My family, friends, colleagues at The Ken Blanchard Companies, and many of the clients I serve know I’ve been working on my soon-to-be-released book (January 23), Crunch Time, since the spring of 2013. The research and writing was largely done on nights, weekends and, in a few instances, during family vacations (thereby knocking me out of the running for father of the year and husband of the year awards).
When speaking with people about the book, the question I hear most often is some variation of, “Why did you do it? With all of your other responsibilities, why did you decide to devote so much time to writing this book?” My short answer: I hate to lose. More specifically, I hate to lose when I have the knowledge and skills to win and I lost because I choked under pressure. Despite success in amateur athletics and now in business, I have vivid nightmares from choking at crunch time.
Based on what I’ve observed and confirmation from hundreds of people I’ve spoken with, I’m not alone. Performing at less than your best in high-pressure situations is a universal problem. I see it wherever I turn—at work and in everyday life.
Now that I’ve learned the secrets of being my best when it matters most, I want to share what I’ve learned with all those I care about so you can avoid the pain of choking and experience the pure joy of coming through in the clutch.
After the question of why did I decide to write this book, the next most frequently asked question I hear is, “How and why did you get hooked up with your coauthor Rick?” (i.e., you guys are an unlikely pair to write a book together).
My short answer: providence. The longer answer is that, back in the spring of 2013, I received a call from someone seeking to write a book with leadership guru Dr. Ken Blanchard. After working with Ken for almost 15 years, I’ve heard this request many times. However, this request was unlike any of the others. I stood up and took notice.
The caller was Rick Peterson, the most renowned pitching coach on the planet. He coached the Oakland Athletics pitching staff during the famed Moneyball era. He also coached a New York Mets pitching staff comprised of All-Stars, Cy Young Award winners, and Hall of Famers. Being a former college baseball player and lifelong fan of the game, I was thrilled to be speaking with Rick. When it comes to pitching coaches, he is the pitching coach.
Mark Levy, Rick and I at spring training in 2014
Rick shared that he felt a kinship with Ken, the coauthor of the runaway bestseller The One Minute Manager. Rick highlighted how a pitching coach is the ultimate One Minute Manager. He is responsible for setting clear goals, praising progress toward the goals, and redirecting performance when it’s off track. But Rick also pointed out one big difference. A pitching coach doesn’t operate in your typical office environment. He is the only coach in professional sports who provides in-game coaching on the field of play. He must calm his pitcher down in front of millions of fans, with the game on the line, in 30 seconds or less. Also, everyone watching will know within minutes whether or not the coaching worked.
Ken let Rick know he would love to work with him but was committed to other book projects for the next few years. Knowing my expertise and passion for leadership, coaching, and sports, Ken recommended I work with Rick. When I suggested this idea to Rick, he welcomed me with open arms. So began our odyssey.
Throughout the book, Rick and I coach you to reframe—a cognitive skill you can use to quickly and effectively equip your mind and body to perform well under pressure, anytime, anywhere. I also share how I’ve applied what I’ve learned and the corresponding results in my professional and personal life. As I do so, you will see that reframing pressure from threat to opportunity is not just for professional athletes, coaches, and CEOs. It’s for all of us.
“I’ve said for a long time that positive thinkers get positive results. Learn from Rick and Judd how to reframe your mind so that you can’t imagine yourself failing, regardless of the pressure.”
—Ken Blanchard, New York Times bestselling author, The New One Minute Manager and Collaboration Begins with You
“In business as in baseball, your ability to perform under pressure can make or break your career. Crunch Time will teach you how to thrive in high stakes situations.”
—Dr. Travis Bradberry, bestselling coauthor of Emotional Intelligence 2.0
“In your high-pressure moments, don’t just try to survive. Apply Rick and Judd’s coaching and you will thrive!”
—Marshall Goldsmith, The Thinkers 50 #1 Leadership Thinker in the World
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