I made a very important decision 10 years ago when I was a young 15-year-old kid with very little money. It was my birthday, and I had saved a small sum of money and was unsure what to do with it. I could either treat myself to something nice or put the money to good use. I decided to put the money toward a book. That book was Tim Grover's Relentless.

So, what made me decide to spend the little money I had on this book? I bought this book for two reasons:

1) In-depth insights into the mindsets of all-time greats

I was a competitive basketball player on the school team, and my favourite players were Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. They were not only my favourite players; they were also my childhood heroes. I wanted to know everything there was to know about them. And who is the person who was close to both of these players? Tim Grover, their personal trainer. Purchasing this book will give me valuable and in-depth insights into the mindsets of Kobe, MJ and other hall-of-fame greats that Grover trained.

2) Cultivating resilience and mental toughness

I wanted to cultivate a relentless attitude. I participated in a variety of sports. While I mostly competed in basketball, I also competed in tennis, badminton, and baseball tournaments. My mental strength and mindset were lacking in my early days of competing. I buckled under the pressure of crunch time, allowing the opponents' and their fans' trash talk to get to me. My coaches frequently benched me because I struggled in late-game situations. I knew I needed to work on my resilience and mental toughness. That's why I bought this book.

So, did this book help me in my effort to cultivate a relentless mindset? It definitely did. The teachings and insights Tim Grover provides in this book are amazing, and the book really dwells on the mindsets of all-time greats.

My Takeaways + Notes

1) Cleaners, Closers and Coolers

In the book, Tim Grover discusses 3 types of people. The Cleaners, Closers and Coolers.

• Coolers are individuals who are good at what they do. Give them a job and they simply do it. Results are mediocre, nothing great and nothing bad.
• Closers are individuals that give you exceptional results when you give them a game plan and any jobs that are thrown at them.
• Cleaners are the individuals that constantly deliver excellent end results no matter what variables are thrown at them and they always elevate the people around them.

It is essential that you recognize your personality type. There's nothing wrong with being a Cooler who accepts mediocrity. However, if you're a cooler who wants to become a Closer and Cleaner, this book will show you how to develop your mindset to become great.

2) Your Instincts Trust You

People will always tell you to trust your instincts. But for the Cleaners, their instincts trust them. Does your instinct trust you when you're making life or business decisions, or when you're called upon to make game-winning plays? Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are well-known for making game-winning shots. When the game is close, the best strategy is to simply pass the ball to MJ or Kobe and let them do the rest. You believe in them to make game-winning plays and deliver because everyone believes in them, but most importantly, their instincts believe in them.

So, how do you convince your instinct to trust you?

Hard work, discipline and consistency. In a dark gym, MJ and Kobe practised the same game-winning shots over and over. They are able to deliver in a game because they have spent years consistently making shots in the gym. Similarly, your hard work, discipline, and consistency will help you gain confidence in your ability to deliver. You gradually realize that you can make those crucial decisions because it comes naturally to you. People in your workplace will naturally look to you to make those "game-winning" plays and strategies. That's when you know your instincts are on your side.

3) Obsession

Cleaners are obsessed with what they do, not just passionate about it. Are you obsessed with mastering your craft? Do you have a strong desire to improve yourself every day? You must be obsessed if you want to be the best in your field. Everything is compelled for greatness. You must devote everything you have to perfect the skills required to achieve greatness. Obsession doesn't just apply to your job or business, it applies to your families and relationships as well.

As a parent or spouse, you can be a Cleaner. Parents or spouses who are Cleaners are obsessed with becoming the best person for their families. There are housewives who devote all of their time and energy to ensuring that everything in the house runs smoothly. You can be a Cleaner at your job regardless of whether you're a CEO, a manager, a regular employee, or a housewife/husband.

My Favourite Quotes in the Book

• You have to be willing to fail in order to take risks.

• Never feel external pressure. Believe what's inside of you. Know what you are doing right and wrong. Don't care what others think.

• No fear of failure. It's about the hard work and preparation that go into knowing everything there is to know. Letting go of your fears and insecurities and trusting your ability to handle any situation.

• If you did it, own it. If you said it, stand by it. That's your reputation. Make it count. If you want your opinions to have value, you have to be willing to put them out there and mean what you say.

• The greatest battles you will ever fight are with yourself. You must always be your toughest opponent. Always demand more of yourself than others demand of you. Be honest with yourself and you'll be able to meet every challenge with confidence and the belief that you are prepared for anything.

My Final Thoughts:

In the book, Tim Grover offers great lessons and insights on how to be the best at what you do. This book will also teach you how to disconnect from those who are impeding your destiny and how to tap into your inner strength to overcome what others may consider impossible.

I highly recommend picking up this book! You can purchase the book by clicking here.