Becoming Unstoppable

Going from good to great to unstoppable comes down to taking responsibility, training relentlessly and mastering the basics. In this episode, I share ideas from Tim Grover’s book on the “cleaner,” using stories about Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Bruce Lee, plus how I train in the morning.

Key Takeaways

• A cleaner owns decisions and mistakes and makes no excuses.
• Talent matters, but the person who trains the most and is most prepared usually wins.
• You do not need to be the best at everything. Find one thing you are good at and keep improving it.
• Repeat a few foundational skills until they come without thinking.

What Is a Cleaner?

Grover describes a cleaner as someone who takes responsibility for the decisions and mistakes he makes and never makes excuses.

Grover has coached Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. In my retelling, Jordan would spend hours on a single shot, and he respected his fans enough to park outside the stadium so people who could not afford a ticket could see him. He did not accept excuses and did whatever it took.

Does Talent or Training Win?

Talent plays a small part. Take two people: one is talented but does not train, and the other has less talent but trains relentlessly. The one who trains is more likely to win the job, the promotion or the contest.

I mention that pro athletes train about three hours a day. I wake up at 4 a.m. and train for the first three hours of my day, an idea I got from Tony Robbins’ Hour of Power.

Preparation shows up as focus, and prepared people are not easily phased.

What Do A Players Do When They Fail?

I talk about A players, a Steve Jobs idea. They own their mistakes and do not blame others. They may not always apologize, but they make it right through execution.

I use Tiger Woods as an example. His personal scandal pulled his focus, and other players took advantage. The ability was still there. Great performers usually follow a bad game with a strong one because they study what went wrong.

How Do You Become Unstoppable at Your Craft?

You do not have to be the best at everything. Find the one thing you are personally good at, whether that is being a mom, a chef, a teacher or a businessman, and keep working at it.

Hold yourself to a higher standard. Find someone great and model them, read the book, take the course and do the exercises day in and day out until it comes without thinking.

I mention Bruce Lee’s training and his quote about fearing the man who has practiced one kick a thousand times. Master the few foundational skills in your field instead of knowing a little about everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Tim Grover?

He is the author of the book that inspired this episode and a trainer who has coached Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, according to the video.

Is talent enough?

No. Talent is a small part. Relentless training and preparation matter more.

Do I have to be the best at everything?

No. Find the one thing you are good at and keep improving it.

The Short Long Of It

Own your results, train more than anyone else, and master a handful of basics until they are automatic.

Suggested Reading

• Practice Practice Practice
• Which Talent Should I Focus On?
• 10 Creative Hacks for Artists & Designers