What is
Raise Your Game by Alan Stein Jr. about?
Raise Your Game explores high-performance strategies used by elite athletes and adapts them for personal and professional growth. The book focuses on three pillars: Player (self-mastery via discipline, resilience), Coach (leadership through empathy, communication), and Team (collaboration via trust, shared vision). Stein emphasizes mastering fundamentals, consistent habits, and proactive mindset shifts, illustrated by NBA legends like Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant.
Who should read
Raise Your Game?
Athletes, coaches, business leaders, and anyone seeking peak performance will benefit. The book’s actionable frameworks apply to sports training, team management, and corporate leadership. It’s particularly valuable for those aiming to build resilience, improve communication, or foster a high-achievement culture.
Is
Raise Your Game worth reading?
Yes—it blends sports psychology with practical business tools, offering timeless principles for success. Readers gain strategies like the "one more rep" mindset for pushing limits and methods to reframe failure as growth. Stein’s NBA anecdotes and structured self-audit exercises make it both engaging and actionable.
What are the core principles in
Raise Your Game?
- Self-awareness: Align actions with purpose through daily reflection.
- Discipline: Prioritize consistency over talent via routines.
- Resilience: Treat setbacks as learning opportunities.
- Servant leadership: Empower teams through trust and clear communication.
How does
Raise Your Game compare to
Atomic Habits?
While both stress habit-building, Raise Your Game uniquely ties athletic rigor to organizational success. Stein emphasizes team dynamics and leadership over individual habit formation, using real-world sports examples rather than generalized case studies.
What leadership lessons does
Raise Your Game teach?
Leaders should model accountability, actively listen to teams, and create "relentless practice" cultures. Stein advocates for "servant leadership"—removing ego to foster collaboration—and shares how coaches like Mike Krzyzewski build trust through vulnerability.
Can
Raise Your Game help with career advancement?
Absolutely. The book’s focus on mastering fundamentals, proactive communication, and resilience directly applies to workplace challenges. For example, its "daily self-audit" exercise helps professionals align tasks with long-term goals.
What critiques exist about
Raise Your Game?
Some may find its sports-heavy examples less relatable for non-athletes. However, Stein mitigates this by linking concepts to universal themes like goal-setting and adaptability.
How does
Raise Your Game address teamwork?
It argues that elite teams prioritize trust over talent, using practices like candid feedback sessions and role clarity. Stein cites NBA champions who succeed through selflessness and shared accountability.
What is the "one more rep" mindset in
Raise Your Game?
This philosophy encourages pushing beyond comfort zones in small increments—whether in training, work projects, or skill development. It’s exemplified by athletes who train after official practice hours.
Why is
Raise Your Game relevant in 2025?
As remote work and AI reshape industries, Stein’s lessons on adaptability, human-centered leadership, and incremental growth remain critical. The book’s focus on fundamentals counters today’s "quick fix" culture.
How does
Raise Your Game relate to Alan Stein Jr.’s other books?
While Sustain Your Game extends these principles to long-term success, Raise Your Game focuses on foundational habits. Both emphasize self-awareness and servant leadership but target different stages of growth.