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Life Is Not a Game of Perfect
Book is in used-good condition. Could be missing access codes or other accessories. May be ex-library inventory.
- GenresSelf Help
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
21 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 14, 2025
Book about real talent and how it can be developed.
- Real talent is something anyone can develop
- Attitude controls your destiny
- Devote yourself to thinking of ways to succeed than thinking of things that rationalize failure
- To succeed in anything, you have to have the courage to put yourself in a position where you can fail
- Perseverance and persistence through struggle is real talent
- In business, appreciate customers
- Take pride in your work. Pride and self-respect must be earned.
- We are all underachievers. It’s just a question of whether we get 40% of the abilities we have or 90%.
- Persistence and self discipline are more important than the kind of talent measured by standardized tests. Success in life correlates so weakly with success in high school.
- People tend to become what they think of themselves. If you think you can do something, you probably will do it. If you think you’re incapable, you probably won’t.
- Cognitive psychology is based on how we perceive the world is critical to the way we feel and act.
- People with real talent find ways to be excited about their work. And they do it every day.
- People with real talent do what they love to do.
- “You can either do what you love or love what you do. I don’t see where there’s any other choice.” - George Burns
- You can do your work well because it’s your job. Your performance makes a statement about you. You must have pride in that statement.
- A dream without commitment is fantasy
- People tend to become what they think of themselves
- People with great dreams achieve great things, people with small dreams can’t
- People with real talent look for a method or process to succeed. They then practice that every day.
- Confidence is not a product of experienced success. It’s of will and preparation.
- Real talent is something anyone can develop
- Attitude controls your destiny
- Devote yourself to thinking of ways to succeed than thinking of things that rationalize failure
- To succeed in anything, you have to have the courage to put yourself in a position where you can fail
- Perseverance and persistence through struggle is real talent
- In business, appreciate customers
- Take pride in your work. Pride and self-respect must be earned.
- We are all underachievers. It’s just a question of whether we get 40% of the abilities we have or 90%.
- Persistence and self discipline are more important than the kind of talent measured by standardized tests. Success in life correlates so weakly with success in high school.
- People tend to become what they think of themselves. If you think you can do something, you probably will do it. If you think you’re incapable, you probably won’t.
- Cognitive psychology is based on how we perceive the world is critical to the way we feel and act.
- People with real talent find ways to be excited about their work. And they do it every day.
- People with real talent do what they love to do.
- “You can either do what you love or love what you do. I don’t see where there’s any other choice.” - George Burns
- You can do your work well because it’s your job. Your performance makes a statement about you. You must have pride in that statement.
- A dream without commitment is fantasy
- People tend to become what they think of themselves
- People with great dreams achieve great things, people with small dreams can’t
- People with real talent look for a method or process to succeed. They then practice that every day.
- Confidence is not a product of experienced success. It’s of will and preparation.
May 17, 2023
If you ever wondered what is real talent and why we consider others talented and others not so much, Dr. Rotella through his practice and work experience has come up with perfect definitions and examples of this. He explains well that we proper work ethic, determination, commitment to our goals and plans, and managing ourselves better, we can achieve what those we call talented have achieved.
September 2, 2020
Entertaining, informative and motivating. This book helps you understand what to do and how to do it and gets you off your butt to start achieving those things you’ve been putting off. It has many great examples from sport and business and is written so that anyone can understand it.
December 22, 2018
Excellent!
February 27, 2016
This book effectively and simplistically provided solid guidance for developing yourself to be the best you can be, no matter what you are trying to do. It reminded me a lot of the philosophy from the book "Wooden" which I just finished. I enjoyed the real life examples and simplistic anecdotes that the author uses to demonstrate his points. Frankly the book didn't offer any earth-shattering or mind blowing ideas - but it wasn't any worse off for it. The book basically lays the foundation of individual choice and responsibility - and depending upon how those two fundamental concepts are utilized can determine greatly how "successful" one can become. I put successful in quotes, because frankly success is defined by the individual - so another way in which the individual has the most influence on his/her own life. The last two or three pages are great reminders of his topics or concepts in the book, and I recommend photocopying those pages and hanging them up where you can see them as a reminder, much like many do with John Wooden's pyramid of success. My favorite line from the book is "A person with real talent competes primarily against himself. He tries to see how good he can get." It's not about the rest of the world, it's about the choices you make in your life, and the responsibility you take in making those choices. I really enjoyed the book and recommend it for reading.
September 22, 2012
I was never a Golfer but this Author is a Sports Psychologist who shows how the skills needed in sports can be applied to every aspect of a person life to make it a successful one. A very good self help book.
October 29, 2015
Excellent. If you want to get ahead in your life, you better read this book!!!
April 7, 2017
I love how he focuses more on character and building the right character to have real success.... what I learned most was... honor your commitments especially the commitments I made to myself...:)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews