Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?: Summary Review
This is a summary review of Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? containing key details about Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?.
What is Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? About?
"Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?" is a book by Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge that details the author's experiences as part of the rowing team that won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The book provides insights into the mindset and training that helped the team achieve their goals.
Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? tells the inspiring story of how the author achieved something pretty extraordinary: Olympic Gold. This book gives a simple, engaging account of how we can apply these strategies to raise our own game... in sport, in business and in life. Whether you are a business leader looking to achieve a compelling vision, an individual with a dream, or a coach supporting others to unlock their potential...this book is jam-packed with tried and tested methods to help you achieve your own ‘gold medal’.
Summary Points & Takeaways from Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:
* Mindset matters: The authors emphasize the importance of having a growth mindset and being open to learning and improvement. They also talk about the importance of having a clear vision and goal and staying focused on it.
* Prepare for the worst: The authors explain how they prepared for potential setbacks and challenges by simulating difficult situations during training. This helped them stay calm and focused when things didn't go as planned.
* Focus on the process: The authors stress the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome. They explain how this allowed them to enjoy the journey and stay motivated even when things got tough.
* The power of teamwork: The book highlights the importance of teamwork and how having a supportive and united team can help individuals achieve their goals. The authors also talk about the value of collaboration and communication in achieving success.
* Celebrate small wins: The authors discuss the importance of celebrating small wins along the way and how this can help build momentum and motivation. They also talk about the value of recognizing and acknowledging individual and team achievements.
Who is the author of Will It Make the Boat Go Faster??
Harriet Beveridge is a popular keynote speaker, TEDx Talk presenter, coach and a comic.
Ben Hunt-Davis is an Olympic Gold Medallist and founder of performance and leadership consultancy ‘Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?
Book details
- Print length: 277 pages
- Genre: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership
What are the chapters in Will It Make the Boat Go Faster??
Chapter 1 The Layers of GoalSetting
Chapter 2 Daydream and Make it Fun
Chapter 3 Strive for Hunger and Create Milestones
Chapter 4 The Importance of Teamwork and Focus
Chapter 5 Prepare For the Unexpected
Chapter 6 Take Risks
Will It Make the Boat Go Faster Summary Notes
The Layered Approach to Setting Goals: How Olympians Divide Their Aspirations
Olympians, the epitome of achievement in sports, excel not only because of their talent and dedication but also due to their skillful goal-setting approach. They divide their goals into four layers, each playing a crucial role in their journey to success.
The first layer, known as the crazy layer, is where they dare to dream big and set audacious goals that ignite their imagination. These goals may seem excessive and improbable, like winning a gold medal at the Olympics. However, they act as powerful motivators, pushing Olympians to strive for greatness.
To support these wild dreams, they create the concrete layer, where specific and measurable goals come into play. Converting the crazy layer goal of winning a gold medal into a concrete target, such as rowing 2000 meters in five minutes and 18 seconds, provides clarity and direction to their efforts.
Inevitably, some elements in the concrete layer may be beyond their control, like weather conditions or the speed of competitors. To address this, they utilize the control layer, identifying factors they can manage, such as their training intensity and dedication. This layer ensures they stay focused on what truly influences their success.
The final layer, the everyday layer, involves outlining the daily steps essential for achieving the overarching crazy layer goal. By breaking down the journey into actionable tasks, they create a roadmap that leads to their highest aspirations.
This layered approach allows Olympians to take practical and methodical steps towards their goals, ultimately shaping them into winners in both sports and life. It highlights the importance of envisioning big dreams, setting precise targets, focusing on controllable factors, and committing to consistent daily efforts. By adopting this strategy, anyone can elevate their chances of success and personal growth in pursuit of their aspirations.
Embracing the Joyful Journey: Achieving Goals through Entertainment and Resilience
To attain our goals, we often face challenges that test our motivation and determination. However, by infusing the path to our aspirations with entertainment and resilience, we can overcome obstacles and reach the summit of success.
The journey begins by choosing a path that entertains and excites us. Too often, restrictive and mundane approaches can drain our enthusiasm, making it easier to abandon our goals. Instead, we should seek enjoyable ways to pursue our objectives, ones that genuinely resonate with our interests and passions.
Daydreaming plays a significant role in strengthening our desire for success. By envisioning ourselves achieving our goals and savoring the emotions tied to that achievement, we build a powerful emotional connection that fuels our motivation. Daydreaming also helps to develop a rational approach to our objectives, allowing us to plan and strategize effectively.
Setting measurable milestones along the path further stokes our motivation. Tracking progress and celebrating achievements fosters a sense of accomplishment and propels us forward. Instead of solely focusing on the distant end result, acknowledging the progress we make each step of the way reinforces our commitment to the journey.
Moreover, shifting our attention from solely fixating on the end result to the process itself is crucial. Being curious about what works best for us in achieving our goals allows us to fine-tune our approach. Sharpening our attention on specific elements that contribute to success enhances our performance and propels us closer to our desired outcomes.
Furthermore, success should not be solely defined by the final outcome but by the effectiveness of our process. Embracing a process-oriented perspective encourages continuous improvement, even in the face of setbacks. By learning from challenges and setbacks, we gain valuable insights that propel us forward.
Unifying Forces: The Power of Common Goals, Transparent Milestones, and Clear Rules in Great Teams
A team's success hinges on its ability to work cohesively towards a shared objective. By setting common goals grounded in mutual desires, establishing transparent milestones, and adhering to clear rules, great teams forge a strong bond that propels them towards victory.
The foundation of a successful team lies in a shared goal that resonates with every member. While individual interpretations of the goal may vary, the unifying force lies in the collective desire to achieve it. A well-defined common goal provides a sense of purpose and direction, aligning the team's efforts towards a singular vision.
