Great Books on Psychology of Competition.

When it comes to different sources to go to when looking for how to get a mental edge competitively there are a million different books and internet sites, that you can easily get lost with differing opinions.  I have read many of these books and sites myself, and have liked some and hated others.  Everyone has their own needs and difficulties, so it’s important to really do some self-reflection and see what you lack.  You can then specifically look for what you need accordingly. However, for those of you who just want a good place to start.  Here are 3 books that I personally love and are a good starting point for anyone.  Important note: These books are focused on sports because I am an athlete and it’s what’s good for me.  However, competition is the same whether it is on the field, in a company, or wherever, so there are excellent points that you can take from these books into your own life.

1.      Wooden: Coach John Wooden with Steve Jamison.  Coach John Wooden is the most celebrated coach in NCAA Men’s Basketball history.  He is much regarded as the greatest coach of all time.  His outlook on life is extremely refreshing because his focus is not on winning, but doing things the right way. He talks about how doing the right thing always will bring the results that you are looking for.  This book is an excellent way to keep a competitive edge, while keeping your priorities straight.

2.      Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence by Mack Casstevens.  Our bodies need to be trained and built to perform at high levels.  Our minds are the same way, we all have weaknesses that need to be addressed and worked on.  There are great lessons to be learned from this book about being mentally strong and believing in yourself.  It teaches you how to build the “muscles” of your mind so that you can attack anything that life throws at you.

3.      You ALREADY Know How to Be GREAT by Alan Fine.  Alan Fine works with building people up in both the corporate world and the athletics world. This book talks about how we all have great potential in us, and that we only need to access it to unleash greatness.  A lot of times, our biggest problem in our lives are our own selves.  This book is great for motivating and helping you get out of your own way.