Were you ever advised to “just relax” before making a big speech? Or to focus onlearning from your mistakes at work? In Overachievement, John Eliot, a rising star in the field of performance enhancement, says that these and many other traditional strategies are not only ineffective, but may actually hurt your ability to excel. Much of the conventional wisdom about performance enhancement—including visualization and trying to achieve “flow”—is simply wrong. Eliot explains the latest research into why goal setting, relaxation, visualization, stress management, and flow just don't work for most people. And he offers his own counterintuitive and unconventional concepts—“Definitely Put All Your Eggs in One Basket,” “Think Like a Squirrel,” and “Butterflies Are a Good Thing”— that will not only make you better at what you do but will also teach you to thrive on pressure, not just endure it.

Overachievement is based on Eliot's cutting-edge work with clients such as Merrill Lynch, Olympic athletes, top surgeons at the Texas Medical Center, and musicians like Dave Matthews. Mixing scientific insights with real-world stories of people who achieved more than they ever thought possible, this powerful book will help readers achieve consistent success on the job, on the playing field, or in any stressful situation.