Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness
by Steve Magness
View on GoodreadsToughness has long meant fear, bravado and hiding weakness. That said, Magness, a coach to Olympians and executives, argues that version backfires, and real resilience means facing discomfort honestly, listening to your body and choosing a considered response, which sometimes includes knowing when to quit.
Core ideas
- Space before response: The key move is opening a gap between what happens and how you respond, so your decisions are made rather than triggered.
- Backing off counts: Free-solo climber Alex Honnold retreating from a climb he wasn't ready for is his example of accepting limits as the tough choice.
- Motivation from inside: Internal motivation sustains perseverance better than external rewards, so leaders should build it through mentoring and growth, and trained attention in meditators can lessen suffering.
Published2022
Pages320
ISBN9780063098619
ReadMar 2023
