Performing Under Pressure by Hendrie Weisinger Summary
Overview of Performing Under Pressure
Discover why 12,000 elite performers - from Navy SEALs to Fortune 500 leaders - debunk the myth that we perform better under pressure. This New York Times bestseller reveals 22 science-backed strategies that transformed IBM and Olympic athletes alike. Ready to excel when it matters most?
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Key takeaways
The Pressure Paradox: Nobody Actually Performs Better Under Pressure
Imagine standing at the free-throw line with three seconds left, your team down by one point in the championship game. Your heart pounds, palms sweat, and suddenly the basket seems impossibly small. We've all experienced moments where everything rides on our performance. The groundbreaking revelation in "Performing Under Pressure" is that nobody-not even elite performers-actually does better under pressure. The difference between champions and everyone else isn't some superhuman ability to thrive when stakes are high. It's their capacity to minimize pressure's harmful effects. Based on a comprehensive study of 12,000 individuals, this counterintuitive finding challenges our cultural mythology about "clutch performers." Warren Buffett keeps this book on his desk for good reason-it reveals that success under pressure isn't about becoming superhuman but about managing pressure more effectively than those around you. In our hyper-connected world where pressure moments arrive with increasing frequency, understanding this distinction becomes crucial. The true goal isn't learning to love pressure but developing strategies to prevent it from hijacking your natural abilities when it matters most.
Stress vs. Pressure: The Critical Distinction
The Perfect Storm: Why Pressure Moments Feel So Overwhelming
The Mechanics of Choking: How Your Brain Betrays You
Hidden Pressure Traps: When Motivation Backfires
Immediate Pressure Solutions: Tools for Your Next High-Stakes Moment
Building Your COTE of Armor: Long-Term Pressure Immunity
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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