned on Stratton Mountain
Complacency is the enemy of growth. You must take off the “cruise control” and intentionally push your limits as often as possible.
Physical discomfort creates emotional connection. You will make your best friends outside of your comfort zone.
Successful, smart, driven people want to spend time with successful, smart, driven people. Like attracts like.
You aren’t competing with anyone else–in life or in business–you are always competing with yourself.
Breaking challenges into smaller pieces makes them manageable. Take things step by step.
View life as a series of privileges, not obligations. Change your “have to’s” to “get to’s”. I didn’t have to climb a mountain. I got to climb a mountain.
The climbs I did with others felt much easier than the ones I did by myself. The engaging and mutual support made a huge difference. Challenges are not meant to be tackled alone. (84-85)
“If everyone in the league worked as hard as I did, I’d be out of a job.” –Steve Nash
In How Champions Think: In Sports and In Life, Rotella wrote that the first essential quality of champions is optimism.^7 (86)
“If no one thinks your goals are crazy, you’re probably not aiming high enough.” –Bob Rotella, sports psychologist (86)
Key Point:
Earned confidence is the result of knowing yourself, caring about what you do, and committing to getting better. Confidence attracts success.
Remember:
There is nothing more damaging than false confidence and nothing more powerful than properly grounded confidence.
Confidence is a contagious force that shines a light on your work and gives energy to others.
Don’t be a jerk, but make sure your confidence comes through in how you talk and do your work.
Earned confidence is a magnetic force that will get you what you want.
PART II: COACH
Ch. 6: Vision
“A person who knows how may always have a job, but the person who knows why will always be his boss” (John C. Maxwell). (91)
To get ahead…Ten years ago it was strength and conditioning and nutrition; five years ago it was sports psychology, yoga and film breakdown/analytics. Soon it will be wearable technology, virtual reality training tools, and customized nutrition and supplementation based on blood types. (93)
The most successful (in ANYTHING!) study the future and see where things are heading (advanced analytics/statistics). See Daryl Morey; Billy Beane & Paul DePodesta. (94)
“A good player knows where they are on the court. A great player knows where everyone is on the court” (Don Meyer). (95)
People have to believe in the who before they believe in the what. (95)
Think about yourself: Do you have a clear vision? Is it communicated? Consistently?
Most business people cannot name their company’s top three priorities.
Know your vision, and communicate your vision.
Self Test:
Ask yourself:
Do your direct reports know what your vision is?
If I asked them, could they answer? Without any preparation?
Do you emphasize why everyone is coming to work every day?
Do you regularly communicate what they are all working toward?
If you do, how often?
If not, why not? Is it because you don’t know? Is it because you don’t think they need to know? Is it because you’ve never thought about it?
Answering these questions might be sobering, but do it anyways! (96)
December 7, 2020
I give this book 3.5 stars. The concepts are simple, like using your self-awareness to find the thing you do best and focus on that. This is well known as there is already research showing that when an organization focused on an employee's strength, the level of that employee's engagement was nearly 75%. When they didn't, it was 9%. The advice in the book is not original, let alone "secrets" as touted in the title. And most of the advice is in the context of basketball, so it becomes tiresome unless you're a basketball fan.
October 25, 2020
Alan Stein has put together a very enjoyable read and anyone who finishes this book will come away with a number of timeless principles on how to become a better person, co-worker or teammate. Admittedly, Alan does tend to over quote others to bring his points home and some will feel this book is only a re-hash of other authors and their views. That said, the author does a great job of incorporating his own stories and bringing in tangible antidotes from his experience working with basketball’s elite (Durant, Kobe, Kerr, Duncan and Coach K amongst many others). I would steer any basketball fan to this book (Alan’s circle of competence) and any novice reader to self improvement books as he covers a lot of ground and topics in this arena.
I’ve pasted below my favorite sections from the book and I appreciated the self-tests throughout and the summaries at the end of each chapter. All in all, a good read for those looking to raise their game with some good stories to remember as examples. Here are my five favorite parts and one of my favorite quotes:
Performance Gaps: When it comes to improving performance—in any area of life—the most basic and effective strategy is to close performance gaps. These are the gaps between what we know we are supposed to do and what we actually do. [a few pages later] - “The best performers observe themselves closely,” business journalist Geoff Colvin wrote in Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everyone Else. In the book, Colvin looked at what distinguishes top performers in all arenas and found, “They are in effect able to step outside themselves, monitor what is happening in their own mind, and ask how it’s going.… Top performers do this much more systematically than others do; it’s an established part of their routine.”
Control the Controllable: There are only two things in this world that we have 100 percent control over, 100 percent of the time. That is our effort and our attitude.
Unseen Hours: My good friend and colleague Drew Hanlen is an internationally renowned NBA strategic skills coach. He has coined a phrase that I absolutely love: unseen hours. It refers to all the time and effort the public doesn’t see that lays the foundation to the success they do see. It’s the work they put in when there are no TV cameras, no fans, and no cheerleaders. It’s the baskets they make that don’t count, the passes that don’t show up on instant replay, the hustling that never gets them any shout-outs. It’s what happens when the gym is empty and the hour is insanely early or insanely late. Those are the unseen hours. That’s where the heavy lifting happens, and the average spectator doesn’t even think about it.
Thoughts on Vision: Vision is about carrying both the big and the small, the now and the later, the intangible concept and the tangible steps. “The most productive people push themselves to come up with big goals,” wrote Charles Duhigg in Smarter Faster Better, “and then have a system for breaking them into manageable parts.” Draw a connection between what you ultimately want to accomplish, along with what you want your organization to be, and then break it all down into the manageable steps it will take to get there.
Teammate Audit / Unselfishness: Fifteen index cards...Write the name of a colleague on each card. • Every workday, send one of them one of three things: Someone you know who may benefit them (and ask if they’d like an introduction) Something you know that may add value to them (a book recommendation, an article, or a video) An inquiry to see how they are doing and what you can help with (“How are things in your world?”)
And just a great quote to keep in mind - "It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts." —John Wooden
I’ve pasted below my favorite sections from the book and I appreciated the self-tests throughout and the summaries at the end of each chapter. All in all, a good read for those looking to raise their game with some good stories to remember as examples. Here are my five favorite parts and one of my favorite quotes:
Performance Gaps: When it comes to improving performance—in any area of life—the most basic and effective strategy is to close performance gaps. These are the gaps between what we know we are supposed to do and what we actually do. [a few pages later] - “The best performers observe themselves closely,” business journalist Geoff Colvin wrote in Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everyone Else. In the book, Colvin looked at what distinguishes top performers in all arenas and found, “They are in effect able to step outside themselves, monitor what is happening in their own mind, and ask how it’s going.… Top performers do this much more systematically than others do; it’s an established part of their routine.”
Control the Controllable: There are only two things in this world that we have 100 percent control over, 100 percent of the time. That is our effort and our attitude.
Unseen Hours: My good friend and colleague Drew Hanlen is an internationally renowned NBA strategic skills coach. He has coined a phrase that I absolutely love: unseen hours. It refers to all the time and effort the public doesn’t see that lays the foundation to the success they do see. It’s the work they put in when there are no TV cameras, no fans, and no cheerleaders. It’s the baskets they make that don’t count, the passes that don’t show up on instant replay, the hustling that never gets them any shout-outs. It’s what happens when the gym is empty and the hour is insanely early or insanely late. Those are the unseen hours. That’s where the heavy lifting happens, and the average spectator doesn’t even think about it.
Thoughts on Vision: Vision is about carrying both the big and the small, the now and the later, the intangible concept and the tangible steps. “The most productive people push themselves to come up with big goals,” wrote Charles Duhigg in Smarter Faster Better, “and then have a system for breaking them into manageable parts.” Draw a connection between what you ultimately want to accomplish, along with what you want your organization to be, and then break it all down into the manageable steps it will take to get there.
Teammate Audit / Unselfishness: Fifteen index cards...Write the name of a colleague on each card. • Every workday, send one of them one of three things: Someone you know who may benefit them (and ask if they’d like an introduction) Something you know that may add value to them (a book recommendation, an article, or a video) An inquiry to see how they are doing and what you can help with (“How are things in your world?”)
And just a great quote to keep in mind - "It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts." —John Wooden
April 11, 2025
Alan Stein Jr. is a trainer and motivational speaker who shares lessons about life and leadership, primarily through the lens of sports (primarily basketball) and business. Quotes and personal anecdotes abound, including those from his interactions with prominent individuals such as Kobe Bryant, Mike Kryzewski (Coach K), Mark Cuban, and Jesse Itzler. The book is organized into three parts, dubbed Player (employee), Coach (management), and Team (organization). Those parts are broken into smaller subsections, with some being motivational and others being superficial (as well as somewhat hackneyed).
