How to Succeed Under Pressure

After seeing Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown reading Inner Excellence on the sidelines, I decided to pick up a copy myself. And my goodness, this book is amazing.

It found me at the perfect time. My new role at work demands high performance—I’m learning, growing, and facing obstacles along the way.

Right now, in my role as the leader of the Growth team, I’m under pressure to hit numbers. Last night, I felt anxious thinking about the week ahead. Then I read the chapter on performing under pressure and I felt at peace again. This chapter has so many bangers. Here are a few highlights:

• “Pressure provides the scenario that elite athletes seek: risking failure for the chance to feel incredibly alive, competing in a sport they love and excel at. It’s the essence of competition—to be challenged in something where you can put your gifts to use, without knowing the outcome. Pressure is the reward given to those who seek excellence.”
• “If you’re just pursuing a trophy or promotion, the pressure can feel immense because so much is out of your control. But if your focus is on raising the level of excellence in your life—to learn and grow so you can elevate others—you’ll have an incredible foundation for mental toughness and resilience.”
• “Living your dreams means pursuing your biggest goals, embracing all the adversity that comes with them, and dancing along the way. It’s about loving the journey more than the outcome.”

I can’t recommend this book enough.