Key Takeaways
1. Commitment: The Foundation of Success
"Working and training at the champion level isn't for everybody. It's just not. There's so much pain, so much sacrifice, so many hours, so much sheer monotony and minutiae; there's so much you have to think about and dedicate yourself to—to chase perfection."
Commitment is the cornerstone of high achievement. It's not about talent, but about dedicating oneself to the pursuit of excellence in every aspect of life. This level of commitment requires:
- Willingness to endure pain and sacrifice
- Dedication to monotonous tasks and minute details
- Constant focus on improvement and perfection
True commitment means being focused on each minute of every day as a space to be perfected. It's about devoting yourself to what others might see as meaningless details, and understanding that success is built on the foundation of these small, daily commitments.
2. Grit: Pushing Through Adversity
"When things get hard, you push harder; when you fail, you get back up stronger; when you don't see results, you don't get discouraged, but you just continue to pound away day, after day, after day, with relentlessness, consistency, heart, and passion—that's grit."
Grit is the engine that drives success when talent alone isn't enough. It's characterized by:
- Resilience in the face of failure
- Consistent effort, regardless of immediate results
- Passion and perseverance for long-term goals
Mat Fraser, CrossFit champion, exemplifies grit. After struggling with rowing, he committed to daily practice for a year. Similarly, when he struggled with an odd object event, he bought the equipment and practiced relentlessly. Grit isn't about avoiding failure; it's about using failure as a stepping stone to improvement.
3. Positivity: The Power of Mindset
"There is no good or bad without us, there is only perception. There is the event itself and the story we tell ourselves about what it means."
Positivity is a choice that can significantly impact performance. A positive mindset:
- Improves speed and accuracy in tasks
- Helps in overcoming obstacles
- Shapes perception of events and challenges
Katrín Davíðsdóttir, CrossFit champion, demonstrates this by framing challenges positively. For instance, she viewed sleeping on an airport floor as an opportunity for rest rather than an inconvenience. This mindset isn't about ignoring difficulties, but about framing them in a way that promotes resilience and performance.
4. Embracing Adversity: Growth Through Challenges
"Humans only improve through adversity by embracing short-term pain."
Adversity is a catalyst for growth and improvement. Embracing challenges:
- Forces adaptation and improvement
- Builds mental and physical resilience
- Reveals true potential
Examples of growth through adversity:
- Brent Fikowski turning an injury into an opportunity to improve his upper body strength
- Katrín Davíðsdóttir using her failure to qualify for the 2014 Games as motivation to win in 2015
Embracing adversity means seeing challenges not as setbacks, but as opportunities for growth and improvement. It's about understanding that the toughest days are often the best days for personal development.
5. Confidence: Mastering Your Response
"Confidence doesn't come from knowing that you control the outcome of a given event or moment. It comes from knowing that you control your response to a given event."
True confidence stems from control over one's reactions, not outcomes. This involves:
- Focusing on controllable factors
- Maintaining composure under pressure
- Defining success in terms of personal effort and improvement
The "Success Equation": E (Event) + R (Response) = O (Outcome)
- Focus on the 'R' (Response), as it's the only factor under complete control
This mindset allows athletes like Katrín to maintain confidence even in events where they might not excel, by focusing on giving their best effort rather than comparing themselves to others.
6. Maximizing Minutes: The Art of Deliberate Practice
"If the goal is to get better every single day, you have to make every moment you're practicing the best you're possibly capable of."
Deliberate practice is crucial for achieving excellence. It involves:
- Focused, intentional improvement in specific areas
- Constant feedback and adjustment
- Pushing beyond comfort zones
Key elements of deliberate practice:
- Designed specifically to improve performance
- Repeated frequently
- Continuous feedback on results
- Mentally demanding and not necessarily enjoyable
This approach to practice, combined with passion for the craft, is what separates world-class performers from the rest. It's about maximizing every minute of every day towards improvement and progress.
7. The Process: Focus on Small Steps
"Excel at this one, then that one, and then the one after that."
The process is about breaking down big goals into small, manageable steps. It involves:
- Focusing on daily habits and incremental improvements
- Prioritizing preparation over results
- Maintaining consistency in effort regardless of circumstances
The "aggregation of marginal gains" concept:
- Small, 1% improvements in various areas compound over time
- Leads to significant overall improvement
This approach, exemplified by athletes like Katrín Davíðsdóttir, involves dedicating oneself to tiny habits and details day in and day out, rather than fixating on end results.