To ensure progress and maintain motivation, teams should establish measurable milestones along their journey. These milestones serve as markers of achievement, providing a tangible sense of progress. By celebrating each milestone, team members derive a sense of fulfillment, bolstering their commitment to the ultimate objective.
Clear rules for team behavior are essential to fostering a healthy and productive environment. Openly discussing and agreeing upon these rules helps avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. Team members should have a say in developing these guidelines, ensuring that everyone feels invested and accountable for their implementation.
A compelling example comes from a senior manager at a multinational bank. By gathering managers together to agree on their common goal and the plans to achieve it, the manager fostered collaboration and commitment among the team. This inclusive approach allowed all team members to contribute their strengths and expertise, leading to a successful turnaround of underperforming regional offices.
Additionally, to maximize collaboration, team members should have a deep understanding of each other's strengths, weaknesses, and habits. This knowledge enables effective communication and allows team members to support one another, optimizing their collective performance.
The Path to Success: Embracing Process-Oriented Thinking and Resilience
Achieving our goals involves more than just focusing on the end results. Embracing process-oriented thinking and developing resilience are vital components that drive us towards success, enabling us to navigate setbacks and stay motivated on our journey.
To begin, we must shift our perspective from solely fixating on the end results to embracing the process itself. By being curious and open to exploring what methods work best for us, we gain valuable insights that improve our approach. Sharpening our attention on specific elements of our journey enhances our performance and increases the likelihood of positive outcomes.
Resilience plays a crucial role in maintaining our motivation and momentum. Setbacks are a natural part of any pursuit, and accepting their occurrence is key to moving forward. When faced with unexpected challenges, taking a deep breath and seeking alternative paths are essential traits of resilient individuals. Resilience empowers us to overcome obstacles and ensures that temporary setbacks do not derail our long-term progress.
Reflecting on our setbacks provides valuable learning opportunities. By analyzing outcomes and identifying areas for improvement, we refine our approach and prevent making the same mistakes in the future. A focus on continuous improvement ensures that we stay on the path to success, even when faced with difficulties.
A powerful example is demonstrated by a rowing team that understood the importance of resilience and process-oriented thinking. Despite encountering tough opponents and unexpected setbacks, they persisted, concentrating on refining their techniques and maintaining their focus on the process. This determination ultimately led them to secure a coveted gold medal.
Overcoming Adversity: Three Essential Steps to Navigate Setbacks and Stay Motivated
In the pursuit of our goals, setbacks and unexpected challenges are inevitable. To maintain motivation and momentum, it is crucial to prepare for the unexpected and adopt a resilient mindset. Olympic champions have honed three important steps to navigate adversity and stay on track towards their aspirations.
The first step is identifying our weaknesses and potential problem areas. This process benefits from seeking input from others, as they can offer valuable perspectives that we might have overlooked. By anticipating potential roadblocks, we can develop preventive measures and contingency plans, equipping us to handle setbacks effectively.
The second step involves accepting that setbacks are a natural part of the journey. Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects, we should take a deep breath and acknowledge that setbacks are temporary. Acceptance allows us to focus on finding alternative paths and solutions, ensuring that our goals remain within reach despite obstacles.
An example from daily life illustrates this point. Imagine being stuck in a traffic jam on the way to an important meeting. Recognizing that you cannot personally fix the situation, you accept the circumstances and take control by rescheduling the meeting. This pragmatic approach prevents frustration from derailing your overall progress.
The final step is to reflect on setbacks and learn from them. Taking the time to analyze outcomes and extract valuable lessons provides insights that help us avoid repeating the same mistakes. Learning from setbacks fosters growth and development, allowing us to emerge stronger and more prepared for future challenges.
Champion rowing teams serve as an inspiring model for applying these steps. They engage in "what if?" conversations to anticipate potential setbacks, embrace setbacks with resilience, and critically assess their performance to continuously improve.
By following these three essential steps—identifying weaknesses, accepting setbacks with grace, and learning from challenges—we equip ourselves with the tools to navigate adversity effectively. Cultivating a resilient mindset and embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth empower us to maintain motivation and momentum on our journey towards achieving our goals.
The Art of Taking Calculated Risks: Unleashing Potential through Clear Thinking and Independence
In the pursuit of our goals, the fear of failure and irrational thinking can hold us back from taking necessary risks. To achieve success, it is crucial to unskew our perspective and cultivate clear, independent thinking. Olympic champions have honed these skills, allowing them to take the right kind of risks and maximize their potential.
Unskewing our scale is the first step towards taking calculated risks. Often, we tend to err on the side of caution, avoiding risks altogether due to fear of failure. To overcome this bias, we must evaluate the risks of not taking action versus the potential risks of moving forward. This shift in perspective empowers us to make informed decisions and seize opportunities that align with our goals.
Additionally, liberating ourselves from the influence of other people's opinions is essential. Society often pressures us to follow the herd and opt for the perceived "safer" choices. However, taking the same path as everyone else might not always lead to the best outcomes. To take the right kind of risk, we need to be independent thinkers and trust our own judgment, even if it means deviating from the norm.
An example from the Yingling Sailing race demonstrates the power of independent thinking. Most teams followed the strategy of trying to win every race, even at the cost of penalties. However, the British team challenged this conventional approach and focused on receiving zero penalties. This unconventional strategy led them to secure the gold, proving that a different perspective can lead to remarkable success.
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: “I thoroughly recommend this book, it’s fantastic. No matter who you are, what you do and what your goals are, you’ll find a wealth of ideas to help you make your own boat go faster.” — Dame Kelly Holmes
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in furthering your personal development, I invite you to check out my list of favorite personal development books page. On this page, you'll find a curated list of books that have personally impacted my life, each with a summary and key lessons.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
