THE WAY OF THE CHAMPION

A former professional lacrosse player offers insight into the perennial human quest for excellence.

For Rabil, whom the New York Times called “the LeBron James of Lacrosse,” choosing challenge is the way not just of the champion, but of anyone who seeks what champions have in common: greatness. He begins by considering the amateur stages of a champion’s journey, which are necessarily characterized by exploration and experimentation. For the person who walks this part of the path, “the goal is to find the thing that…will eventually inspire” full commitment. After that, the individual must leave behind fear to move beyond what Arnold Schwarzenegger has called the “daydreaming” phase to goal setting and methods that include daily workouts/practice, as well as confronting setbacks with realistic optimism. The next stage is that of the professional. The freedom to play now becomes imbued with seriousness: “You have to invest more of your time, more of your resources,” and be more aware of the competition than ever before. The discipline of the amateur now becomes insanity “about the craft.” Being a professional also means learning how to work with others on a team because greatness means asking for help and letting others help make you better. “You should be able to do anything, but you can’t do everything,” writes the author. The final stage of the champion’s journey involves letting go “of attachments and expectations” and, like soccer great Abby Wambach, seek to be forgotten so that the greatness of others can emerge (“I want to leave a legacy where the ball keeps rolling forward”). Accessible and practical, Rabil’s book will appeal to anyone seeking not only to understand what it takes to succeed, but also to understand the courage, discipline, and grace it takes to become a champion. Bill Belichick provides the foreword.

Wise, inspired reading.