Extreme Balance

Joe De Sena, the founder and CEO of Spartan, a leading global endurance sports brand, grew up in working-class Queens. From a young age, he showed an entrepreneurial spirit, establishing a multimillion-dollar pool cleaning business before venturing into Wall Street and launching his own trading firm. In 2001, he left Wall Street for Riverside Farm in Vermont, where his passion for adventure races led to the creation of Spartan Race. Ben Askren is the Co-founder of AWA, a highly decorated 2008 U.S. Olympic Freestyle team member, and one of the most well known wrestlers in the United States. After being a four-year starter at 174 lbs for Missouri (2004 -2007), and a four year college coach, Askren moved back to Wisconsin to train at Roufusport MMA and help coach at AWA. David Sacks is a licensed clinical psychologist and a consultant for athletes and other elite performers. He is a graduate of Stanford University (B.A.  English; M.A. Education), where he was also captain of the wrestling team. He earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2003 and completed his psychology internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Vanderbilt University Counseling Center. As a scientist-practitioner, David has published numerous articles and presented at national and international conferences.

Preface by Ben Askren

INTRODUCTION: EXTREME BALANCE: A Paradoxical Quest

SECTION I: The Hypocritical Mind: The Data, The Science, What We Know 

CHAPTER 1: Where Salt Meets Pepper

CHAPTER 2: The Problem with Extremism

CHAPTER 3: The Importance of Flexibility 

CHAPTER 4: How Champions Become Champions 

SECTION II: The False Dichotomies: “And” Over “Or”

CHAPTER 5: Caring Deeply AND Keeping it in Perspective

CHAPTER 6: Focusing on Process AND Focusing on the Outcome

CHAPTER 7: Thinking You’re Good Enough AND Thinking You’re Never Good Enough

CHAPTER 8: Respecting Your Opponent AND Crushing Your Opponent

CHAPTER 9: Preparing for Anything AND Expecting the Unexpected

CHAPTER 10: Using Your Head AND Using Your Instinct

CHAPTER 11: Pushing Through Pain AND Pulling Back the Reins

CHAPTER 12: Being an Individual AND Being a Team Player

CONCLUSION: Sport as Preparation for Life, Except When It’s Not

Appendix: The Path to EXTREME BALANCE