Harriet Beveridge - Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?: Olympic-Winning Strategies for Everyday Success

PRAISE FOR

Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?

Olympic-Winning Strategies for Everyday Success

I know first hand the immense pressure of competing in an Olympic Games and the dedication it takes to get on the podium. This book conveys the drama, the heartache and the pride with spine-tingling detail - it will have you on the edge of your seat. The book is also packed full of useful advice, not just for sports people, but for anyone looking to up their game.

Roger Black MBE, Olympic 400 metre silver medallist.

Every Games has its heroes, but behind every celebration on the podium lies thousands of hours of hard training, relentless mental focus, and choosing to get up each morning before the rest of the world in pursuit of that something extra which just might give you the winning margin in an Olympic final. Ben Hunt-Daviss stories in Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? brilliantly illustrate the dedication required to become a gold medallist, and how the lessons might be applied more widely in our lives. Its a fascinating and inspiring book.

Sebastian Coe KBE, double Olympic gold medallist (1500m) and Olympic silver medallist (800m).

I loved it. It's a real page-turner - and how often has any management book been called a page turner?! Ben and Harriet have written an uplifting book that convinces you that anybody can improve without having to be an Olympian. It's beautifully written: no jargon, just nice, simple, straightforward English and a lovely informal, self-deprecating style. It's also very practical and sensible - the advice here can apply to anybody in any walk of life.

Harry Gaskell, Managing Partner, Advisory Services, Ernst and Young LLP.

An excellent 'Do It Yourself' organising for success book. Essential for full time winners! Personal yet professional.

Kate Hoey MP. Former Sports Minister

A truly fantastic book. Lots of inspiration from this book went into our World Championship win.

Frances Houghton, womens quadruple scull, 2010 World Rowing Championship gold medallist.

To get inside the mind of an Olympian is a privilege. To share the worries & anxieties, the camaraderie & the highs, is rare & this book gives us a ring side seat. But the real bonus is that it is all then made relevant to our lives, to our Business space. I challenge every Business woman & man in the country not to take something away from this big contribution to Business thinking.

Lord Digby Jones, Former Director General of the CBI and Minister of State for Trade and Investment.

A fascinating story of the powerful passion of one man to get to the top of his sport and the winning strategies we can all learn from his experience, whether we are aspiring to be successful Olympians or simply better managers.

Lord Kirkham CVO, Founder and former Executive Chair man of DFS.

Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? Its a simple question and goes to the heart of the matter stay focused on what youre really going for. This book by a supreme athlete - but also a real team player - can show you how. Ben is a naturally modest man but what he has to say has the authority that comes from supreme success. Listen up!

Ian McDermott, International Teaching Seminars.

As someone who has spent many years doing research on human resource management and related matters, I have developed a healthy scepticism about much corporate coaching. However, this book is a very pleasant surprise. Written in a totally unpretentious manner, it provides an excellent guidebook for individuals concerned to control and direct their own lives and careers.

Professor Ken Mayhew, Fellow and Tutor in Economics Pembroke College Oxford; Professor of Education and Economic Performance,Department of Education.

This book is an excellent repository of tools , techniques & approaches that are all about people being able to bring out the very, very best in themselves, irrespective of who they are or what they do what makes it work for me is that these have been developed and put to real use in the context of Bens great achievement in Sydney, where he & his fellow Olympians did indeed bring out the very, very best in themselves. I have seen Ben speak many times, he brings these things to life in a very personal & compelling fashion.

David Owen, Managing Partner, Consulting, Deloitte MCS Limited.

Bold, ballsy and brilliant! Whatever your circumstances, this book will help you perform to your potential. I recommend this book to anyone who has a dream.

Kate Pocock (nee Allenby), Modern Pentathlon Olympic bronze medallist.

An inspiring story that will motivate any budding athlete. The passion, tears and laughter of training in extreme endeavours jumps out.

John Spurling, Chairman of the London Marathon.

Only a very few get to wear an Olympic Gold Medal around their neck. It takes a tremendous amount of training and perseverance. In Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? youll learn how Ben Hunt-Davis motivated himself to Gold. But the real bonus in this book are the many tips presented in small bites that can help you set and stay focused on goals that are meaningful in your life. This book can help you overcome obstacles and achieve that crazy, realistic dream.

Steven J. Stein, co-author of The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success.

Ben Hunt Davis book tells the story of how his boat crew transformed themselves from also-rans to gold medal winners. But this isnt just a manual for a 2012 hopeful, it provides solid lessons on how to improve performance whether you are charting the choppy waters of an Olympic lake or planning a critical business project. Buy it for all your staff!"

Dr Richard Ward, Lloyd's Chief Executive.

An inspiring journey, thoughtfully translated into practical, everyday lessons that can be applied in virtually any situation. The book makes the point again and again that ordinary people can achieve truly extraordinary things.

Helen Weir CBE, Group Executive Director, Retail, Lloyds Banking Group.

Olympic-Winning Strategies for Everyday Success

Ben Hunt-Davis & Harriet Beveridge

Copyright 2011 Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

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For Harry

In memory of a fantastic coach and an amazing guy

A donation of 10% of profits from this book will go to Maggies Cancer Caring Centres (SC024414). In each of their beautiful cancer support centres, Maggies provide a free, professional, evidence-based programme of cancer support for anyone affected by any kind of cancer, at any point in their treatment or diagnosis. You can find out more about Maggies at: