That's Outside My Boat: Letting Go of What You Can't Control

by Charlie Jones, Kim Doren

When veteran television announcer Charlie Jones got assigned to the hinterlands of Olympic broadcasting to cover rowing, canoeing, and kayaking, he serendipitously discovered a powerful philosophy for focused living: That's Outside My Boat. He learned that Olympic rowers never let anything outside their boat prevent them from achieving their goals. Jones, with coauthor Kim Doren, realized that the world of business - and all aspects of life - could greatly benefit when this same perspective is applied. The book uses the power of the personal example to show how focusing on what one decides is important fosters success. Bob Wright, vice chairman of General Electric; Terry Bradshaw, NFL broadcaster and TV personality; Jack Kemp, codirector of Empower America; Liz Dolan, former Nike corporate vice president; and many other business leaders apply this philosophy to their own experience in That's Outside My Boat. It's a powerful tool for business and life.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Shahul Andalib · Rating 3 out of 5]

Optimism is the only sanity, focus what's on your bucket, everything else is outside your scope. Let things go, relax and enjoy the journey, no matter how stormy it will be or how competitive it might get. Situation cannot be controlled but reaction can definitely be. This book is made up of good radar to read real life inspiring stories.

[Harry Vinh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a very pleasant anthology of 55 vignettes about how to let go of the uncontrollable.

[Phil Calçado · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tell me about stretching a metaphor until it becomes silly.

The short stories are too short, often ending abruptly, and yet each one of them could be reduced to one paragraph without losing much.

It might be due to changing times, but there are plenty of racist undertones in the book. Plus, it keeps using the Nixon administration as good examples somehow?

[Hannah Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great takeaways here but despite the brevity, wow did this over and overstate the idea. I understand why the stories were grouped the way they were but the similarities between stories made them run together. Still a good message to bring with me to life and work.

[Suzette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple advice, but timeless and relevant for such a time like this.

[Pete Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Kevin Hilsmier]

Good book and a fast read.

Nice collection of essays by credible people who illustrate how letting go of things outside their control led to better results. A little too formulaic in that every writer faced some adversity that was resolved by focusing only on what was "in their boat" or on things they could control. After the first 10 or so essays, they all start sounding the same. Still worth the small time investment to read them if only to reinforce the primary theme.

[Ilene]

I have learned that there are things in life over which we have little control. The are "outside our boats". Women, by nature, have a tendency to feel they are responsible to solve issues in the lives of the people they love. Some of those issues are beyond our control and we need to let go of the need to fix them or "our boat" becomes over-loaded!

[Pale · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had an interesting beginning but I found that the ideas were just being repeated over and over and as a result the book didn't grasp my attention till the end. I would classify it as a life changing read but it it fell short shortly after the first few pages.

[Mids · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a summary of this book at getabstract. Well the books you read and what you take away from them changes as you grow up, when you see more of the world , face challenges. Long story short, this book uplifted my spirits.

[Jim Noyes · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was recommended, however it underwhelmed. There were a few good bstories, brief ut it was choppy (no pun intended), disconnected, no real point or purpose.