10-Minute Toughness: The Mental Training Program for Winning Before the Game Begins [Hardcover]

Jason Selk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2008

“10-Minute Toughness is a solid mental training program. In fact I feel it is the best of its kind. . . . [It's] what the title says: ten minutes a day that connects your talents and abilities to the outcome you're seeking. As a retired NFL player looking forward, I can see as many applications for the toughness Jason Selk's program brought out of me in the business world as there were on the football field.”
--Jeff Wilkins, Former NFL Pro Bowl Kicker

“The mental side of the game is extremely important. 10-Minute Toughness helps the players develop the mental toughness needed for success; it really makes a difference.”
--Walt Jocketty, General Manager of the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals

“Jason Selk has spent a tremendous amount of time and energy developing effective mental-training programs and coaches workshops. He is truly committed to helping individuals and teams to perform at their very best, when it really counts.”
--Peter Vidmar, Olympic Gold Medalist

Mental training is a must for high performance both on the field and off. But simply hoping for mental toughness isn't going to build any mind muscles. You need a proven routine of daily exercises to get you where you want to go. 10-Minute Toughness is your personal coach for boosting brainpower and achieving a competitive edge in whatever game you play. With quickness and ease, you'll learn how to master your own mind and psych out your opponents using personalized techniques from one of America's most successful sport psychology consultants. Like no other program available, the 10-Minute Toughness (10-MT) routine gets you ready for the competition in just ten minutes a day.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

No psychobabble, no self-help clichés, no touchy-feely theories. Whether you're striving to get ahead in business or sports, 10-Minute Toughness is the simple and effective mental-training program to help you make the most of what you've got and give you the extra push you need to go the distance. You'll find the competitive edge you have been looking for in this power-packed guide.

Sport psychology consultant Jason Selk offers his potent three-step program to getting focused and staying on target, using just ten minutes of practice per day. He explains exactly what to do and how to do it, coaching you step by step as you learn how to:

• Develop a specifically tailored mental workout to increase ability and consistency under pressure
• Clear mental clutter and improve your competitive focus
• Systematically enhance your work ethic
• Use an effective goal-setting program to achieve solid results daily
• Create a relentless solution-focused approach to overcome any obstacle

Selk has provided unbeatable mental coaching for numerous All-Star professional baseball players, Pro Bowl football players, Hall of Fame coaches, Olympic gold medalists, and other elite athletes, along with the corporate teams of many Fortune 500 companies. He even motivated the St. Louis Cardinals to victory in the 2006 World Series. Now, in 10-Minute Toughness, he makes his scientifically proven routines widely available for the first time. Packed with practical tools, tips, exercises, and activities, it is your complete guide for taking control of your success and beating your opponents-before the competition even gets going.

About the Author

Jason Selk is the director of sport psychology for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is also the director and owner of Enhanced Performance Inc., which can be found on the Web at www.enhancedperformanceinc.com. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1st edition (September 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071600639
• ISBN-13: 978-0071600637
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 0.9 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Olympic Games
  • #6 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Reference
  • #9 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Sports Psychology

More About the Author

Jason Selk is the director of sport psychology for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is also the director and owner of Enhanced Performance Inc., which can be found on the Web at www.enhancedperformanceinc.com. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A 10 for 10-Minute Toughness November 13, 2010

By Book Addict VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Jason Selk has created a winner in this small book about developing mental toughness. While geared towards athletes, this book is for anyone who has a goal to improve in any area.

The entire 10-minute mental training consists of:
5 minutes with the mental workout
Centering breath 6-2-7
Performance statement
Personal highlight reel
Identity statement
Centering breath 6-2-7
4 minutes completing the Success Log after each event/practice/game
1 minute review of the previous Success Log before the next mental workout

Sounds easy, right? It is and it isn't. Although the book is small and less than 200 pages, it is one which should be worked through slowly and thoroughly. Selk advises the reader to really think through his/her answers to the questions. Take your time. It will be worth it.

The middle part of the book focuses on Goal Setting and Rewards. This is much more difficult than you may think. He asks, "What are your priorities in life? What are your short-term goals? Long term goals? Is what you are doing right now going to get you to your long term goals and still allow you to maintain your priorities in life? What are you willing to sacrifice?" Again, this reader advises you to take your time and think through these questions. Get a small notebook to write your answers...and be willing to revise them.

The final section of the book is the Relentless Solution Focus. Selk contends that there's always a solution. Think positively about what you want and don't focus on what you don't want or what is going wrong. Sounds easy again but it's much more complicated.

If the reader puts in the time to thoroughly read and do the exercises, then the daily Success Log will be a snap. It is not overly complicated, which is where many programs fail, in my opinion. Anyone can work this program for nearly any kinds of life or short term goals.

Jason Selk's accompanying website is also valuable. He outlines his program on it with short video clips and has loads of free downloads. This book is great for coaches of all kinds or just about anyone who wants to improve his/her performance in any field.

Even the relaxation and focusing breathing tool that Selk gives in the section will bring immediate results. I've even tried this while I was doing aerobic exercise on the treadmill and it immediately brought my heart rate and blood pressure down.

Another similar book is Finding Your Zone by Michael Lardon, M.D. It is a little more cerebral and idealistic but makes a good companion to the 10-Minute Toughness. However, if you can only buy one book, get the 10-Minute Toughness. I've already purchased an additional copy for a friend.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The `Missing Details' for all those "Achievement Books" July 16, 2010

By Mr. Bibliophile

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

In the last several years, we've been bombarded with books like `The Secret' and its ilk - all basically claiming that we can "manifest" what we want in our lives by simply holding the thought in our minds until it happens. Even Napolean Hill's classic `Think and Grow Rich' is similar in its relatively nebulous, goal-setting vagary as it instructs us to simply focus on a `product goal' - repeat a daily positive statement about the goal - and let the subconscious somehow "take over the details" in making it a reality.

If such ambiguity within the realm of achievement and `peak performance' has left you frustrated, you'll likely find Jason Selk's '10 Minute Toughness' just what you need to fill in the pieces of the puzzle. Whether your "game" is an actual sport, college exam, business negotiation, writing project... (anything), Jason helps you break a goal down from `product' to `process' and turn that goal into reality by creating a 10-minute daily "mental workout" for its achievement.

I was surprised to see an earlier review claiming the book is "long-winded." One of the things I loved about it is its brevity; Jason is concise and provides just enough examples within the field of sports. In fact, if you're looking to improve your performance in any athletic endeavor, look no further; `10-Minute Toughness' provides the mental tools you'll need.

While acknowledging that the book is about sport performance, I would have liked some examples from Mr. Selk in how he's used these techniques to improve performance in other contexts. He's worked with corporate teams, Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, etc.: Examples of translations to these realms of performance would have been nice. However, if one's "game" falls within these areas, a modicum of common sense in identifying one's performance levers will make the book applicable and highly effective. That said, I'd be first in line to purchase a follow-up book on applying the '10-Minute Toughness' techniques to contexts outside of athletics.

Bottom line: If you want to improve your performance in sports or any endeavor, '10-Minute Toughness' has your simple yet comprehensive mental formula. It provides clear and powerful instruction along with relevant examples. All necessary worksheets are in the back of the book as well. Highly recommended!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Really helped with my long distance June 1, 2009

By Lauren E. Rawdon

Format:Hardcover

A friend recommended 10 Minute Toughness to help give me a mental edge while running. I had always wanted to run in marathons, but my breathing hindered me from running long distances. The centering breath and mental workout have really helped me mentally and physically. The plan is easy to follow, and it has now become second nature to me. I can run twice as far as I could a year ago. I am not a coach, but I highy suggest this book for coaches of all ages.