First published by Westland Publications Private Limited in 2019
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Copyright Mukesh Bansal, 2019
ISBN: 9789388754927
The views and opinions expressed in this work are the authors own and the facts are as reported by him, and the publisher is in no way liable for the same.
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CONTENTS
Olympic Gold Quest was founded by Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone in 2001. It started operations in 2007 with the aim of significantly boosting the performance of Indian athletes at the Olympic Games. The Olympics is arguably the greatest stage in world sports, in which India is yet to tap into its enormous potential. OGQ has made immense strides since its founding, and five out of the eight medal winners in the last two OlympicsSaina Nehwal, P. V. Sindhu, Mary Kom, Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narangwere supported by OGQ. OGQ is led by former Indian Hockey captain Viren Rasquinha, and counts World Chess Champion Vishwanathan Anand among its board members.
I had the privilege of joining the OGQ board three years ago and I am inspired by the powerful grassroots work that the team does to excel on the worlds most competitive stage. As OGQ says, It takes just six grams of gold to lift the worth of a nation. Since I can think of no better platform for world-class performance, I have decided to donate all the proceeds from this book to OGQ. This will go towards supporting athletes who aspire to make a mark in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. If you would like to support Indias next-generation athletes, you can donate any amount to OGQ at www.olympicgoldquest.in/donate-now.php.
When I started playing the game of cricket, we did not have access to cutting-edge sports science, medicine, physical fitness and the technical know-how that athletes in other countries did. We also lacked world-class infrastructure and access to expertise in the various domains of performance improvement. This was one of the biggest obstacles to reaching the highest levels of performance, and we had to rely on the wisdom of our seniors and the knowledge that was passed down from experience. Today, however, things are different. Now that we have almost unlimited access to information, the differentiating factor is how one harnesses and applies the power of that knowledge. Taking performance to the next level is no longer just about having technical skill or physical fitness, but about gaining a deeper understanding of all the other elements in the mix. And Mukesh Bansals book No Limits offers just that.
Mukesh brings together his experience from the world of business with his deep interest in fitness and health to provide a unique perspective into the ingredients for high performance. He presents cutting-edge research, while laying out ideas and tools that can take you to the next level, no matter which field you belong to. Having worked with several high-performance teams and individuals, Mukesh is perfectly placed to guide readers through the journey of performance optimisation. In No Limits, he has created an enjoyable and easy-to-read resource, complete with research, stories, tools and tips to shift ones performance into high gear. In my interactions with Mukesh over the years, I have admired his ability to see the big picture. His book reflects this, presenting an integrated view of everything that goes into honing expert performance while taking the form of a practical guide for anyone willing to put the ideas into action.
I have noticed that it is often difficult to sustain high performance in high-pressure environments over extended periods of time. To remain truly consistent, it is important to find balance outside ones field of work. In fact, most high performers struggle with this, unable to switch off or give themselves a break to take care of their mental or emotional health. In No Limits, Mukesh draws our attention to the way the mind and body work in perfect synchronicity. He highlights the importance of building a repertoire of good habits, a resilient approach to failure, a strong foundation of sleep and a disciplined routine for productivity, to script a powerful and long-lasting journey of high performance.
As a coach, I see a lot of young people with the skill and ability to succeed at the game, but the ones who do make it big have something else. They have a truly deep understanding of themselveshow they react to pressure, where their weaknesses lie, when they need to focus on recovery. It is this intimate understanding of how their bodies and minds work that enables them to be consistent. I believe that focusing on hard work alone is simplistic, because everyone is working hard. What matters most is what youre working on. No Limits takes the reader beyond platitudes, delving into the science of deliberate practice, while bringing to focus the other elements required for the highest levels of performancefrom willpower and mental well-being to cultivating the right mindset and building productivity into everyday life.
My cricket career taught me that high performance is about a lifetime of dedication in pursuit of excellence. No Limits breaks down this journey, bringing high performance within the reach of readers who seek to push beyond the ordinary and unleash their immense potential.
November 2019
It seldom happens that you read a book that reaffirms your beliefs in the basics and convinces you to go back to ground zero and start again. No Limits is a ready reckoner for a life driven by high performance. At its core, it is about living a life of highest standards with a little bit of deliberate practice and conviction. It teaches us how to use easily executable hacks to reverse the damage caused by the miscalculations that we make in our personal and professional lives.
While self-help books are hugely popular, if the right ingredients are missing, they may end up becoming tedious. But No Limits is far from it. It is a well-rounded book replete with science, anecdotes, physiology, psychology and simple explanations that can guide one to reasonably choose the path to fitness created using studies, logic and practicality.
Few people emerge from their roots and become iconic and when that happens, it seems like a miracle. However, in the background, a lot of hard work and perseverance go into fulfilling ones purpose. Mukesh is an epitome of this statement. Since the inception of Cure Fit, Mukeshs purpose has remained unshakeable. He has gone all out to support the cause of a fit nation in a holistic way. He propagates all-round fitnessstarting from a healthy body to a sound mind. His pursuit of this cause is so pure that he has gone forth and committed 100 per cent of the royalties to the Olympic Gold Quest, further supporting athletes and the torch bearers of fitness and sport in our country.