Clutch why some people excel

Nov 22, Cyndie Courtney rated it did not like it. The book was a bit of a let down. I saw it on the shelf at the library and thought, how awesome! Being a veterinarian requires being great under pressure all the time, this book will be really helpful. Unfortunately the book let me down. If you pick the right anecdote you can support almost any theory. I feel like there is a lot of science out there on this topic, so its absence was suspicious.

The traits ascribed to the "clutch" individuals were largely nebulous terms that could have been useful only if more strictly defined or more clearly illustrated. For instance from the "Fear then Desire" section, I'm still not sure if you should or should not always be fearful of the consequences of not performing in a "clutch" moment or if that would take away from your "focus" or at what point exactly fear should become desire.

I felt like the author was headed in the right direction and I got the jist of what he was trying to say but ultimately didn't walk away from the book with any concrete "aha! The only chapter focusing on how to be clutch focused only on two very specific scenarios - performing in sports and dealing with financial crises. I have just read a lot of books like this like "Make it Stick" or "The Charisma Myth" where I felt like I could go out and put the book's recommendations to work in my own life right away.

A book like this had that potential, but was both to imprecise with its underlying concepts and too specific in its proposed applications to be helpful. May 21, Candi rated it did not like it Shelves: gd-book-club , While I didn't disagree with the author's view, it felt like he just selected stories and jammed them into his idea for the book after he already decided what his point was going to be.

Some of the stories were somewhat interesting, but they weren't compellingly told and I wasn't convinced that the success or failure of each example was solely due to their personal "clutchness" or "chokeness". None of the advice was very inspiring to me, and he even had to distill it down into just two areas: fi While I didn't disagree with the author's view, it felt like he just selected stories and jammed them into his idea for the book after he already decided what his point was going to be.

None of the advice was very inspiring to me, and he even had to distill it down into just two areas: finance and sports. I don't feel like I gained anything from reading the book besides one or two short stories I hadn't already heard elsewhere. One star may be a tad harsh, but I can't bring myself to give it two. Mar 30, Soundview Executive Book Summaries rated it it was amazing Shelves: best-business-books.

Clutch investigates the traits that help successful people deliver in crunch time, every time. Sullivan demonstrates to readers why even the traditional sports definition of clutch is not entirely accurate. His example of the difference between clutch and luck serves as a simple rule of thumb that leaders can use when explaining the concept to their employees. It is not difficult for executives to find the aspects of their own jobs that relate directly to one or more situations in the book.

His discussion of adaptability as a key to performing under pressure is illustrated by a recounting of the assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan. This story provides leaders with a great point to pass along to their teams: even under disastrous conditions, the focus should be on creating a direct solution rather than lamenting the present problem. Soundview's 8-page Executive Book Summary of Clutch is available here.

Dec 11, Joseph rated it liked it. The idea of thriving under pressure is interesting although the method introduced by the author by and large interviewing successful people may be influenced by survivorship bias. One can do a self evaluation based on the following framework provided by the author: Clutch means 1 focus 2 discipline 3 adaptability 4 being present 5 motivated by fear and desire while choking means 1 lack of personal r The idea of thriving under pressure is interesting although the method introduced by the author by and large interviewing successful people may be influenced by survivorship bias.

One can do a self evaluation based on the following framework provided by the author: Clutch means 1 focus 2 discipline 3 adaptability 4 being present 5 motivated by fear and desire while choking means 1 lack of personal responsibility 2 overthink and 3 overconfident. Just because it always rains when I wash my car doesn't mean that when I wash my car it will rain.

Oct 20, Kevin Eikenberry rated it it was amazing Shelves: resource-recommendations. I read it on a plane trip recently. I was hopeful based on the title, and found it like many other books written by journalists — well researched, full of good writing and good stories.

Clutch is the ability to do what you could normally do but under extremely challenging or pressure filled situations. Nov 17, Matthew Anderson rated it liked it. Very interesting book - enjoyed hearing about the Leader's Responsibility which covered the differences between JP Morgan Chase's Jamie Dimon and BoA Ken Lewis's actions and inactions during the financial meltdown.

Dimon did what he did just as if there was not a crisis, and did he stuck to what he knew, and was present in the moment. Jun 12, Dan rated it it was ok. The author is a reporter who obviously had to brainstorm to find a unifying theme in all the stories that he had worked on in the past to tie them all together into one book. That theme is "clutch" or performance under pressure.