For the Player, the concepts are Self-Awareness, Passion, Discipline, Coachability, and Confidence. The book leads with Self-Awareness because it is arguably the most important characteristic. Not only does it compel you to see the perspective of others, it is also a necessary component for humility - which in turn allows you to see your faults, failings, and weaknesses. Such are needed for growth. As UCLA coach John Wooden said, “Don’t worry about them. Let them worry about you.” Passion is about going beyond one’s comfort zone. As Mr. Stein repeatedly warns, do not let comfort be your cage. The mediocre are satisfied with being comfortable, but the greats raise the bar to make it so that they have to work on harder and harder things. The greats also accept temporary discomfort in exchange for permanent improvement. Do not rest on your laurels. As Jesse Itzler says (paraphrasing), “I didn’t come this far just to come this far.” Discipline follows a similar tack as Passion, except that the former employs effort and heart and the latter often relies on emotion and mercurial motivation. If Passion is the why, then Discipline is the how. The unseen, thankless hours is where the difference is made. Mr. Stein shares his experience with seeing Kobe put in the work, already sweating bullets by 3:30 a.m. each day, and never foregoing the basics as part of his prep work. You don’t get to choose how smart or talented you or your opponent is, but you can control whether or not you outwork him. Build yourself into a monster. Feedback is important when expending that effort, and such feedback needs to be not only targeted and specific but must also come from external sources. This segues into the next concept, Coachability. One who ignores and mindlessly shuts out criticism and feedback closes himself off to success. All of the above comes together so that one has Confidence. Such should be authentic, rather than mere hubris or arrogance - and most people are able to immediately recognize the difference.
For the Coach, the concepts are Vision, Culture, Servant, Character, and Empowerment. For the Team, the concepts are Belief, Unselfishness, Role Clarity, Communication, and Cohesion. Imo these sections were a bit redundant as well as axiomatic to the point of being trite, save for a few. Vision is an ability that all leaders must have, as well as a responsibility to impart in order to steer the Team (company) with everyone rowing in the same direction. Role Clarity is just as important, and as a company grows each team member’s role should become more specialized and well defined. Lastly, the section on Communication took a page from The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (3/5 stars). Managers and coworkers alike should understand the language of their teammates (i.e., what they each appreciate). The five are (1) expressions of appreciation / recognition; (2) acts of service (doing things / helping them out); (3) gifts; (4) time and attention; and (5) physical touch (maybe not this last one for coworkers).
For the Player, the concepts are Self-Awareness, Passion, Discipline, Coachability, and Confidence. The book leads with Self-Awareness because it is arguably the most important characteristic. Not only does it compel you to see the perspective of others, it is also a necessary component for humility - which in turn allows you to see your faults, failings, and weaknesses. Such are needed for growth. As UCLA coach John Wooden said, “Don’t worry about them. Let them worry about you.” Passion is about going beyond one’s comfort zone. As Mr. Stein repeatedly warns, do not let comfort be your cage. The mediocre are satisfied with being comfortable, but the greats raise the bar to make it so that they have to work on harder and harder things. The greats also accept temporary discomfort in exchange for permanent improvement. Do not rest on your laurels. As Jesse Itzler says (paraphrasing), “I didn’t come this far just to come this far.” Discipline follows a similar tack as Passion, except that the former employs effort and heart and the latter often relies on emotion and mercurial motivation. If Passion is the why, then Discipline is the how. The unseen, thankless hours is where the difference is made. Mr. Stein shares his experience with seeing Kobe put in the work, already sweating bullets by 3:30 a.m. each day, and never foregoing the basics as part of his prep work. You don’t get to choose how smart or talented you or your opponent is, but you can control whether or not you outwork him. Build yourself into a monster. Feedback is important when expending that effort, and such feedback needs to be not only targeted and specific but must also come from external sources. This segues into the next concept, Coachability. One who ignores and mindlessly shuts out criticism and feedback closes himself off to success. All of the above comes together so that one has Confidence. Such should be authentic, rather than mere hubris or arrogance - and most people are able to immediately recognize the difference.
For the Coach, the concepts are Vision, Culture, Servant, Character, and Empowerment. For the Team, the concepts are Belief, Unselfishness, Role Clarity, Communication, and Cohesion. Imo these sections were a bit redundant as well as axiomatic to the point of being trite, save for a few. Vision is an ability that all leaders must have, as well as a responsibility to impart in order to steer the Team (company) with everyone rowing in the same direction. Role Clarity is just as important, and as a company grows each team member’s role should become more specialized and well defined. Lastly, the section on Communication took a page from The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (3/5 stars). Managers and coworkers alike should understand the language of their teammates (i.e., what they each appreciate). The five are (1) expressions of appreciation / recognition; (2) acts of service (doing things / helping them out); (3) gifts; (4) time and attention; and (5) physical touch (maybe not this last one for coworkers).
December 7, 2024
In "Raise Your Game", Alan Stein Jr. and Jon Sternfeld provide a roadmap for achieving world-class performance by uncovering the habits and mindsets of elite performers. Success, the authors argue, is rooted in mastering the basics, fostering discipline, and committing to continuous self-improvement.
