Chasing Excellence

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.