Filled with lots of anecdotes and very little insights or data, I wouldn't say this book completely fails -- it has some interesting stories probably more so if you like golf; I don't -- it just completely fails at having any insights into "Why Some People Excel Under The author is a reporter who obviously had to brainstorm to find a unifying theme in all the stories that he had worked on in the past to tie them all together into one book.

Filled with lots of anecdotes and very little insights or data, I wouldn't say this book completely fails -- it has some interesting stories probably more so if you like golf; I don't -- it just completely fails at having any insights into "Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't" Jun 14, JP rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: anyone.

Shelves: arete , metis , non-fiction , top-recommendation. Clutch is an exceptional how-to guide for performing as well in the critical moments as one does in their best moments of relaxed practice. Sullivan makes his points primarily through stories - interesting ones - drawn from scenarios ranging from combat, to sports, to Fortune finance. The successful characteristics he summarizes are made memorable by phrases like "fight the fight, not the plan.

Aug 18, Ninakix rated it it was ok Shelves: books I was excited to read another book about Sports Psychology, but found myself progressively disappointed as the book went on. The book boils down to the advice, "Just, practice a lot in high pressure situations. And even for the principles of successful performers that he DID notice, these were too vague and obvious to even create any actionable ad I was excited to read another book about Sports Psychology, but found myself progressively disappointed as the book went on.

And even for the principles of successful performers that he DID notice, these were too vague and obvious to even create any actionable advice from. Aug 17, Kirsti rated it it was ok Recommended to Kirsti by: Newsweek. Shelves: business , cake-eaters , history , nonfiction , sports. Two and a half stars. Some of the case studies were interesting, but I would have liked more of a global perspective.

Most of them were about manly American men doing manly American things: playing baseball or golf or tennis, running a bank or a car company, selling real estate.

The author tries to bring in a female perspective but provides few examples of females who perform in the clutch Billie Jean King or who don't Michelle Wie. Nov 13, Rebecca rated it did not like it Shelves: abandoned , nonfiction , psychology. I didn't finish this book. The concept is interesting enough, but the logic of the arguments fell short for me.

The author told stories that emphasized his arguments, but it sounds forced and it wasn't interesting enough for me to try and devote the time needed to see if he was making sense or not. My guess is that he had this collection of stories of successful people and didn't know how to tie them together- so he choose clutch. Jan 25, Allison rated it it was ok. Some great examples. But stops short at providing a reader a solid coaching on practical ways to be a clutch.

We all know the theory but yet lacks the working methodology. Dec 22, Laura rated it liked it. An informative and highly readaable book on the differences between people who choke under pressure and people who are "clutch," i.

The book uses lots of case studies, many from the sports world. He's not deep or academic, but Sullivan does offer entertaining food for thought. Oct 10, Carl C rated it liked it Shelves: business-finance , non-fiction. Two and a half stars: I had some difficulty reading this one. So, I'll just leave this review as it is. Sep 22, sarah rated it really liked it. Love this kind of book--gives great examples of clutch people and defines clutch in a simple and clear way. After you read this book, you'll have an idea of what you can do to be better at those anxiety-producing situations run a meeting, public speaking, perform in front of an audience.

Jan 03, Micah rated it liked it. Interesting, but did not have me gripped. Now that I know the traits of people who are good under pressure I'm not sure I'll ever be good under pressure. Apr 24, Joe rated it really liked it Shelves: career , business , leadership , own.

Worth reading for leaders and leadership coaches. Unfortunately, the most to gain from this, namely, narcissists, pre-madonnas, and overconfident leaders will be in denial in reading this. Aug 29, Chris Mcmanaman rated it did not like it Shelves: self-help-success. I can't remember anything about this book and I just finished it a week ago.

I liked the stories Mar 11, Shin rated it did not like it Shelves: on-hold , useless. How do they do it? Drawing on new research and interviews with stars across a range of fields, Sullivan uncovers the shared traits that define clutch performers and explains how anyone can apply these lessons to become great under pressure.

A rookie baseball player who pitched his team into its first World Series. An eccentric psychiatrist who trained a group of financial traders to become the best in the world. A lawyer who struggled in school but is now one of the top litigators in America. Reviews Is clutch performance just a fluke? Paul Sullivan, in this terrific book, says no. With the deft touch of a skilled storyteller, he brings us into the minds and souls of people who come through when the stakes are high.

Clutch is the ultimate guide to understanding high achievement and to stepping up your own game. From to , he was a reporter, editor and columnist at the Financial Times.