Self-awareness and discipline are foundational to high performance. Self-awareness involves a deep understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, and motivations, allowing you to focus on the areas that truly matter. For instance, Kobe Bryant’s legendary 4:00 a.m. workouts exemplified his dedication to mastering fundamentals. Even at the height of his career, he devoted hours to perfecting his footwork, knowing that sustained excellence comes from never neglecting the basics. Discipline, on the other hand, turns this self-awareness into action. Mark Cuban’s early success stemmed from his relentless preparation, spending nights reading software manuals to gain an edge over his competition. This combination of self-awareness and discipline underscores the importance of aligning daily habits with long-term goals.
Confidence, as the book reveals, is not an inherent trait but a skill cultivated through preparation. Elite performers like Steph Curry demonstrate this principle. Curry’s meticulous pre-game routine, which includes swishing five consecutive free throws, prepares him to excel under pressure. The book emphasizes that confidence grows from consistent, deliberate practice and the ability to reframe self-doubt. Rather than silencing their inner critic, high achievers learn to work with it, turning negative thoughts into opportunities for growth.
Visionary leadership is another hallmark of top performers. True leaders don’t just predict the future—they shape it by inspiring others to share their vision. Jeff Bezos’s early efforts to convince investors of Amazon’s potential as an “everything store” exemplify this. He focused on the big picture while staying flexible with details, creating a company that could adapt to changing circumstances. Similarly, visionaries like Reed Hastings of Netflix and Daryl Morey in basketball analytics demonstrate that transformative leadership requires both foresight and relentless execution.
The book also highlights the power of servant leadership, which prioritizes the needs of others to achieve collective success. Gregg Popovich, for example, demonstrated this when he took responsibility during a team crisis, building trust and loyalty among his players. Great leaders like Duke’s Coach K and Starbucks’ Howard Schultz show that genuine connection and a willingness to serve others create environments where individuals and teams thrive.
Finally, "Raise Your Game" underscores that teamwork is essential for success. Whether in sports or business, high-performing teams prioritize trust, communication, and shared purpose over individual ambition. The Golden State Warriors’ synchronized practices and Amazon’s “disagree and commit” principle are examples of how collective effort can achieve results that surpass individual talent.
Ultimately, the book argues that lasting success comes from mastering fundamentals with extraordinary focus, building confidence through preparation, inspiring others with vision, and fostering collaboration through service and teamwork. These principles provide a blueprint for anyone striving to perform at their best.
Self-awareness and discipline are foundational to high performance. Self-awareness involves a deep understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, and motivations, allowing you to focus on the areas that truly matter. For instance, Kobe Bryant’s legendary 4:00 a.m. workouts exemplified his dedication to mastering fundamentals. Even at the height of his career, he devoted hours to perfecting his footwork, knowing that sustained excellence comes from never neglecting the basics. Discipline, on the other hand, turns this self-awareness into action. Mark Cuban’s early success stemmed from his relentless preparation, spending nights reading software manuals to gain an edge over his competition. This combination of self-awareness and discipline underscores the importance of aligning daily habits with long-term goals.
Confidence, as the book reveals, is not an inherent trait but a skill cultivated through preparation. Elite performers like Steph Curry demonstrate this principle. Curry’s meticulous pre-game routine, which includes swishing five consecutive free throws, prepares him to excel under pressure. The book emphasizes that confidence grows from consistent, deliberate practice and the ability to reframe self-doubt. Rather than silencing their inner critic, high achievers learn to work with it, turning negative thoughts into opportunities for growth.
Visionary leadership is another hallmark of top performers. True leaders don’t just predict the future—they shape it by inspiring others to share their vision. Jeff Bezos’s early efforts to convince investors of Amazon’s potential as an “everything store” exemplify this. He focused on the big picture while staying flexible with details, creating a company that could adapt to changing circumstances. Similarly, visionaries like Reed Hastings of Netflix and Daryl Morey in basketball analytics demonstrate that transformative leadership requires both foresight and relentless execution.
The book also highlights the power of servant leadership, which prioritizes the needs of others to achieve collective success. Gregg Popovich, for example, demonstrated this when he took responsibility during a team crisis, building trust and loyalty among his players. Great leaders like Duke’s Coach K and Starbucks’ Howard Schultz show that genuine connection and a willingness to serve others create environments where individuals and teams thrive.
Finally, "Raise Your Game" underscores that teamwork is essential for success. Whether in sports or business, high-performing teams prioritize trust, communication, and shared purpose over individual ambition. The Golden State Warriors’ synchronized practices and Amazon’s “disagree and commit” principle are examples of how collective effort can achieve results that surpass individual talent.
Ultimately, the book argues that lasting success comes from mastering fundamentals with extraordinary focus, building confidence through preparation, inspiring others with vision, and fostering collaboration through service and teamwork. These principles provide a blueprint for anyone striving to perform at their best.
