In his book, Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness, Tim Grover explains an uncomfortably honest strategy for success in sports, business, or any other sphere characterized by fierce battles and competition.
Upon reading the multiple insightful illustrations and explanations throughout the book, a reader quickly understands why Grover is among the highly sought-after mindset connoisseurs across the globe.
Grover, an author, businessman, personal trainer, and motivational speaker, strips away common success mentalities and cliches and challenges his readers to intensely and single-mindedly embrace reality.
Everyone wants to be a winner, but Grover reminds his readers that winning and dominating is only for those willing and ready to give their all towards their goals. Those who crave success and greatness in business, professional or personal lives will find the result-driven performance formulas especially useful.

Winning is like a Test with No Correct Answers

In the initial pages of his book, Grover observed that it is common for motivational books to provide a series of steps that lead towards success.
The author criticizes these books by informing his readers that they could never purchase a map to success. He compared winning and comminating to sitting for an examination that does not have correct answers.
With this in mind, Grover explains 13 winning principles, including the importance of rest, fighting in the battlefield of one’s mind, holding oneself accountable, and not blaming others.

One must be willing to Go All the Way

Grover derives the strategies explained in his book from years of experience he garnered while working as a mental coach and personal trainer to several great names in sports, including Dwyane Wade, Kobi Bryant, and the legendary Michael Jordan.
Although the book emphasizes the strategies that one needs to win, Grover accentuates that winning does not come easy. He, however, unravels the truth concerning the challenges and obstacles that could stand between an individual, business, or organization and their goals.
As highlighted by Grover, Winning does not lie, is always aware of one’s techniques and secrets, is won first in the battlefield of the mind, and always requires one to go all in and to take every opportunity to go the extra mile.

Taking a Break is Not Laziness

Even as he encourages his readers to embrace the willing mentality, Grover also cautions people to know when to take a break. He highlights this need while explaining his experiences with Kobe Bryant, whose team, the Los Angeles Lakers, had just lost a game against Boston Celtics.
The life coach recalls Brant’s frustrations at the loss as he lamented how he metaphorically threw everything he had, except the kitchen sink, at the opposing team, but it was not enough to drive his team to victory.
Following a brief pose, Grover responded by asking him why he spared the sink. Although Bryant did not respond to this comment, both gentlemen knew that the answer to this question lay with the need never to overwork oneself even while on the regretless pursuit for greatness.
The author reinforces this point when he explains Kobi’s mantra that encouraged him to rest after the end of a battle, “not in the middle!” Garner uses Byant’s case to criticize popular business-school beliefs that encourage people to overwork themselves to prove their dedication.
He wonders how taking a much-deserved rest can be compared to laziness.

Unusual Drive for Success

Grover explains that Bryant’s success can be attributed to his unusual drive for success and greatness. It was not uncommon to find Kobe headed to the gymnasium in the middle of the night and training for hours.
Whatever Bryant engaged, he always sought to outwork everyone else. His drive for success was so potent that the personal trainer would experience challenges while urging him to rest. Kobe knew resting was essential, but it was never easy to get him to take a break.
The author’s experiences with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant underscore that hard work always pays off. Nevertheless, Grover adds that anyone who desires success must learn to work smarter, not just hard. He also observed that not everyone would be willing to embrace his tips for success.

The Verdict

Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness is a great read that openly and critically explains tips for success from the perspective and experiences of Tim Grover. A reader will quickly realize the author’s point that no shortcut to success and greatness exists, and it is only those who are willing to go the extra mile to achieve victory.
The author’s tips on working smart are inspirational. Grover does not beat around the bush while explaining his principles for success. However, anyone accustomed to having reality sugar-coated will likely find Grover’s opinions particularly harsh.