This is a preview of the Shortform book summary of With Winning in Mind by Lanny R. Bassham.
Read Full Summary

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of With Winning in Mind

The significance of mental strategies in attaining success.

This section emphasizes the importance of mental tactics in reaching and sustaining top performance levels, especially when under pressure.

Top performers recognize the significance of mental strategies in achieving peak success.

Bassham emphasizes that while the superior achievements of elite athletes are often credited to innate talent, in reality, it is their skillful use of mental strategies that plays a crucial role. Possessing the requisite abilities does not invariably lead to success, indicating that skill alone is not a surefire predictor of victory. According to Bassham, the distinguishing factor for champions lies in their psychological approach. They have an unshakeable conviction in their potential to achieve the highest rank, a confidence founded on their commitment to psychological readiness, while others merely hold hopes of triumph.

Elite Athletes, Business Professionals, and Other High-Achievers Invest Heavily in Developing Their Mental Skills and Strategies.

Bassham observed a lack of workshops dedicated to the psychological components of training in 1972. He pursued insights into psychological tactics by discussing with those who had secured the pinnacle of Olympic achievement. To mirror the success of these top performers, one must recognize the importance of mental strategies and commit to significantly improving one's psychological skills. Bassham found that athletes acknowledge the substantial role mental readiness plays in their overall performance, yet frequently they dedicate less than a tenth of their training time to developing this crucial element. Mental Management® provides a structured approach with practical tactics for controlling the psychological aspects of performance, thereby closing a notable gap.

Mental strength often plays a decisive role in distinguishing the victors from the rest, even among contenders of similar abilities.

Bassham's account of his own experiences reveals that athletes with outstanding technical skills frequently faltered in competitions due to a lack of sufficient psychological preparation. Lanny R. Bassham recounts his experience from the 1972 Olympics, noting that despite having the necessary physical abilities, he yielded to the intense pressure. Lanny R. Bassham explains that PGA golfer Ben Crane, despite his polished physical skills, encountered difficulties in sustaining a steady mindset throughout tournaments. Bassham underscores the importance of...

Want to learn the ideas in With Winning in Mind better than ever?

Unlock the full book summary of With Winning in Mind by signing up for Shortform.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x better by:

  • Being 100% clear and logical: you learn complicated ideas, explained simply
  • Adding original insights and analysis, expanding on the book
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
READ FULL SUMMARY OF WITH WINNING IN MIND

Here's a preview of the rest of Shortform's With Winning in Mind summary:

With Winning in Mind Summary The Mental Management System is built upon three critical components: the aware mind, the intuitive mind, and an individual's self-image.

This section delves into the trio of essential psychological elements required to maintain steady mental output.

The role of the Conscious Mind is to collect information from the surroundings, set goals, and direct attention.

The Conscious Mind is the segment of the brain responsible for thought, visualization, and the analysis of sensory information. Your conscious mind must set goals, formulate a plan, and identify the critical aspects that need attention.

Direct your conscious mind toward positive actions and thoughts, as it can focus on only one thing at a time.

Bassham emphasizes that the Conscious Mind is distinguished by its ability to focus exclusively on a single task at any given moment. Therefore, it is essential to deliberately steer one's mental attention toward positive concepts and anticipated outcomes, consciously choosing what to concentrate on in one's thinking. Ben Crane has developed mental strategies tailored for those circumstances. Athletes can enhance their abilities by consciously focusing on positive and specific thoughts, which helps to reduce distractions and ward off negative thinking.

When the Conscious Mind is occupied with...

Try Shortform for free

Read full summary of With Winning in Mind

Sign up for free

With Winning in Mind Summary Specific Techniques and Tools for Developing Mental Skills

This part delves into a trio of distinct strategies that constitute the core foundation of the Mental Management® System.

The methodology for setting and achieving important goals is facilitated through a system known as Mental Management®.

Bassham underscores the necessity of using an organized method for establishing objectives. He questions the traditional method of establishing "realistic" goals and "big sky" dreams that focus solely on the ultimate outcome. Mental Management® promotes focusing on the necessary processes to achieve a goal.

To be effective, a goal should hold personal significance, possess a definitive time frame for completion, and include a detailed plan for achieving it.

Bassham presents a detailed ten-stage strategy for establishing meaningful objectives. He emphasizes the significance of selecting objectives that merit the exchange of your lifetime and establishing attainable deadlines for their accomplishment. He contends that recognizing the personal rewards associated with accomplishing an objective is crucial for sustaining motivation. Bassham emphasizes the necessity of a well-rounded and practical approach that anticipates potential...

What Our Readers Say

This is the best summary of How to Win Friends and Influence People I've ever read. The way you explained the ideas and connected them to other books was amazing.
Learn more about our summaries →