Let’s summarize what we’ve learned so far – Imagine you want to become a Chef in a great restaurant, but you don’t even know how to make a toast. Where do you start? – There’s only one place for such endeavors, and that’s your mind. It's amazing to see how Dr. Afremow points out what athletes go through every day. He describes a lot of situations that I have experienced as well. In this book, you can find a lot of simple but very useful tips and principles that might help you to improve your performance.”— Britta Heidemann, Olympic gold medalist, epee fencing The front end of the book, the bulk contains studies from sports psychology, accompanied by quotes of successful athletes. Admittedly, those quotes were mildly disruptive to the narrative because he had to introduce the athlete and list off his/her accomplishments each time. Do not take on the additional of being your own coach, parent, spectator, or shrink. Stay in athlete mode by focusing all of your energy on execution, not self-analysis. To break the ice, you need plans that contain everything that you must acquire to qualify for working in such elite restaurant. Attitude is everything, and often it represents the bridge between success and failure.

Let’ put it straight – there’s a difference between people who hate to lose, and those who are afraid of defeat. Engaging in the proper body language - which includes expansive, open postures - can elevate testosterone, cortisol, feelings of power, and tolerance for risk as well. Even telling yourself power phrases like "I think, feel, and perform as a champion" or "I bring it every day", can give you a strong motivational push! We all have an athlete in us; we were all born to run, jump, swim and compete in some way or another. The gold medal at an Olympic Games has been declared as the highest honor to reward discipline, commitment, power, strength, finesse, passion, precision, patience, speed and skill, just to name a few. You too can go for gold in all areas of your life by following Jim’s strategies. Decide what you want and go after it with all you have to give, every single day. Daily acts of excellence are the secret. Choose your success today.”— Natalie Cook, Olympic gold medalist, beach volleyballPart of the process requires us to maintain our eagerness to learn and grow, and to take well-trained, disciplined action to make a solid change in our lives. Dr. Afremow nails all the basics and gives readers an excellent window into how a champion’s mind works before and during ‘the process’.”— Randy Cross, three-time Super Bowl Champion Sports participation—from the recreational to the collegiate Division I level—is at an all-time high. While the caliber of their game may differ, athletes at every level have one thing in common: they want to excel. In The Champion's Mind, sports psychologist Jim Afremow, PhD, LPC, now offers the same advice he uses with Olympians, Heisman Trophy winners, and professional athletes, including: Drawing from his extensive experience working with professional athletes, Olympians, and numerous other high achievers, Dr. Afremow delves into the psychology behind success and reveals the mental fortitude required to become a champion. By exploring the inner workings of an elite athlete's mind, he uncovers the secrets to their success and offers actionable advice that readers can apply to their own lives to reach their full potential. Even amongst the most elite performers, certain athletes stand out as a cut above the rest, able to outperform in clutch, game-deciding moments. These athletes prove that raw athletic ability doesn't necessarily translate to a superior on-field experience—it's the mental game that matters most.

Champions have one thing in common – Their attitude is fueled by hard work mentality that promotes a single focus! Keeping that fire burning inside is all it takes. The Champion’s Mind is loaded with great lessons, advice, and perspectives on how to be successful. The skills and strategies that Jim provides here are essential in carving a path to success, no matter what field you are in or what your goals are. I can honestly say that I have lived by many of the strategies offered in this book and I can also say I wish I had lived by more of them. But it’s never too late to be as good as you can be!”— Dan Jansen, Olympic gold medalist, speed skating How sweet it is to breathe that rarified air of a high performance athlete! How refreshing it is, as well, to recognize so many of the techniques in Dr. Afremow's book that get you to that privileged place. The Champion's Mind is simple, straightforward elixir for the high achiever in all of us.”— Morten Andersen, NFL's all-time leading scorer It's a fantastic read about preparing and training yourself mentally so physically you can perform better. There's many anecdotes from professional and Olympic athletes who talk about their experience with their head game and sport. We all have an athlete in us; we were all born to run, jump, swim and compete in some way or another. The gold medal at an Olympic Games has been declared as the highest honor to reward discipline, commitment, power, strength, finesse, passion, precision, patience, speed and skill, just to name a few. You too can go for gold in all areas of your life by following Jim's strategies. Decide what you want and go after it with all you have to give, every single day. Daily acts of excellence are the secret. Choose your success today.”— Natalie Cook, Olympic gold medalist, beach volleyballi82426739 |b1240058239790 |dssbnf |g- |m |h34 |x0 |t2 |i28 |j7 |k140201 |n08-21-2023 22:43 |o- |a796.01 |rAFR Even among the most elite performers, certain athletes stand out as a cut above the rest, able to outperform in clutch, game-deciding moments. These athletes prove that raw athletic ability doesn’t necessarily translate to a superior on-field experience—its the mental game that matters most.

Attitude is a decision, and it is also a learned behavior, requiring discipline and energy to sustain. If you can spot greatness in someone else, then you already have some of that greatness within you, because only a person with similar traits can recognize those traits in others. It’s amazing to see how Dr. Afremow points out what athletes go through every day. He describes a lot of situations that I have experienced as well. In this book, you can find a lot of simple but very useful tips and principles that might help you to improve your performance.”— Britta Heidemann, Olympic gold medalist, epee fencing

How it works

Elevating your status signifies a battle to be won inside your head. Achieving sports-greatness as a plan must be put into action by a person who possesses certain traits, that makes great athletes look like lethargic individuals. But there's plenty here about keeping focus mentally and dealing with injuries and also some stuff on meditation which I want to try. Dr Afremow looks at every challenge as an opportunity for growth no matter the circumstance and staying present to achieve success on and off the field. I began applying some of the skills immediately as I was going through the book. Something simple as listening to a certain type music to get into the rhythm and flow of an activity can determine how well we focus especially during a difficult period of a day i.e. mid afternoon for me. And that rhythm and flow can be applied to our sports practice or performance. Even the pre-game prep is something many of us overlook in the importance of creating an environment that'll boost our performance rather than create resistance and stress.

This book is a good exposition of practical, applicable sports psychology. Afremow is an experienced practitioner who has worked with a number of professional athletes. Though he makes his points in part through anecdotes featuring Olympic athletes, the ideas involved are in no way sport-specific; a sprinter, a basketball player, and a golfer could all benefit from the book. This is a long-term prescription that will remind you whether you’re making progress or not. It will keep you eager and determined to take right actions. How sweet it is to breathe that rarified air of a high performance athlete! How refreshing it is, as well, to recognize so many of the techniques in Dr. Afremow’s book that get you to that privileged place. The Champion’s Mind is simple, straightforward elixir for the high achiever in all of us.”— Morten Andersen, NFL’s all-time leading scorer

My Highlights

Every great book focuses on a topic that can actually provoke or incite people to make a few changes. Developing the champion’s mind requires overcoming the restrictions you have in your head. The vision of a champion is someone who is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion when no one else is watching.