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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Gap and the Gain summary
The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success
20 mins
Brief summary
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy is a book that views life's challenges as opportunities for growth, reframing failures as valuable learning experiences. The book provides practical advice on how to make the most of these opportunities.
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The Gap and the Gain
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Take ownership of your own happiness.
Dan Jansen is one of the best speed skaters in the world. In 1984, when he was just 16, he took part in the Winter Olympics and nearly won a medal. Nearly – but not quite.
For ten long years after that, he was plagued by bad luck. Despite his brilliance, a gold medal at the Olympics continued to elude him. In 1994, Jansen thought he’d give it one final go in Lillehammer, Norway – but he performed poorly in what were usually his strongest races.
Soon, there was only one race left, the 1,000 meter sprint. Jansen knew his chances of winning were very slim.
But instead of feeling sad about another looming defeat, he brought a different mindset to this event. As he took up his position at the starting line, he thought of everything he’d gained during his career; the coaches who generously mentored him, the places he’d seen, the enormous satisfaction he got from skating.
The key message here is: Take ownership of your own happiness.
Jansen decided that he’d dedicate his last race to expressing his gratitude to the world of speed skating. This was to be his goodbye to a long and fulfilling career.
So he raced with a beaming smile on his face. And this turned out to be his career’s best run. Jansen won the race, and broke a world record in the process. His positive thoughts brought about a positive result.
Many high achievers struggle to adopt this way of thinking. They believe that they have to make themselves miserable in order to become motivated. Here’s how their thinking goes: if you’re too satisfied with your life, you’ll have no desire to succeed. But that’s not true at all.
In fact, numerous studies have shown that when you’re in a positive frame of mind, you actually perform better. You have more confidence, you think more creatively, you become better at adapting to changing circumstances.
When you’re feeling stressed and negative, on the other hand, you go into survival mode. This kills off any creative, lateral thinking. You also stop having fun at work – and your internal motivation dwindles.
Jansen was so successful because he stopped needing to win in order to feel happy or fulfilled. Of course, he wanted to win. But his happiness became intrinsic.
If you look for happiness outside yourself, you’re giving away all your power. Life becomes a treadmill of constantly hustling to get the things you believe you need. But you don’t need anything or anyone else to be happy. You can choose happiness, right now, by learning to appreciate your life just the way it is.
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What is The Gap and the Gain about?
The Gap and the Gain (2021) is a guide to finding happiness and fulfillment inside yourself, instead of constantly hunting for external affirmation. By learning to define your own standards of success, and by measuring your achievement backward, you’ll appreciate how much progress you’ve actually made, and experience renewed motivation in every area of your life.
The Gap and the Gain Review
The Gap and the Gain is a book by Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy that explores how embracing the gap between where we are and where we want to be can lead to growth and fulfillment. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers practical strategies for reframing our mindset and shifting our focus towards progress rather than perfection.
- The book combines insightful stories and thought-provoking exercises to help readers apply the concepts to their own lives and goals.
- With its engaging tone and relatable examples, it keeps readers hooked, making personal development an enjoyable journey.
Who should read The Gap and the Gain?
- Undermotivated entrepreneurs
- Successful but unfulfilled business people
- Persistent ruminators who want to learn how to think positively
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The Gap and the Gain FAQs
What is the main message of The Gap and the Gain?
The main message of The Gap and the Gain is about focusing on progress and growth instead of comparing ourselves to others.
How long does it take to read The Gap and the Gain?
The reading time for The Gap and the Gain varies, but you can read the Blinkist summary in just a few minutes.
Is The Gap and the Gain a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Gap and the Gain is a valuable book worth reading. It provides insights on how to shift our mindset to focus on personal growth and eliminate comparison.
Who is the author of The Gap and the Gain?
The authors of The Gap and the Gain are Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy.
What to read after The Gap and the Gain?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Gap and the Gain, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The NFT Handbook by Matt Fortnow and QuHarrison Terry
- Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy
- 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy
- Be Your Future Self Now by Benjamin Hardy
- Get Smart! by Brian Tracy
- 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
- The Upside of Your Dark Side by Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener
- The Practicing Stoic by Ward Farnsworth
- Limitless by Jim Kwik