In Pursuit of Excellence: How to Win in Sport and Life Through Mental Training, Third Edition (Paperback)

by Terry Orlick (Author) "Excellence in performance and in life begins with a vision of where you want to go and a commitment to do what it takes to..." (more)
Key Phrases: best performance focus, refocusing plan, connected focus, Olympic Games, Embracing Your Potential, Sylvie Bernier (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Reach your highest goals! Whether you are an athlete, coach, or want to become a high achiever in another walk of life, In Pursuit of Excellence provides the expert advice and proven techniques to fulfill your aspirations. You’ll learn how to develop a more positive outlook, focus your commitment, overcome obstacles to desired outcomes, and achieve greater personal and professional satisfaction. You’ll also discover better ways to work with teammates, respond more effectively to coaching, and become more self-directed in your thoughts and actions.

Author Terry Orlick, an internationally acclaimed sport psychologist, has helped hundreds of Olympic athletes maximize their performances and achieve their goals. In this third edition, Orlick presents his special insights and experiences to help you make the most of your potential. He also identifies the Seven Essential Elements of Human Excellence and provides a step-by-step plan for proceeding along your personal path to excellence.

Both practical and inspirational, In Pursuit of Excellence is a guide to daily living and motivation, as well as a road map to long-term achievement. Read it, use it, and win—on and off the field.

About the Author
Terry Orlick, PhD, is a world-renowned leader in the applied field of mental training and excellence. A former gymnastics champion and coach, Orlick has served as a sport psychology consultant for the past 28 years to hundreds of Olympic athletes in more than 25 different sports, including alpine skiing, canoeing, figure skating, basketball, and ski jumping. He has acted as a performance enhancement consultant and mental skills coach for several Olympic Games, as well as a consultant for various professional and developmental teams.

Former president of the International Society for Mental Training and Excellence, Orlick has authored more than 20 highly acclaimed books, including Embracing Your Potential (1998 Human Kinetics) and Psyching for Sport (1986 Human Kinetics). He has created innovative programs for children and youth to develop humanistic perspectives and positive mental skills for living, and his two books The Cooperative Sports and Games Book (1978 Pantheon Books) and Feeling Great: Teaching Children to Excel at Living (1998 Creative Bound) have had great impact on children and their quality of life.

Orlick is a professor in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, Canada, and founder of the innovative new Journal of Excellence. He holds distinguished service awards from numerous Olympic and education associations, as well as a certificate of merit from the Canadian government for distinguished service to the community. He has given lectures on the pursuit of excellence in virtually every corner of the world. Orlick lives with his family at Meech Lake, Quebec. His leisure activities include trail running, kayaking, and experiencing daily simple joys with his friends and family.

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers; 3 Sub edition (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736031863
• ISBN-13: 978-0736031868
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #395,027 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical-user-friendly psychology of performance manual., January 10, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Tempe, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Pursuit of Excellence: How to Win in Sport and Life Through Mental Training (Paperback)

Terry Orlick manages to weave anecdotal examples of how the mind can be the difference between performance and "peak performance". This book is packed with practical exercises, check lists and "how-to's" to learn and apply the mechanics/techniques of sports psychology. Nifty quotes at the beginning of each chapter. WARNING: It won't turn miracles. It will not give you talent you never had or replace hard work.

If you've ever found yourself belaboring a performance error, regularly using negative self-talk or "choking" in those key situations... then this book is for you.

It does require a belief... the belief that mental training will work. "Belief is the mother of reality."

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mental Training for Sports and LIFE, November 11, 2005

By	big T - See all my reviews

This book has many useful tools not just for athletes but also for individuals seeking something for their everyday lives.

Best section I thought was on setting goals, the wheel of excellence, maintaining positive perspectives and outlook, and how to deal with distraction control, quest for consistency, etc etc.

These are all very important concepts not just for the athlete in training but also for everyday people seeking a goal or purpose in life, maintaining that path to success, and knowing how to deal with every day bumps and grinds and highs and lows.

Book talks about:
Setting a goal
Make commitment to that goal
And Initiate Action to accomplish your goals
and don't let distractions, criticism, or other people distract you from your path.

Sounds simple? But for most of us we really have to work on it! Takes lotsa work and discipline to know what you want, work to towards getting it, and not stray from distractions or criticism.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, also an easy read, February 17, 2006

By	Sterzy "Sterzy" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

In college I took a sports psychology class taught by a practicing Sports Psychologist who coached Many NFL & PGA Tour players. This was one of out main books we used and it is still in my library today. As a collegiate athlete (baseball), I was able to easily apply the concepts to my own game. I don't know if it helped my physical ability, but mentally I was much more confident and focused.