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The Long Win: The search for a better way to succeed
'Powerful and profound.' - Matthew Syed 'Anyone interested in motivation should read this book and think deeply.’ - Margaret Heffernan ***Selected as one of the Financial Times's Best Business Books of 2020***
***THE PEOPLE' BOOK PRIZE 2022/23 SHORTLISTED TITLE*** In this fascinating examination of our widespread obsession with winning, Cath Bishop draws on her personal experience of high-performance environments to trace the idea of winning through history, language and thought to explore how it has come to be a defining concept in fields from sport to business, from politics to education. Faced with the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, Cath offers a new, broader approach – The Long Win. Cath competed as a rower at three Olympic Games, becoming the first British woman to win the World Championships and an Olympic medal in the coxless pairs event. As a senior diplomat, Cath worked on policy and negotiations, specializing in stabilization policy for conflict-affected parts of the world. In business, Cath has acted as a coach and consultant, advising on team and leadership development and organizational culture, and teaches on the Executive Education Faculty at the Judge Business School, Cambridge University. In this book she brings that extraordinary mix of experience to examine what winning has come to mean to society and to us as individuals and offers a fresh perspective on how we might redefine success – personal and professional - for the longer-term. ‘Looking at life from a different point of view is a rare skill. Built on in-depth research and broad experience as well as original thought, this book will change your outlook on everything.’ - Clare Balding OBE ‘This book is so relevant, timely and exciting for any person or organization wanting to investigate what success means to them. It couldn’t be a more relevant book right now and Cath’s exceptional ability in so many areas of life make it a gripping read with a lot of key takeaways whatever your area of interest. I wish every leader could immediately read this book as the world would be a better place if they did!’ - Goldie Sayers, Olympic Medallist in the Javelin, Coach ‘I love this book. It is a must-read for educators, business executives, policy makers, politicians and indeed anyone who wants to understand why we need a new narrative around winning and success. We need a lot more Long-Win Thinking in our homes, businesses and institutions and Cath’s book is the place to go to find out why – and how we get there.’ - Dame Helena Morrissey
***THE PEOPLE' BOOK PRIZE 2022/23 SHORTLISTED TITLE*** In this fascinating examination of our widespread obsession with winning, Cath Bishop draws on her personal experience of high-performance environments to trace the idea of winning through history, language and thought to explore how it has come to be a defining concept in fields from sport to business, from politics to education. Faced with the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, Cath offers a new, broader approach – The Long Win. Cath competed as a rower at three Olympic Games, becoming the first British woman to win the World Championships and an Olympic medal in the coxless pairs event. As a senior diplomat, Cath worked on policy and negotiations, specializing in stabilization policy for conflict-affected parts of the world. In business, Cath has acted as a coach and consultant, advising on team and leadership development and organizational culture, and teaches on the Executive Education Faculty at the Judge Business School, Cambridge University. In this book she brings that extraordinary mix of experience to examine what winning has come to mean to society and to us as individuals and offers a fresh perspective on how we might redefine success – personal and professional - for the longer-term. ‘Looking at life from a different point of view is a rare skill. Built on in-depth research and broad experience as well as original thought, this book will change your outlook on everything.’ - Clare Balding OBE ‘This book is so relevant, timely and exciting for any person or organization wanting to investigate what success means to them. It couldn’t be a more relevant book right now and Cath’s exceptional ability in so many areas of life make it a gripping read with a lot of key takeaways whatever your area of interest. I wish every leader could immediately read this book as the world would be a better place if they did!’ - Goldie Sayers, Olympic Medallist in the Javelin, Coach ‘I love this book. It is a must-read for educators, business executives, policy makers, politicians and indeed anyone who wants to understand why we need a new narrative around winning and success. We need a lot more Long-Win Thinking in our homes, businesses and institutions and Cath’s book is the place to go to find out why – and how we get there.’ - Dame Helena Morrissey
- GenresNonfictionBusiness
256 pages, Paperback
Published November 10, 2020
39 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 15, 2021
A new way of looking at competing, ideal for the 21st century
I first met Cath as a student, shortly after her team lost the women’s Boat Race in 1991. Despite that, her approach was one of determined resilience. The next time she competed in the blue boat, her team won. Fast forward thirty years through her career as an athlete, academic and diplomat and her down-to-earth, common sense approach to life remains. This is what resonates throughout The Long Win, a book that gives me hope for the future, as it turns old-fashioned ideas about competing and winning on their heads, offering new solutions more appropriate for the world we now live in.