December 22, 2020
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 - 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 - 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻
Who doesn't want to be a better person? Okay... I know so many books are available in the market regarding this very question but guys keep reading as I assure you this is a masterpiece of all. Whosoever completes this book will leave away with various ageless standards on the best way to improve personally, colleague, or partner.
The author works superbly by joining his own accounts and bringing immaterial counteractants from his experience working with basketball's tip top (Durant, Kobe, Kerr, Duncan, and Coach K among numerous others). I would guide any basketball fan to this book and any fledgling pursuer to personal growth books as he makes a great deal of progress and subjects in this field.
This book tested my thinking, made them examine subjects with my family, and has given me key training focuses for my groups. All things considered, a decent read for those looking to raise their game with some great stories to recollect as specific illustrations.
Some parts from the book that I adored the most are -
1. Control the Controllable: There are only two things in this world that we have 100 percent control over, 100 percent of the time. That is our effort and our attitude.
2. Thoughts on Vision: Vision is about carrying both the big and the small, the now and the later, the intangible concept and the tangible steps.
3. Teammate Audit / Unselfishness: Fifteen index cards...Write the name of a colleague on each card. • Every workday, send one of them one of three things.
This book gives a lot of reality and direct models in an organized and engaging manner indicating the effect it has when you submit completely to it. For in-depth experience & knowledge, grab a copy today.
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 - 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻
Who doesn't want to be a better person? Okay... I know so many books are available in the market regarding this very question but guys keep reading as I assure you this is a masterpiece of all. Whosoever completes this book will leave away with various ageless standards on the best way to improve personally, colleague, or partner.
The author works superbly by joining his own accounts and bringing immaterial counteractants from his experience working with basketball's tip top (Durant, Kobe, Kerr, Duncan, and Coach K among numerous others). I would guide any basketball fan to this book and any fledgling pursuer to personal growth books as he makes a great deal of progress and subjects in this field.
This book tested my thinking, made them examine subjects with my family, and has given me key training focuses for my groups. All things considered, a decent read for those looking to raise their game with some great stories to recollect as specific illustrations.
Some parts from the book that I adored the most are -
1. Control the Controllable: There are only two things in this world that we have 100 percent control over, 100 percent of the time. That is our effort and our attitude.
2. Thoughts on Vision: Vision is about carrying both the big and the small, the now and the later, the intangible concept and the tangible steps.
3. Teammate Audit / Unselfishness: Fifteen index cards...Write the name of a colleague on each card. • Every workday, send one of them one of three things.
This book gives a lot of reality and direct models in an organized and engaging manner indicating the effect it has when you submit completely to it. For in-depth experience & knowledge, grab a copy today.
April 19, 2021
I know that I am not perfect and I know that no one is perfect. That is why this book is perfect for anyone who wants to improve themselves and their lives. Raise Your Game uses coaching, sports experiences, mental tips, and the successes of NBA players such as Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant to show what I need to do to improve my life. Alan Stein Jr. brings up many good points that really get through to the reader, such as the importance of "controlling the controllable" and not getting upset about the failures that we can't control. He teaches us to be disciplined and accepting feedback are other areas to focus on if we want to be like Kobe. He teaches reminds us to be curious and ask questions. As a peak-performance coach, Alan Stein Jr. instructs athletes on how to be a team, and to not only grow as an athlete but as a person. Stein helps anyone who reads his book how to improve their productivity and achieve higher levels of success. I have learned that high achievers are at the top of their game because of the discipline they have achieved over time. They have made a commitment to establish, tweak, and repeat positive habits in everything they do. Raise Your Game examines the top leaders in sports and business and proves that success is a result of the little things we do all the time.
December 6, 2024
mostly comes down to habits and discipline - if you already have those dont bother reading the book looking for something youre missing
notes:
- “Why do you think I’m the best? Because I never get bored with the basics.”
- He wasn’t just working hard – he was working with intention.
- success is about mastering the ordinary with extraordinary focus and discipline, not just simply doing extraordinary things
- his confidence doesn’t come from some innate trait, but from the fact that he consistently outworks others and spends more time learning than anyone else
- turning “I can't” into “I can't yet,” and “This is impossible” into “This is impossible until I figure it out.”
- Think of vision like a telescope: it helps you see far, but it also helps others see what you see.
- While conventional wisdom tells us leaders should project strength and authority, the highest performers have discovered something far more potent – the transformative impact of putting others first.
“It’s an important reminder: Success is a result of what we do all of the time. The highest performers in all walks of life have embraced this fact; they have taken full ownership and have chosen to create and implement positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence. As the saying goes, how you do anything is how you do everything.”
notes:
- “Why do you think I’m the best? Because I never get bored with the basics.”
- He wasn’t just working hard – he was working with intention.
