Their competitor was working just as hard, was just as determined, just as focussed, just as ready, just as driven…. But on the day, they slipped into the obscurity of second place. Unfortunately, there are thousands of books out there which perpetuate the myth of being “special”, being a winner, achieving your goals and battling against the odds, but there aren’t many books that encourage you to be realistic about your aims, understand and accept your limitations, recognise when the juice simply isn’t worth the squeeze, and learn to appreciate what you already have. Along the way, they draw on cutting-edge research to explain why these methods work - and how we can all use them. Anyone can learn the secrets of high performance.

Wow. I know some people say that you come to things when it is the right time in your life, but boy do I wish that I had found either this book or the podcast earlier.

This book captures so many different lessons from so many remarkable people. It will help every reader apply these insights to their own lives - so they can become high performers themselves. ADAM PEATY The issue is however, it’s largely just that - the best parts of interviews we’ve already heard. I’d anticipated this but the extent to which it was a rehash of previous interviews was a bit disappointing. then, apart from a handy recap, this book will have nothing new for you. If you haven’t encountered these books yet, then this book is probably an excellent place to start.

The “taking responsibility” chapter was my favourite & gave me a tough wake up call of how I can’t remain in a state of “learned helplessness” where the world and life is happening TO me. I have to learn to take responsibility. But also understanding a fine line between always thinking something is my fault = taking responsibility - that’s not true. “high performance is about what you do; it isn’t about constantly blaming yourself”. This amazing book will teach you the mindset and habits of champions. High Performance has already impacted some of the best players and coaches across the world, but Jake and Damian's insights are equally valuable to people from any walk of life. I urge you to open this book and open your mind to the lessons within. FRANK LAMPARDI really like the podcast and have listened since Series 1. Jake and Damien have a great way of eliciting information from some of the most interesting people and the book definitely delivers that. Tom Daley, Kelly Holmes, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Kelly Jones, Matthew McConaughey, Siya Kolosi. All brilliant. From taking responsibility for your situation to finding your 'trademark behaviours', thinking flexibly to crafting a high performance culture, Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes identify the eight crucial steps to becoming the best 'you' possible. High Performance will help you think clearly, act decisively and keep calm under pressure. If you want to stop making excuses and take responsibility for your life, I recommend you read this book. ANT MIDDLETON They also explore taking risks, creating a space for vulnerability in the workplace and how to find purpose in our lives.

Take any success story - take any famous person - who is famous because they are successful, and they will regale you for hours with stories about their training programme, the sacrifices, the early morning starts…. But here’s the thing that hardly ever gets mentioned: This book will appeal to you if you’re interested in how your brain works , or how to perform better, but you’ve never yet considered reading any books about the subject. Focuses the mind on how to be your best . . . Thought-provoking signposts to a more fruitful 2022.' Observer Jake Humphrey is one of the UK's best-respected sports presenters. Currently the lead Premier League football presenter on BT Sport, Jake previously spent over a decade at the BBC - covering Formula 1, the FIFA World Cup, the London Olympics and BBC Sports Personality of the Year, as well as becoming the youngest ever presenter of Match of the Day. High Performance will help you recognise your inner strength and celebrate your achievements. It's inspiring, exciting and massively motivating.' FEARNE COTTONI loved sports at schools. Team sports to be exact. But hated cross country running in the winter. I’m more a player than a watcher of sports. I bought this book because I worked with Jake in his CBBC days. No, I didn’t make him dress up as a lobster. I’m a huge fan. Jake is the ultimate professional. He came to set prepared and ready to have fun. I trust him and love his work ethic. I can only guess the amount of effort he put into this book. Looked at from a less romantic point of view, the true lesson from any Steve Jobs or Usain Bolt story is that dozens of other people stood on the same start line after putting in just as much work and had their efforts come to nothing. I loved this book. It isn't just about how to be a high performer sometimes, but about how to be a high performer all the time - on the pitch, at home and at work. KEVIN SINFIELD Jake Humphrey has interviewed some of the most iconic individuals around. He has a wealth of wisdom to share. VEX KING, author of Good Vibes, Good Life

There’s also a lot which seems basically verbatim from Damien’s Barcelona Way book (also really good!) about star-model/commitment etc which seemed a bit of a cop out. I found the ‘pit stop’ concept which pops up a lot a bit hammy too, though well intentioned. If you want to stop making excuses and take responsibility for your life, I recommend you read this book.' ANT MIDDLETONI liked the reference to positive psychologist Martin Seligman’s formula for judging whether your attitude is optimistic or not. In his research on learned helplessness, he came up with three ‘Ps’ that indicate you’re overgeneralising. People who view their problems as pervasive, permanent and personal tend to end up with worse life outcomes than those who view them as specific, temporary and external. Enjoyable This is a self-help book with a sporting and activity emphasis which is short and easy to read. It derives from the excellent The High-Performance Podcast series which has been running since March 2020. In the podcast guests from different walks of life are interviewed by Humphrey and Hughes on their ideas and experiences around defining, delivering, and sustaining high performance. The book attempts to wrap some theory around what they say What’s Good But…. If this your first dabble into the “winner” genre, I’d recommend a note of caution before you start. Like many “positive thinking” books, HP’s underlying message is that, if you put in the hard work, if you take responsibility, if you’re single minded, dedicated and determined, and if you stay focused and driven; you’ll get to the top.