Business Lessons from the Edge

Overview

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DISCOVER THE WINNING MIND-SETS OF EXTREME SPORTS ATHLETE-EXECUTIVES

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk jump-starts the world's hottest skateboard company with businessman/skateboarder Per Welinder, who recently sold his share of the company back to Hawk to focus on his thriving clothing line.

Freestyle motocross star Carey Hart discovers that backflips in the boardroom don't fly, but sharp entrepreneurship turns his tattoo venture into a multimedia enterprise.

Rodeo rider Ty Murray, “The King of the Cowboys,” turns his passion for bull riding into a professional sports empire.

Olympian bobsledder Gord Woolley prepares himself mentally every morning, whether polishing his runners or running his communications firm.

Alpine climber Mark Richey learns to rely more on skills than tools to build his architectural woodworking business.

Marathoner Quang S. Pham uses visualization techniques to go the distance as a runner and as a CEO in the pharmaceutical industry.

Mountaineer Guy Downing climbs some of the world's highest mountains and makes a fortune on Wall Street.

PLUS more career-building lessons from sports television CEO Gavin Harvey, skier and bobsledder Kirby Best, polar explorer Bill Baker, mountaineer and CEO Kevin Sheridan, skier and law firm founder Julie Pearl, CEO and race car driver Don Bell, and others

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No guts, no glory.

What does it take to succeed in business? Risk taking. Preparation. Self-confidence. The same principles that drive extreme athletes to the highest peaks of performance. This action-ready guide shows you how to capture the winning mind-sets of champions-for extreme success in business and life.

Table of contents

INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1: Unique Is Only the Beginning
Section I: Personal Excellence
Chapter 2: Grow Up to Be a Cowboy—Honor Your Passion
Chapter 3: Flailing Means You’re Not Good at It—Know Your Limitations
Chapter 4: But Can You Backflip in the Boardroom?—Welcome Humility
Chapter 5: Don’t Bail Your Board—Exude Integrity
Chapter 6: Crash Alone, or Win with a Voice in Your Head—To Be a Top Performer, Get Coached
Chapter 7: Give Your Head Some Air—Liberate Your Ideas
Chapter 8: Spawn New Tricks—Be a Stimulus for Passion
Chapter 9: Climb as Soon as the Weather Breaks—Be Ready to Seize Opportunity
Chapter 10: Roll with the Fall—Practice Resilience
Chapter 11: Stretch If You’re Too Short—Never Give Up
Section II: Team Leadership
Chapter 12: “I” Does Not Save the Day—Your Team is Critical
Chapter 13: Why Doom Yourself to Failure?—Abhor Mediocrity and Average Behavior
Chapter 14: Wear Gloves If Your Hands are Cold—Eliminate the Victim Mentality
Chapter 15: Let Your Horse Read You—Influence Others with Your Behaviors and Results
Chapter 16: Help Them to Summit with You—Create Ways for People to Achieve More as Part of the Team than by Going It Alone
Chapter 17: Ski the Best Path, Not the Straightest—Maintain Situational Awareness
Chapter 18: Feel the Rush on the Way to the Medal Stand—Celebrate Your Victories
Section III: Team Excellence
Chapter 19: Add Ten Feet to Your Jump—Insist on Goal Clarity
Chapter 20: Think the Rush, Don’t Just Feel It—See Risk as a Tool, Not a Threat
Chapter 21: Grapple Like a Chess Master—Manage Risk with Contingency Thinking
Chapter 22: Think Like a Pilot—Focus Yields Efficiency
Chapter 23: Take the Extra Step—Push to the Edge
Chapter 24: Try Groping in the Dark—Be Fluid
Chapter 25: “Dude, What’s Up with the Bull Riding?”—Focus Outward
Chapter 26: A Great Ride Isn’t Going to Be an Easy Ride—You Have to Find a Way
Conclusion
Appendix: Bios of Featured Athlete-Executives

Glossary

Biographical note

Jim McCormick is a full-time professional
speaker, record-holding skydiver, and former COO for an architectural firm. He is an accomplished skydiver with five
world records, and over 3,000 jumps to his credit.
Maryann Karinch is a literary agent and
author of 15 books, as well as a certified personal trainer. She has over 650 skydives
to her credit and is one of the few women to complete the
inaugural Eco-Challenge in Southern Utah.