For women juggling families with careers, further study and other commitments, this book offers a more collaborative approach to a lot of the challenges modern life throws at us. For example, we can examine how we approach the education of our children, or the expectations placed on us as business leaders in the working world. As an entrepreneur, I found the advice on business leadership, whilst skewed more towards larger organisations, worked for small business too. The Long Win proffers a diplomat’s approach: if you collaborate effectively, then everybody wins. Sounds easy? It’s not, but the book offers practical solutions that can help you change your leadership style for the better.
For elite athletes, there are lots of questions about how to change attitudes to competing to create a stronger, more nurturing environment in which athletes can reach their potential.
Practical and resilient, The Long Win questions our assumptions about good leaders and athletes and casts doubt on the linearity of our education system. Things don’t have to be this way. The Long Win shows how we can work together to change our ways of working to create positive outcomes for ourselves and others.
I first met Cath as a student, shortly after her team lost the women’s Boat Race in 1991. Despite that, her approach was one of determined resilience. The next time she competed in the blue boat, her team won. Fast forward thirty years through her career as an athlete, academic and diplomat and her down-to-earth, common sense approach to life remains. This is what resonates throughout The Long Win, a book that gives me hope for the future, as it turns old-fashioned ideas about competing and winning on their heads, offering new solutions more appropriate for the world we now live in.
For women juggling families with careers, further study and other commitments, this book offers a more collaborative approach to a lot of the challenges modern life throws at us. For example, we can examine how we approach the education of our children, or the expectations placed on us as business leaders in the working world. As an entrepreneur, I found the advice on business leadership, whilst skewed more towards larger organisations, worked for small business too. The Long Win proffers a diplomat’s approach: if you collaborate effectively, then everybody wins. Sounds easy? It’s not, but the book offers practical solutions that can help you change your leadership style for the better.
For elite athletes, there are lots of questions about how to change attitudes to competing to create a stronger, more nurturing environment in which athletes can reach their potential.
Practical and resilient, The Long Win questions our assumptions about good leaders and athletes and casts doubt on the linearity of our education system. Things don’t have to be this way. The Long Win shows how we can work together to change our ways of working to create positive outcomes for ourselves and others.
June 11, 2023
Cath Bishop was an Olympic rower, she faced the narrow minded view of that only a win is good enough. Her career then and subsequently as a Diplomat and consultant in business and leadership has changed her views on that win at all costs. This book sets out a new way of looking at things. Well researched and written, nothing revolutionary for me as I’m already doing lots, but nevertheless a good book on redefining leadership and winning.
March 26, 2022
Excellently written, More than ever has this book become so relevant. ‘Winning’ redefined to create a bigger purpose.
A definite read for anyone who values long-term thinking.
Insta: @booksforcoaches
A definite read for anyone who values long-term thinking.
Insta: @booksforcoaches
April 22, 2022
not exactly revolutionary but a worthwhile contribution from a player with some authority; perfectly logical and sensible approach which will one day be the norm; well-written with no cliches or pathetic aphorisms
July 31, 2021
Loved it!
Highly recommended to all working in Education, Sports, Business or Politics if you think that the current understanding of 'winning' seems to miss the point! A great book!
Highly recommended to all working in Education, Sports, Business or Politics if you think that the current understanding of 'winning' seems to miss the point! A great book!
October 21, 2021
Such a good book. I don't think anyone has written about winning and why we feel like we have to win at all costs, in so much detail before.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews