Do all champions share some fundamental characteristic that ensures success? What gives a great athlete, artist or scientist the ability to achieve extraordinary things? Is it sheer passion for what they do? Strength acquired through adversity? Can champions be crafted, or do they simply emerge through talent, personality and force of circumstances?Fifty champions from all walks of life, brought together by Professor Allan Snyder, draw on their own experience to explore the secrets of success in this inspiring, revealing and thought-provoking book.

Becoming a True Champion offers a path to achieving athletic excellence, longevity, and dignity through the values and hard work that once distinguished athletes as true role models. Providing an antidote to images of misbehaving athletes, this book guides readers through the ethics and standards that will set them apart both on and off the field.

What drives great and successful individuals — be they athletes, artists, or scientists — or businesses, to achieve the extraordinary?Over fifty champions from all walks of life, brought together by Allan Snyder, draw on their experiences to explore the secrets of success in this inspiring, revealing and thought-provoking book.Hear from the authors what made a McDonalds' branch become the most successful in the world; how a cottage business is catapulted into a world brand; how a visual artist's work crosses almost every medium imaginable; how an Ernst and Young setup becomes a top-notch employer; or why many geniuses or brilliant individuals never become champions, while many ‘ordinary’ individuals do; why many people don't know about their talent; what constitutes a champion outcome; and the neurological explanation for championship.Straddling academia and practitioners in all fields — government, entertainment, sports, business, arts, education, medicine, media — the authors include business CEOs, sports managers, entertainment gurus and best-selling authors.Contributing authors include: Nelson Mandela, Edmund Hillary, Corazon Aquino, John Eales, Poppy King, Gustav Nossal, Baz Luhrmann, Bryce Courtenay, Peter Doherty, George Negus, Herb Elliott, Shane Gould, John Howard, Pat O'Shane, Richard Butler, Leonie Kramer, Anne Summers, Ron Clarke, Di Morrissey, Phillip Adams, and Harry M Miller.

"I know that I'll be evaluated in Seattle with wins and losses, as that is the nature of my profession for the last thirty-five years. But our record will not be what motivates me. Years ago I was asked, 'Pete, which is better: winning or competing?' My response was instantaneous: 'Competing. . . because it lasts longer.'" Pete Carroll is one of the most successful coaches in football today. As the head coach at USC, he brought the Trojans back to national prominence, amassing a 97-19 record over nine seasons. Now he shares the championship-winning philosophy that led USC to seven straight Pac-10 titles. This same mind-set and culture will shape his program as he returns to the NFL to coach the Seattle Seahawks. Carroll developed his unique coaching style by trial and error over his career. He learned that you get better results by teaching instead of screaming, and by helping players grow as people, not just on the field. He learned that an upbeat, energetic atmosphere in the locker room can coexist with an unstoppable competitive drive. He learned why you should stop worrying about your opponents, why you should always act as if the whole world is watching, and many other contrarian insights. Carroll shows us how the Win Forever philosophy really works, both in NCAA Division I competition and in the NFL. He reveals how his recruiting strategies, training routines, and game-day rituals preserve a team's culture year after year, during championship seasons and disappointing seasons alike. Win Forever is about more than winning football games; it's about maximizing your potential in every aspect of your life. Carroll has taught business leaders facing tough challenges. He has helped troubled kids on the streets of Los Angeles through his foundation A Better LA. His words are true in any situation: "If you want to win forever, always compete."

The Champion's Journey is intense, painful and exhilarating. It is filled with adventure, adversity, challenging obstacles and opportunities. This is the book I wish I had when I began my own journey as an athlete 20 years ago, although I am glad that I am writing it now. This book contains the mental tools, tactics and habits that some of the world's most successful athletes use to achieve greatness and they are all available to anyone to use to achieve their goals.I created this collection of highly effective tools to achieve success in my own life as an athlete and coach, they have changed my life and I hope to say the same for you. This book contains tools for becoming a more relentless athlete, to become the best version of yourself and achieve your own form of greatness. You don't need to run, jump, fight or play like a world champion in order to think and work like one, you don't need an Olympic medal, world title belt or trophy to have the mindset of a champion.This is a fitness book for the mind, it will teach you to develop perseverance and resilience and turn obstacles in to opportunities to become stronger. The power to achieve greatness is in all of us, it was given to you the moment you were born and its source is unlimited. It is yours to use to become the hero of your own story. You have greatness in you, waiting for you to accept the call to adventure and unleash the champion within.

Your ultimate guide to overcoming losses and injuries and achieving greatness—on and off the field. Leading sports psychologist Jim Afremow, author of The Champion’s Mind, knows what makes good athletes great, especially when they come back to win after facing devastating injuries, tough obstacles, or seemingly insurmountable odds. Making a comeback isn’t just about raw talent or athletic ability—it’s the mental game that counts most. In the new paperback edition of The Champion’s Comeback, he offers winning strategies for athletes of any age or skill level to get mentally psyched for competition, quickly rebound after a loss, and overcome injuries (and the fear of re-injury). Afremow explores the psychology of commitment and shows you how to develop the core confidence of repeat champions. Featuring unique tips and advice, including guided imagery scripts, easy-to-follow mental training exercises, and motivating stories of famous “comeback” athletes, The Champion’s Comeback is the ultimate athlete’s handbook, encouraging you to not only stay in the game but also achieve greatness, no matter what.