Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge – Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?: Summary with Audio

Book Info

• Book name: Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?
• Author: Ben Hunt-Davis, Harriet Beveridge
• Genre: Business & Economics, Self-Help & Personal Development
• Published Year: 2011
• Language: English

Audio Summary

Synopsis

“Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?” is an inspiring guide that translates Olympic-winning strategies into practical advice for everyday success. Co-authored by Olympic gold medalist Ben Hunt-Davis and executive coach Harriet Beveridge, this book offers a unique blend of sports psychology and business acumen. Through the lens of Hunt-Davis’s journey to Olympic glory, readers learn how to set ambitious goals, maintain focus, and overcome obstacles in both personal and professional spheres. The central question – “Will it make the boat go faster?” – becomes a powerful tool for decision-making and prioritization in all aspects of life.

Key Takeaways

• Break down goals into four layers: crazy, concrete, control, and everyday
• Focus on the process rather than just the end result to maintain motivation
• Create a team environment with shared goals and clear, mutually agreed-upon rules
• Prepare for setbacks by identifying weaknesses and developing contingency plans
• Challenge conventional thinking and be willing to take calculated risks

My Summary

Rowing Towards Success: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

As I closed the final pages of “Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?”, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of inspiration. Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge have crafted a book that goes beyond the typical self-help fare, offering a unique perspective on achieving success through the lens of Olympic rowing. As someone who’s always been fascinated by the intersection of sports psychology and personal development, this book struck a chord with me.

The Power of a Simple Question

At the heart of the book lies a deceptively simple question: “Will it make the boat go faster?” This mantra, used by Hunt-Davis and his team in their quest for Olympic gold, serves as a powerful tool for decision-making and prioritization. As I reflected on my own life and work, I realized how often I get caught up in activities that don’t truly contribute to my goals. This question has become a mental filter for me, helping me focus on what really matters.

Layered Goal-Setting: A Blueprint for Success

One of the most impactful concepts in the book is the idea of breaking down goals into four layers: crazy, concrete, control, and everyday. This approach resonated with me deeply, as it provides a structured way to bridge the gap between lofty ambitions and daily actions.

• Crazy Layer: This is where we dream big. For Hunt-Davis, it was winning Olympic gold. For me, it might be writing a bestselling novel or building a successful online business.
• Concrete Layer: Here, we add specificity to our dreams. Instead of just “winning gold,” it becomes “rowing 2,000 meters in 5 minutes and 18 seconds.” In my writing journey, this could be “completing a 80,000-word manuscript in 6 months.”
• Control Layer: This layer focuses on what we can directly influence. For athletes, it’s about training regimens and nutrition. For me as a writer, it’s about setting a daily word count goal and sticking to a writing schedule.
• Everyday Layer: This is where the rubber meets the road. It’s about the small, consistent actions that compound over time. For Hunt-Davis, it was specific workout routines. For me, it’s writing for two hours every morning before starting my day job.

Implementing this layered approach has helped me break down my own goals into manageable chunks, making them feel less overwhelming and more achievable.

The Process-Oriented Mindset

Another key takeaway from the book is the importance of focusing on the process rather than just the end result. Hunt-Davis and his team were so focused on their performance and adherence to their plan that when they finally won gold, they barely registered the victory. This anecdote struck me as a powerful reminder of the value of immersion in the journey.

As a blogger and aspiring author, I’ve often found myself fixating on metrics like page views or book sales. Reading this book has encouraged me to shift my focus to the quality of my writing process, the consistency of my output, and the continuous improvement of my craft. By doing so, I’ve found greater satisfaction in my work and, ironically, better results.

Building a High-Performance Team

While much of the book’s advice is applicable to individual pursuits, the sections on teamwork are equally valuable. Hunt-Davis emphasizes the importance of shared goals, clear communication, and mutual understanding among team members. This resonated with my experiences working on collaborative projects and managing small teams.

The authors stress the need for teams to have:

• A common goal grounded in mutual desires
• Measurable milestones
• Fair and clearly defined rules of engagement
• Deep knowledge of each team member’s strengths and weaknesses

These principles have already helped me improve the dynamics in my writing group and have given me new tools for future collaborations.

Embracing Setbacks and Taking Risks

Perhaps one of the most valuable lessons from the book is its approach to setbacks and risk-taking. Hunt-Davis and Beveridge advocate for a three-step process when facing obstacles:

1. Identify weaknesses and potential problems in advance
2. Accept that setbacks will occur and learn to move forward
3. Reflect on setbacks, learn from them, and then let them go

This approach has been particularly helpful in my writing journey, where rejection and writer’s block are common hurdles. By anticipating these challenges and having a plan to deal with them, I’ve become more resilient and less likely to get derailed by temporary setbacks.

The book also encourages readers to challenge conventional thinking and take calculated risks. The anecdote about the British sailing team’s unconventional strategy at the Olympics is a powerful example of how going against the grain can lead to success. This has inspired me to think more creatively about my writing and marketing strategies, looking for unique angles that might set my work apart.

Applying Olympic Wisdom to Everyday Life

What makes “Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?” particularly effective is its ability to translate high-level athletic principles into practical advice for everyday life. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative professional, or simply someone looking to improve your personal life, the strategies outlined in this book are widely applicable.

For instance, the concept of “unskilling your scale” – challenging your own biases and risk perceptions – can be applied to everything from career decisions to personal relationships. It’s about recognizing when our natural inclination towards inaction is holding us back from potential growth and success.

A Call to Action: What’s Your Boat?

As I reflect on the lessons from this book, I’m left with a challenging question for myself and for you, dear reader: What’s your boat? What’s the goal or dream that you’re striving towards? And more importantly, are your daily actions aligned with making that boat go faster?

I encourage you to take some time to apply the principles from this book to your own life. Break down your goals into the four layers, focus on your process, build a supportive team around you, and don’t be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. Remember, every small action that makes your boat go faster is a step towards your own personal gold medal.

Final Thoughts

“Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?” is more than just a sports memoir or a business book. It’s a comprehensive guide to achieving excellence in any field. While the rowing analogies might not resonate with everyone, the underlying principles are universal. As someone who’s read countless self-help and business books, I found this one to be refreshingly practical and genuinely inspiring.

Whether you’re an athlete, a business professional, or someone simply looking to improve your personal life, this book offers valuable insights and actionable strategies. It’s a reminder that success – in any arena – is not about sporadic bursts of effort, but about consistent, focused action towards a clear goal.

So, I’ll leave you with this: What will you do today to make your boat go faster?