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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Letters to a Young Athlete summary
Chris Bosh
An NBA Champion's Hard-Earned Wisdom on the Road to Self-Mastery
20 mins
Brief summary
Letters to a Young Athlete by Chris Bosh offers advice and inspiration for athletes at all levels. It emphasizes the importance of hard work, dedication, and mental toughness in achieving success both on and off the court.
Table of Contents
Letters to a Young Athlete
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
To play past your limits, you must train past them.
The pass appeared effortless.
LeBron James tossed up a three-point shot in the final seconds of game six of the 2013 NBA Finals, Heat versus Spurs. The ball bounced from the rim. Bosh, the Heat’s center, was surrounded by Spurs players. He leaped up, snatched the ball, and within an instant, passed it to Ray Allen.
Allen, just as quickly, stepped behind the three-point line. With five Spurs players rushing to block, Allen took the shot. He made it.
The key message here is: To play beyond your present limits, you must train past them.
From Bosh to Allen, the play appeared effortless, despite the pressure of 20,000 screaming fans, millions of viewers, and the exhaustion resulting from over 80 games that season.
Bosh executed the pass automatically, instantly, because for decades he had trained himself to go beyond his perceived limits of physical and mental exhaustion.
Years of running suicide drills back and forth across the court had taught his burning lungs and screaming muscles to suck in oxygen and find that boost. He had learned, as ultramarathon runner and ex-Navy SEAL David Goggins says, that when you think you’re running on empty, you still have 40 percent left in the tank.
Bosh learned that he had to train past the limits of exhaustion because he was going to have to perform past the limits of exhaustion.
The life lesson here is that you need to always push yourself further than you think you can go. That doesn’t mean you should suppress the little voice in your head saying that you can't continue. In fact, It is precisely this awareness of being exhausted which you need to embrace. By doing so, you’ll slowly build the mental and physical strength you’ll need to progress beyond your limits and grow to embrace exhaustion.
Make no mistake – training in this way is brutally hard. But by pushing yourself to the limit, you’ll discover what comedian Jerry Seinfeld called “your blessing in life … the torture you’re most comfortable with.”
However, building your resilience in the face of exhaustion is just one side of the coin. To keep it strong over the course of a career, you’re going to need deep motivation, which is the topic of the next blink.
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What is Letters to a Young Athlete about?
In Letters to a Young Athlete (2021), basketball legend Chris Bosh shares the wisdom he earned through his remarkable career. Bosh shows us that true excellence requires deep motivation, mastery of self, and a commitment to something far greater than money or fame.
Letters to a Young Athlete Review
Letters to a Young Athlete (2021) is a book that gives aspiring athletes valuable advice and insights from former NBA player Chris Bosh. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers practical wisdom from someone who has experienced the highs and lows of a professional sports career firsthand.
- The book provides inspirational stories about perseverance, discipline, and the mental aspects of sports, making it relatable and motivating.
- With its down-to-earth tone and relatability, it captures the attention of readers, delivering an entertaining and engaging reading experience.
Who should read Letters to a Young Athlete?
- Young athletes
- Their teachers, coaches, and parents
- Anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a champion
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Letters to a Young Athlete FAQs
What is the main message of Letters to a Young Athlete?
The main message of Letters to a Young Athlete is to inspire and guide young athletes to reach their full potential and navigate the challenging world of sports.
How long does it take to read Letters to a Young Athlete?
The reading time for Letters to a Young Athlete varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Letters to a Young Athlete a good book? Is it worth reading?
Letters to a Young Athlete is a valuable read for aspiring athletes. It provides insightful advice and personal experiences, offering guidance and motivation to succeed.
Who is the author of Letters to a Young Athlete?
Chris Bosh is the author of Letters to a Young Athlete.
What to read after Letters to a Young Athlete?
If you're wondering what to read next after Letters to a Young Athlete, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant
- The Rise by Mike Sielski
- Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Negativity Fast by Anthony Iannarino
- Outlive by Peter Attia
- Make Possibilities Happen by Grace Hawthorne
- This Is Your Brain on Sports by L. Jon Wertheim and Sam Sommers
- Transcend by Scott Barry Kaufman
- Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky