The Winning Mind

by Sebastian Coe, Jonathan Keeble

From a childhood amidst the steel mills of Yorkshire to Olympic glory and beyond, Sebastian Coe has always known how to capitalise on the moments which separate winners from losers. Great leadership is also about seizing the moment. The Winning Mind combines inspirational leadership, self-development and biography that will help nurture the qualities needed to achieve your full potential.

5 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first motivational book that I have read from a top sports star. I listened to this via audiobook, and the narration was very clear and engaging. I managed to turn the audio speed up to 2.0, which allowed me to read the book in record time. Sebastian Coe would no doubt be seeing that as a challenge! The book teaches that step by step mini goals should be undertaken to achieve the bigger goal, and that the quick-fix era that we live in is only a short term, unsatisfying method of achieving our goals. Listening to Sebastian's story, I realised that it was his Father that provided the very first encouragement, the training and the drive, and this makes me ponder whether we all need a role mode, a muse or a coach to help us achieve things. One of the most lasting things that Seb mentions, is that when you feel you have achieved your goal, and there is really no place for you to go, to perhaps try something different. When Seb realised he had reached his optimum in running, he then moved on to politics. It was a driving force inside him that he had wanted to achieve for many years. But he stated that having two focuses is not possible, and that you need to give your one goal your all. I kind of agree but kind of disagree with this. What happens when you have two very powerful drives running parallel that won't let go? Is it actually possible to dilute these down, but achieve them both successfully? I suppose the answer is in how far you want to go. But it is one question and thought that will stay with me as I pursue my writing and fashion design challenges. This was a really powerful book, with lots of fantastic messages. I highly recommend!

[Roxanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing indeed - with Coe's career as an elite athlete, member of Parliament and leader of London's bid for the Olympic Games, I was looking forward to his anecdotes and how he managed to overcome the setbacks he faced but he only addressed them at a very superficial level. The rest read like headlines he amalgamated from various management and leadership books - "Know your competitors", "Know your strengths and weaknesses". Unless you've never read a management / leadership or self-help book, don't waste your time.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed listening to this, I think sportspeople have such fascinating focus that we can all learn from. I particularly like the real life stories that illustrate the points being made - it makes it easier to understand and remember them. I’ll get this in hard copy so I can read again, underline and scribble notes all over it 🙂

[Ian Rodwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of this book is at my website:

https://workingwow.net/2020/08/09/boo...

[Jo G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this little gem in a charity shop for £1.99 - one of the best books I’ve read this year. An honest appraisal from one of the most successful athletes in the UK. Not only covering elite/professional sport, but also time in politics and administration in chairing the bid for London 2012.

Definitely recommend to anyone involved or interested in any sporting/business domain and keen to push themselves forward.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew only a little about Seb Coe before reading this book. His Olympic success was before my time, but I do remember he was a politician and part of the successful London 2012 bid team.

Whenever I heard or saw him interviews he struck me as a gentleman, calm and softly spoken. I didn’t understand how somebody who came across like that could be competitive and successful. But reading his book changed all that.

His story isn’t particularly remarkable but his mindset is. He comes across as incredibly strong willed, intelligent and focused and driven by the
tiniest of details. He talks about his successes and failures in equal measure and describes some of his lowest moments and how they drove him onwards.

He’s quite an inspirational character and one who young athletes and politicians should look up to and aspire to be like, he’s one of the good guys.

[Enhee Tsoodol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Аль өнгөрсөн оны 10 билүү 11 сард дарга ирэхдээ үлдээгээд явсан юм. Эхлүүлж орхичохоод, залхуурч тойрч явсаар өнөөдөр л уншиж дуусгалаа. Уг нь бичилт нь энгийн ухамсрын түвшинд ойлгогдохоор бас хурдан уншигдахаар ном байсан юм байна кк. Мэддэг мэт боловч анзаардаггүй зөвлөмжүүдийг сонирхолтой хэлбэрээр өөрийн жишээтэй хавсран бичжээ. Тамирчин, улс төрч хүн өөрийнхөө амьдрал, амжилт, бэрхшээл, баяр гунигийг бичсэн болохоор давгүй л санагдлаа. Гол санаа нь ер нь эзэн хичээвэл заяа хичээнэ л гээд байх шиг ...

How on earth did you get here from there?
The answer is: steadily, and with a lot of planning and hard work

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had surprisingly more running in it than I thought. He uses his running career very well as a metaphor for success in life. I was pleasantly surprised and inspired by this book.

Knowing what we now know about the IAAF (or not knowing) makes this even more of an interesting book. Coe is a very driven man. How driven?

[Owen Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great novel to read, very inspiring. since i enjoy running myself, he was a great help. the way he shares his stories of his life, his training methods and his big races in the past makes it a great book, especially for young runners.

[Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm afraid I can't finish this at the moment. I'm unsure whether it's the writing or the narrator, but I find it a little too self-congratulatory. Perhaps I will try to finish it another time, when in a different frame of mind. For now, I will stick with softer, more humble inspirational sources.

[Rhona Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some really useful life lessons in this. I’ve always been a bit sceptical about the ferocity of focus, which it takes to be hugely successful in sport, because it must cut other people out of the individual’s life. I particularly like the ‘frontier’ mind set which will be very useful.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very obvious tips: work hard, but also useful tips on how running/athletics helped focus Coe's mind.

[Ed · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's more of a text book - you can find the chapter headings and sub headings in most personal development manuals!

[Cleopatra Camacho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this book, but as I don't have the competitive mind of an athlete I have given 4 stars.

[The Wee One · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book ... never give up