8. Control: Mastering What You Can Influence
"Control the things you can control, and ignore everything else."
Focusing on controllables is key to peak performance. This means:
- Identifying and prioritizing factors within one's influence
- Avoiding energy waste on uncontrollable elements
- Developing a clear action plan for improvement
Five controllable factors for elite athletes:
- Training
- Nutrition
- Sleep
- Recovery
- Mindset
By concentrating efforts on these areas, athletes can maximize their potential without being distracted by external factors beyond their control.
9. Turning the Page: Moving Past Setbacks
"All we do now is turn the page. What can you do right now, in this moment, to prep yourself for tomorrow? Anything we do looking back doesn't help that. Now we look forward."
Resilience in moving forward is crucial for sustained success. This involves:
- Allowing brief periods for reflection or grieving after setbacks
- Quickly refocusing on the next challenge
- Practicing mindfulness to stay present-focused
Strategies for turning the page:
- Short debriefs after events (5-10 minutes)
- Daily mindfulness practices
- Focusing on immediate, actionable steps
This skill, exemplified by Katrín's ability to quickly bounce back from disappointments, is essential for maintaining peak performance over time.
10. Humility: The Key to Continuous Improvement
"People who have the capacity to own their problems are the ones who will most quickly discover solutions to those problems."
Humility drives growth by enabling honest self-assessment and improvement. It involves:
- Acknowledging weaknesses and working on them
- Seeking feedback and learning from others
- Maintaining a growth mindset regardless of success level
Examples of humility in action:
- Mat Fraser training with high school athletes to improve his sprinting
- Katrín Davíðsdóttir dedicating time to improve her weaknesses in odd-object work
This humility-driven approach to improvement is what separates truly great athletes from those who plateau after initial success.
11. Competitive Excellence: Performing at Your Best Always
"I will maximize my minutes by thinking, acting, training, and competing with excellence, regardless of circumstances."
Competitive excellence means maintaining peak performance regardless of the situation. This involves:
- Giving maximum effort in every circumstance
- Focusing on the process rather than the outcome
- Maintaining high standards even when victory is assured
Examples of competitive excellence:
- Mat Fraser pushing hard in an event even after securing overall victory
- The New England Patriots' comeback in Super Bowl LI
This mindset ensures consistent high performance and prevents complacency, allowing athletes to maximize their potential in every situation.
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FAQ
What's "Chasing Excellence" about?
- Focus on mindset: "Chasing Excellence" by Ben Bergeron is about developing the mindset necessary to achieve peak performance, particularly in the context of training elite CrossFit athletes.
- Character development: The book emphasizes the importance of character traits such as grit, resilience, and humility in achieving success.
- Process over outcome: Bergeron advocates for focusing on the process rather than the outcome, suggesting that excellence is achieved through consistent, deliberate practice.
- Real-life examples: The book uses real-life examples from Bergeron's coaching experiences with top CrossFit athletes to illustrate these principles.
Why should I read "Chasing Excellence"?
- Applicable lessons: The book offers valuable lessons on mindset and character that can be applied beyond athletics, in personal and professional life.
- Inspiration from champions: It provides insights into the training and mindset of world-class athletes like Katrín Davíðsdóttir and Mat Fraser.
- Practical advice: Bergeron shares actionable strategies for developing mental toughness and achieving excellence in any field.
- Focus on growth: The book encourages readers to focus on continuous improvement and personal growth, making it a motivational read.
What are the key takeaways of "Chasing Excellence"?
- Mindset is crucial: Success is largely determined by one's mindset, including the ability to stay positive and embrace adversity.
- Commitment to the process: Achieving excellence requires a relentless focus on the process, not just the end goal.
- Control what you can: Focus on controlling the aspects of your life that you can influence, such as training, nutrition, and mindset.
- Character traits matter: Traits like grit, humility, and resilience are essential for long-term success and should be cultivated.
How does Ben Bergeron define "The Process" in "Chasing Excellence"?
- Focus on preparation: "The Process" involves focusing on preparation and the steps needed to achieve success, rather than the outcome itself.
- Daily habits: It emphasizes the importance of daily habits and routines that contribute to long-term success.
- Attention to detail: The process requires attention to the smallest details, ensuring that every action is aligned with one's goals.
- Continuous improvement: It is about making incremental improvements every day, which eventually lead to significant progress.
What is the role of "Grit" in "Chasing Excellence"?
