Sustain Your Game: High Performance Keys to Manage Stress, Avoid Stagnation, and Beat Burnout

by Alan Stein, Jon Sternfeld, Rece Davis (Foreword)

The Sports Librarian’s Best of 2022 – Sports Books​

Sustain Your Game is built upon a simple each of us will always be under construction, a work in progress, and constantly evolving. The goal is to be moving toward our highest potential, toward making a meaningful contribution, and toward becoming the best version of ourselves.

Based on his years as a successful basketball performance coach—having worked with and alongside superstars like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant—and a keynote speaker to major companies like Pepsi and Amex, Alan Stein Jr. brings you the keys to lasting, unimaginable success. The secret? Sustain Your Gam e teaches a timeline of short term to medium term to long term because we are always battling all stress in the now, stagnation in the present, and burnout in the long term.

Part I—PERFORM is about managing stress in the day-to-day (short term)
Part II—PIVOT is about avoiding stagnation in your current situation (medium term)
Part III—PREVAIL is about beating burnout and making a lasting impact (long term)

This book is for high performers who want to learn practical strategies and action steps on how to sustain their game across all three timelines. It assembles invaluable advice and lessons from successful athletes, entrepreneurs, social scientists, journalists, CEOs, motivational speakers, business coaches, and consultants, as well as Alan’s own personal stories.

Genres: Personal Development, Productivity, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

Published April 12, 2022

About the author

Alan Stein, Jr. teaches proven strategies to improve both individual and organizational performance by empowering people to develop winning mindsets, rituals, and routines. As an internationally renowned veteran basketball performance coach, he spent 15+ years working with the highest-performing athletes on the planet (including NBA superstars Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kobe Bryant). Alan served as a performance coach/consultant for Nike Basketball, Jordan Brand, the NBPA Top 100 Camp, and the McDonalds All-American Game. Alan has been a featured guest on over 200 podcasts and his list of corporate clients include American Express, Pepsi, Sabra, Starbucks, Under Armour, UGG, Orange Theory Fitness, and Penn State Football, where one of his quotes is featured on 12-foot mural outside their locker room (see below). His first book, Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best, received wide acclaim.

Reviews

[KK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to read after almost 2 years of working remotely due to covid. It’s been easy to burnout and not manage the stress of work life and home life balance when you are working and living in the same home. Alan offers easy to follow advice to help manage everyday scenarios one change at a time.

[Albert Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter of Alan's Books can be used for a Team Building Class/Best Practice; if you are a Coach/Manager/Leader/PARENT. Alan's Chapter on Poise in SUSTAIN YOUR GAME stands out for me. This chapter in addition his video on Body Language places emphasis on POISE that radiates your composure and inner confidence when handling and pushing through pressure and adversity. Alan is a voracious reader and Motivational Speaker and he will impact your life with his personal experiences and knowledge earned that he shares with you. This book had a profound impact on me and how i pushed myself to become self-aware. As a coach, I try to prepare our guys to be ready for the pressure. ----- "Mental Toughness can be improved with Purposeful Practice" .... I had never heard of the UCLA Softball coach and many others in this book that profoundly and positively impact others. Thank you ALAN for sharing. PEACEFUL WARRIORS! respond to the wave :-) .... This book(hard copy or Audible Download in Alan's voice) will continue to inspire me to SUSTAIN MY GAME as I lead My Family and TEAMS!

[Annie Passanisi Ruggles · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad to see topics like burnout handled in a frank, matter-of-fact way. Alan Stein writes in practical, relatable ways, expanding on the core mindset pieces that have fueled his growth. I'll keep it in mind for my clients who draw inspiration from sports and the traditional coach-athlete relationship, or who do not identify with the "ladyboss" approach to burnout.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Alan Stein Jr. hits a home run. Whatever your role, be it business, the service industry, athletics, education (like myself), or something else, you WILL find something to help you to manage stress, avoid stagnation, and beat burnout. The stories are engaging and the passion is evident. Absolutely worth the read!

[Jamie Lashier · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. One of the best I’ve read for personal development in a long time. He has worked or talked with the greats: LeBron, KD, Kobe and truly has a full view of what helps people.. SUSTAIN what they do. He has a healthy perspective on work, play, rest. He uses short, anecdotes about athletes that are relevant and helpful.

[Greg Waddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice follow up to "Raise your Game"

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free physical book, review is my own

[Ravi Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never not like these kinds of books :-)

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on high performance!!

If you are seeking a book on strategies and tactics on how to be a high performer, this is the one!!!

I also really enjoyed the author’s previous book, “Raise you game.” And this is the perfect follow up!

Loved every second of it, completely applicable!