- success is about mastering the ordinary with extraordinary focus and discipline, not just simply doing extraordinary things
- his confidence doesn’t come from some innate trait, but from the fact that he consistently outworks others and spends more time learning than anyone else
- turning “I can't” into “I can't yet,” and “This is impossible” into “This is impossible until I figure it out.”
- Think of vision like a telescope: it helps you see far, but it also helps others see what you see.
- While conventional wisdom tells us leaders should project strength and authority, the highest performers have discovered something far more potent – the transformative impact of putting others first.
“It’s an important reminder: Success is a result of what we do all of the time. The highest performers in all walks of life have embraced this fact; they have taken full ownership and have chosen to create and implement positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence. As the saying goes, how you do anything is how you do everything.”
December 30, 2021
Although there are many productivity/performance books targeted at life/work improvement that draw lessons from sports, this is the first one I've read that drew from it so heavily from a single sport, Basketball to provide the life lessons (though by no means do I think this is first book of this type/structure).
The lessons are the usual : Work hard, be persistent, believe in yourself etc. At times it verges on 'Vaynerchuckisms' (Vaynerchuck is quoted/referenced directly a few times in the text), which means the text hasn't aged too well given how many now view his notions as blindly advocating for people to take the exact opposite direction in their work-life balance than people are now seeking to do post-Covid.
As someone who's read a lot of these productivity texts, everything from Napoleon Hill to Tony Robbins, I didn't catch much here that's not been said (if anything). Even the Kevin Durant "servant leader" story is basically just the same-old "servant leader" spiel you get from every other leadership/productivity book (because KD got it from those books himself!), so we've come full-circle at peak productivity-hype point.
It's well written, and I think it'll probably hype one up as they are reading it. But I wouldn't expect to get anything else much from the book. Conditional recommend.
The lessons are the usual : Work hard, be persistent, believe in yourself etc. At times it verges on 'Vaynerchuckisms' (Vaynerchuck is quoted/referenced directly a few times in the text), which means the text hasn't aged too well given how many now view his notions as blindly advocating for people to take the exact opposite direction in their work-life balance than people are now seeking to do post-Covid.
As someone who's read a lot of these productivity texts, everything from Napoleon Hill to Tony Robbins, I didn't catch much here that's not been said (if anything). Even the Kevin Durant "servant leader" story is basically just the same-old "servant leader" spiel you get from every other leadership/productivity book (because KD got it from those books himself!), so we've come full-circle at peak productivity-hype point.
It's well written, and I think it'll probably hype one up as they are reading it. But I wouldn't expect to get anything else much from the book. Conditional recommend.
December 7, 2024
Summary:
The high performance comes from cultivating specific habits and mindsets that consistently push the best to the top.
It starts with self-awareness and discipline, as shown by Kobe Bryant’s 4:00 a.m. workouts. His dedication to mastering the basics reflects a deep understanding of his strengths and areas for growth. This self-awareness is the foundation that guides progress.
Discipline turns awareness into focused action. Mark Cuban’s constant preparation, such as spending evenings reading software manuals, built his “knowledge advantage,” giving him an edge over competitors.
Next comes confidence, born from preparation. Steph Curry’s precise pre-game routines demonstrate how deliberate practice under pressure builds a mindset ready for any challenge.
Visionary leadership follows, as Jeff Bezos’s foresight with Amazon shows. Seeing future possibilities, coupled with adaptable execution, drives transformative success.
And finally, remember that true leadership flows from service. Gregg Popovich’s team-first approach highlights the power of putting others ahead of oneself, leading to collective excellence. These principles unite the elite into teams driven by trust, communication, and shared purpose.
The high performance comes from cultivating specific habits and mindsets that consistently push the best to the top.
It starts with self-awareness and discipline, as shown by Kobe Bryant’s 4:00 a.m. workouts. His dedication to mastering the basics reflects a deep understanding of his strengths and areas for growth. This self-awareness is the foundation that guides progress.
Discipline turns awareness into focused action. Mark Cuban’s constant preparation, such as spending evenings reading software manuals, built his “knowledge advantage,” giving him an edge over competitors.
Next comes confidence, born from preparation. Steph Curry’s precise pre-game routines demonstrate how deliberate practice under pressure builds a mindset ready for any challenge.
Visionary leadership follows, as Jeff Bezos’s foresight with Amazon shows. Seeing future possibilities, coupled with adaptable execution, drives transformative success.
And finally, remember that true leadership flows from service. Gregg Popovich’s team-first approach highlights the power of putting others ahead of oneself, leading to collective excellence. These principles unite the elite into teams driven by trust, communication, and shared purpose.
December 7, 2024
high performance comes from cultivating specific habits and mindsets that consistently push the best to the top.
It starts with self-awareness and discipline, as shown by Kobe Bryant’s 4:00 a.m. workouts. His dedication to mastering the basics reflects a deep understanding of his strengths and areas for growth. This self-awareness is the foundation that guides progress.
Discipline turns awareness into focused action. Mark Cuban’s constant preparation, such as spending evenings reading software manuals, built his “knowledge advantage,” giving him an edge over competitors.
Next comes confidence, born from preparation. Steph Curry’s precise pre-game routines demonstrate how deliberate practice under pressure builds a mindset ready for any challenge.
Visionary leadership follows, as Jeff Bezos’s foresight with Amazon shows. Seeing future possibilities, coupled with adaptable execution, drives transformative success.
And finally, remember that true leadership flows from service. Gregg Popovich’s team-first approach highlights the power of putting others ahead of oneself, leading to collective excellence. These principles unite the elite into teams driven by trust, communication, and shared purpose.
It starts with self-awareness and discipline, as shown by Kobe Bryant’s 4:00 a.m. workouts. His dedication to mastering the basics reflects a deep understanding of his strengths and areas for growth. This self-awareness is the foundation that guides progress.
Discipline turns awareness into focused action. Mark Cuban’s constant preparation, such as spending evenings reading software manuals, built his “knowledge advantage,” giving him an edge over competitors.
Next comes confidence, born from preparation. Steph Curry’s precise pre-game routines demonstrate how deliberate practice under pressure builds a mindset ready for any challenge.
Visionary leadership follows, as Jeff Bezos’s foresight with Amazon shows. Seeing future possibilities, coupled with adaptable execution, drives transformative success.
And finally, remember that true leadership flows from service. Gregg Popovich’s team-first approach highlights the power of putting others ahead of oneself, leading to collective excellence. These principles unite the elite into teams driven by trust, communication, and shared purpose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2024
Having attended Alan's keynote presentation, I was inspired by the stories of high-performance and how he crystallized the learning into actionable insights. So, I was quite excited to get my hands on this book.
This book contains useful insights, interesting stories around existing concepts and ideas. There isn't anything groundbreaking here but then the way the key ideas are presented, it makes them (practices, habits, traits and characteristics) accessible to those who wish to develop traits that help them raise the game. The book is based on stories and learning from Alan's work, interactions, and observations from basketball but the insights apply well to the world of business and other professions.
If you don't love US basketball game/scene, you'd quickly get bored though (I'll be honest -- I struggled to get through the entire book)
This book contains useful insights, interesting stories around existing concepts and ideas. There isn't anything groundbreaking here but then the way the key ideas are presented, it makes them (practices, habits, traits and characteristics) accessible to those who wish to develop traits that help them raise the game. The book is based on stories and learning from Alan's work, interactions, and observations from basketball but the insights apply well to the world of business and other professions.
If you don't love US basketball game/scene, you'd quickly get bored though (I'll be honest -- I struggled to get through the entire book)
July 10, 2023
This was a great read with tremendous amounts of advice and real life examples! We read this as a team at work and I've taken so many of the examples and ideas to heart. I think my favorite aspect of the book was how the author continuously put it back in the readers lap with questions and self reflection. A great read for anyone really- I've already recommended to several friends and colleagues.
My only downside to this was that there was a large amount of name dropping. I am not a big sports person so it was distracting but if you are into basketball I can see how this would help get the ideas across. The books was also longer than I feel it needed to be. A lot of the ideas would have been better if combined to make it an easier read.
My only downside to this was that there was a large amount of name dropping. I am not a big sports person so it was distracting but if you are into basketball I can see how this would help get the ideas across. The books was also longer than I feel it needed to be. A lot of the ideas would have been better if combined to make it an easier read.
January 31, 2020
I never really enjoy these books that do backflips to liken your life on the office to war or professional sports. And, to me, this book is not much different from that.
The book does it's job; lay out the framework for how to be a better individual contributor, leader, and teammate.
I tended to kinda speed past the stories about ballplayers that he uses to illustrate his principles. After a while the stories didn't matter to me.
Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely (depending on the person of course). Because it had the "rah-rah, go team" spirit that gets a lot of people fired up.
The book does it's job; lay out the framework for how to be a better individual contributor, leader, and teammate.
I tended to kinda speed past the stories about ballplayers that he uses to illustrate his principles. After a while the stories didn't matter to me.
Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely (depending on the person of course). Because it had the "rah-rah, go team" spirit that gets a lot of people fired up.
January 31, 2021
If you want to push yourself and force yourself to improve then this book is for you. Every chapter in this book forces you to change and improve. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The writing style on display and the stories told throughout makes this a must-read and a page-turner.
The book is split into 3 sections: Player, Coach, Team. Every point throughout the book is backed by sound examples either from business or basketball.
A very good read. This book sits amongst my favourite reads of 2020. Also in the most impactful book of 2020 list. Definitely will be revisiting this one in the future!