- Persistence in adversity: Grit is about pushing harder when things get tough and continuing to work towards goals despite setbacks.
- Daily commitment: It involves a daily commitment to improving weaknesses and consistently working on areas that need development.
- Long-term success: Grit is essential for long-term success, as it enables individuals to persevere through challenges and maintain focus.
- Example of Mat Fraser: The book highlights Mat Fraser's grit in addressing his weaknesses, such as improving his running, to become a champion.
How does "Chasing Excellence" address "Embracing Adversity"?
- Growth through challenges: The book suggests that adversity is an opportunity for growth and should be embraced rather than avoided.
- Adversarial growth: Successful people use adversity to become stronger and more resilient, a concept known as adversarial growth.
- Preparation for the unexpected: Bergeron emphasizes the importance of expecting and preparing for adversity to handle it effectively when it arises.
- Examples from athletes: The book provides examples of athletes who have used adversity to improve their performance and achieve success.
What does "Chasing Excellence" say about "Confidence"?
- Confidence from preparation: True confidence comes from knowing you can control your response to events, not from guaranteed outcomes.
- Focus on self: Confidence involves focusing on one's own performance and not being distracted by competitors or external factors.
- Success equation: The book introduces the Success Equation (Event + Response = Outcome) to illustrate how confidence is built.
- Example of Katrín Davíðsdóttir: Katrín's confidence in her abilities, regardless of the event, is highlighted as a key factor in her success.
How does "Chasing Excellence" define "Competitive Excellence"?
- Consistent excellence: Competitive excellence is about consistently performing at your best, regardless of circumstances or outcomes.
- Process-driven: It involves a commitment to the process and maintaining high standards in training and competition.
- Focus on the present: Competitive excellence requires focusing on the present moment and maximizing every opportunity.
- Example of Mat Fraser: Mat's ability to maintain competitive excellence, even when he had already secured victory, is a testament to his mindset.
What are the best quotes from "Chasing Excellence" and what do they mean?
- "The process is about focusing on the steps to success rather than worrying about the result." This quote emphasizes the importance of preparation and daily habits in achieving long-term success.
- "Control what you can control, and ignore everything else." It highlights the need to focus on aspects within one's control, such as mindset and effort, rather than external factors.
- "Excellence is maximizing everything you have in the categories that matter to your long-term goals." This quote underscores the importance of dedication and effort in areas that contribute to achieving one's goals.
- "Success is a decision, not a gift." It suggests that success is achieved through deliberate actions and choices, rather than innate talent or luck.
How does "Chasing Excellence" address "Turning the Page"?
- Moving forward: Turning the page involves moving on from past mistakes or setbacks and focusing on the present and future.
- Brief reflection: The book suggests allowing a brief period for reflection or grieving, but then quickly shifting focus to the next opportunity.
- Mindfulness practice: Bergeron emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and staying present to effectively turn the page.
- Example of Katrín Davíðsdóttir: Katrín's ability to turn the page after a disappointing event is highlighted as a key factor in her success.
What is the significance of "Humility" in "Chasing Excellence"?
- Acknowledging weaknesses: Humility involves recognizing and addressing one's weaknesses to improve and grow.
- Continuous learning: It requires a willingness to learn and adapt, even when at the top of one's field.
- Avoiding complacency: Humility helps prevent complacency by encouraging ongoing self-evaluation and improvement.
- Example of Mat Fraser: Mat's humility in seeking help to improve his running is highlighted as a key factor in his success.
How does "Chasing Excellence" define being "Clutch"?
- Performing under pressure: Being clutch is the ability to perform at one's best in high-pressure situations.
- Preparation is key: The book emphasizes that clutch performances are the result of thorough preparation and practice.
- Focus on the task: It involves focusing on the task at hand and maintaining composure, regardless of the stakes.
- Example of Katrín Davíðsdóttir: Katrín's ability to deliver her best performance under pressure is highlighted as an example of being clutch.
Review Summary
Chasing Excellence receives mostly positive reviews, praised for its motivational content and insights into elite CrossFit athletes' mindsets. Readers appreciate Bergeron's focus on mental toughness, positivity, and embracing challenges. The book is seen as applicable beyond CrossFit, offering valuable lessons for anyone pursuing excellence. Some criticize the writing style and CrossFit-centric focus, while others find it repetitive or overly simplistic. Overall, reviewers recommend it for its inspirational message and practical advice on developing a champion's mindset.
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