Mental Toughness

What This Book Can Do for You: To rise to the level of elite, you must be willing to do what it takes for as long as it takes to be the best. It takes focus, determination, effort, and commitment. It takes mental toughness. The term elite may seem somewhat overused in this book, but it is the most powerful word in our program regarding the program itself and student-athletes. Early in my career, I was motivated to go out and seek and learn what made other people and programs successful. I attended clinics sponsored by many different organizations and groups. I have extracted the best winning elements from these programs and have tested their approaches through trial and error to determine if something was successful. If it was, I included these elements in our program and philosophy. By incorporating these concepts, our program became better. The key to coaching success is to take little bits and pieces from other successful coaches and insert them into your own philosophy and program. I am certain you will be able to use this book to make your program more elite. It worked for me; it will work for you. In a similar manner, businesspeople will find many of the concepts and approaches in this book apply to the business world. In my career, I have had the opportunity to speak to large organizations such as pharmaceutical companies and nonprofits. Attendees expressed their appreciation for my concepts and some incorporated many of these approaches in their workplace problem-solving. In fact, the characteristics and qualities needed to move up in a company are not much different from those required of an assistant coach striving to become head coach. Mental toughness is a prerequisite to success in life.