The book is split into 3 sections: Player, Coach, Team. Every point throughout the book is backed by sound examples either from business or basketball.
A very good read. This book sits amongst my favourite reads of 2020. Also in the most impactful book of 2020 list. Definitely will be revisiting this one in the future!
November 12, 2019
Great book! I was already familiar with many of the stories and concepts Alan provided but nevertheless it was great to read from a different perspective and voice.
It references a lot of other books. Unfortunately I read most of the books referenced in this one. For me it was like a recap of the main ideas.
The best thing I got out of it was the vocal leader. The ratings of 4 to 0.
0- Not vocal at all
1- Vocal in hand gestures only.
2- Generic talk (good play, good hustle)
3- Using name with generic talk (good play Jimmy)
4- Purposeful talk - Way to cut to the basket Jimmy
It references a lot of other books. Unfortunately I read most of the books referenced in this one. For me it was like a recap of the main ideas.
The best thing I got out of it was the vocal leader. The ratings of 4 to 0.
0- Not vocal at all
1- Vocal in hand gestures only.
2- Generic talk (good play, good hustle)
3- Using name with generic talk (good play Jimmy)
4- Purposeful talk - Way to cut to the basket Jimmy
May 10, 2020
A book for everyone..... who wants to be better.
Firstly, it's an enjoyable read in its own right. What's clear is that having a 'High Performance' environment and getting buy-in, needs certain products ingredients. Fortunately, if we want to, those ingredients are all available to us whatever the setting you work in sport or business or even personally. This book gives plenty of real life and first-hand examples in a structured and entertaining way showing the impact it has when you commit fully to it. For me who is trying to establish a player needs centred environment, this has been a great help in working towards and achieving that aim. Judging by the amount of notes I've made, it's had an impact. Looking forward to see how much impact it will have once we return after the Coronavirus allows us to.
Firstly, it's an enjoyable read in its own right. What's clear is that having a 'High Performance' environment and getting buy-in, needs certain products ingredients. Fortunately, if we want to, those ingredients are all available to us whatever the setting you work in sport or business or even personally. This book gives plenty of real life and first-hand examples in a structured and entertaining way showing the impact it has when you commit fully to it. For me who is trying to establish a player needs centred environment, this has been a great help in working towards and achieving that aim. Judging by the amount of notes I've made, it's had an impact. Looking forward to see how much impact it will have once we return after the Coronavirus allows us to.
March 7, 2019
I love this book! Stein brought together both my favorite loves (sports and self-help), and did a phenomenal job in constructing the material. It's fascinating to learn what the top 1% in sports do to make them the best and see how it translates for the everyday person. He gives great suggestions on how certain principles can apply in our daily lives. I'd highly recommend this to those interested in either sports or self-help, but especially both. Thanks Alan!
February 11, 2020
I probably should have guessed by the title, but the books makes heavy usage of sports metaphors and analogies. While that might be good for some it's often lost on me because I'm not a sports fan in general. Still, it was a decent read with some good advice for people in all levels of their working life, and seems to focus pretty heavily on bridging the divide between manager and associate - something I think many leaders often miss.
August 29, 2021
The basic principles provided in RAISE YOUR GAME are simple, but not easy. We live in an instantly downloadable world that encourages us to skip steps. We are taught to chase what's hot, flashy and sexy and ignore what's basic. But the basics work. They always have and they always will.
RAISE YOUR GAME will inspire and empower you to commit to the fundamentals, create a winning mindset, and progress into new levels of success.
RAISE YOUR GAME will inspire and empower you to commit to the fundamentals, create a winning mindset, and progress into new levels of success.
January 17, 2022
Successful people are not born genetically predisposed to achievement. They’ve chosen to take control of the process of achievement, facilitating the emergence of new habits. On the other hand, what people who fail in life have in common is that they don’t act in the context of change and growth. They prefer to shift responsibility towards the outside, towards others, accepting predetermined ideas and behaviours provided by the world, family, acquaintances and society.
Great book!
Great book!
January 5, 2023
Fantastic book on how to perform your best, and bring the best out of others. The author shares valuable insight and incredible real-life stories, mostly from the world of sports, that inspire, motivate, and propel you to improve. I also appreciated that he discussed the principles of how to help others achieve, in teams, businesses, sports, and families.
Great advice, great tips, great stories, great book.
Great advice, great tips, great stories, great book.
May 2, 2023
This is a great book. Whether you come at this material from business, self-improvement, or sports, you’ll reach the same conclusions. The themes I truly enjoyed from this book were: success takes hard work, be the best at what you do, know yourself (strengths and weaknesses) and show gratitude. If you can master those items then you will be successful.
Joseph McKnight
http://www.Josephmcknight.com
Joseph McKnight
http://www.Josephmcknight.com
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