Relentless

by Tim S. Grover

Read Date

April 2021

Reading Time

4 hours

★★★★☆

4/5

SportsPerformance

Summary

Tim Grover, trainer to legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, reveals the mindset that separates elite performers from the rest. This no-nonsense guide rejects "balance" and "self-care" mantras, arguing true greatness requires obsessive focus and comfort with discomfort. The book's core framework identifies three performer types: Coolers (do what's asked), Closers (deliver under pressure), and Cleaners (create their own rules).

Through brutal honesty and NBA stories, Grover teaches how to access the "Dark Side" - the relentless drive that ignores approval and thrives on proving doubters wrong. Updated content addresses modern performance traps like social media validation and pseudo-productivity.

Key Takeaways

1. The Three Types of Performers
• Coolers: Follow instructions
• Closers: Deliver under pressure
• Cleaners: Redefine what's possible

2. The 13 Relentless Rules
Including: "When you're a Cleaner... You don't celebrate your achievements" and "You trust the Dark Side"

3. Pressure Flip
Transform anxiety into hyperfocus through "selective deafness" to distractions

4. Instincts Over Motivation
Build automatic success habits that bypass decision fatigue

5. Obsessive Work Cycles
72-hour intense focus bursts followed by strategic recovery

Favorite Quotes

"When you’re good, you tell everyone. When you’re great, they tell you. When you’re unstoppable, the results speak for themselves."

"Normal is the enemy of achievement. You don’t need balance - you need passion."

"Pressure can bust pipes... or make diamonds. You decide."

Personal Reflection

Implementing 72-hour work cycles increased my productivity by 300% on key projects, though required strict digital detox periods afterward. The Cleaner mindset helped negotiate 2 major promotions, but the "no celebration" rule initially strained team relationships until balanced with acknowledgment practices.

The Dark Side concept transformed my workout regimen - focusing on "ownership not metrics" led to 23% strength gains. However, Grover's dismissal of work-life balance caused burnout cycles until I adapted his methods with recovery protocols.

Who Should Read This

Essential for:

Athletes pursuing elite performance
Entrepreneurs building disruptive companies
Executives leading high-stakes turnarounds
Coaches developing championship mentalities
Anyone stuck in "good enough" complacency