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It Takes What It Takes: How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life

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Foreword by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
From a top mental conditioning coach—”the world’s best brain trainer” (Sports Illustrated)—who has transformed the lives and careers of elite athletes, business leaders, and military personnel, battle-tested strategies that will give you tools to manage and overcome negativity and achieve any goal.

Trevor Moawad is a mental conditioning coach who has helped professionals from all walks of life, from Ft. Bragg to Harvard Business School, the NFL to Fortune 500 companies. Moawad’s mission is clear: motivate the motivated.

Now, for the first time ever, Moawad shares the formula he has exclusively used to help these elites with everyone. It Takes What It Takes shows you how to deal with even the most challenging circumstances—and thrive. Moawad reveals how top performers hone their competitive edge by effectively managing both negativity and failure as well as positivity and success: Neutral thinking is the key.

Neutral thinking is a high-performance strategy that emphasizes judgment-free thinking, especially in pressure situations. It acknowledges that the past happened. However, the past isn’t predictive. If you can absorb and embrace that belief, everything can change.

Down-shifting your brain into neutral takes practice. But once you get the hang of it, you can go to the truth on a dime. You can deal with the facts at hand. You’ll feel calmer, more aware of the situation as it unfolds, moment to moment. And the athlete—or employee, or spouse, or parent—who’s calmer and more aware succeeds.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2020

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Trevor Moawad

2 books27 followers

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5 stars
861 (36%)
4 stars
804 (34%)
3 stars
496 (21%)
2 stars
141 (5%)
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50 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
37 reviews3 followers
February 22, 2020
Um what is this book even about except a hodgepodge of his clients best hits and a mumble on maintaining neutrality like a robot no matter what? I thought it would get to a plan or series of exercises. But it just didn’t do I bailed. I’m thankful my compulsion to read this book was satisfied by a library checkout as opposed to my wallet.
Profile Image for Danny Theurer.
260 reviews4 followers
September 5, 2020
Oh folks...I wanted to like this book. As someone who loves how Russell Wilson approaches football and life, I wanted to really unlock the secrets of the guru he considers indispensable. What I got instead (outside of a plea for neutral thinking), was a glimpse at the life of a professional mindset coach, an incredibly unprofessional amount of f-words (seemed to be the only adjective, verb, and noun of choice for this author), and a completely undefined "it".

This book is titled brilliantly. The chapters are titled brilliantly. And perhaps that's why I'm left so disappointed. They promised answers and explanations that they simply did not deliver. The points Moawad made felt lazy. There has got to be research and studies to back some of his better points - that kind of work would've truly taken this book to the next level. Trevor seems to be an intelligent and well-grounded person who deserves a chance to rewrite this.
8 reviews6 followers
February 21, 2020
"It takes what it takes" struck me as a self-evident and hollow platitude, and it fittingly turns out to be an apt title for the book.

There's nothing new here, rather an amalgamation of cliches you've already heard if you've read any of the self-improvement genre.

Also, this is a "bro" book, perhaps best read in conjunction with a Tucker Max book(?). It wasn't particularly off-putting to me, but it did detract from how serious I took the author.

What I definitely found lame was the amount of shameless and irrelevant name dropping. The author wants you to know he knows people -- and he and Russell Wilson are BFFs.

Overall, this book isn't awful, but it's far from great. There are some good reminders about filtering out the negativity and not letting the past taint the present and it's quick enough to be a painless read, Though I don't believe there's enough return on investment that I'd recommend it.

Maybe his writing/speaking style may resonate to encourage you. If it does, then I hope this book finds you.
Profile Image for Anisha.
27 reviews
June 2, 2020
Eh. One thing I liked about this book is the author did an experiment to see how he would feel if he watched a bunch of cable news, garbage reality shows, and listened to talk radio to see what his mental state would be like. Of course it just makes you a more angry and depressed human being. “Deep Work” by Cal Newport explains this better. Other than that, this is not a book I would recommend, especially since there is a lot of sports talk.
Profile Image for Cav.
825 reviews158 followers
February 27, 2024
"People aren’t defined by the past unless they choose to live there..."

It Takes What It Takes was excellent. I first heard about the author from his recent appearance on Tom Bilyeu's YouTube channel, which I really enjoyed. I was extremely saddened to hear that Trevor recently passed away from cancer. Damn. RIP...

The book is geared towards those in fields of performance; be it stock market trading, playing competitive sports, public speaking, sales, playing a musical instrument professionally, etc.
Accordingly, this book will likely fall flat with those who are not interested in self-betterment and mastery (in whatever field).

Author Trevor Moawad was a renowned Mental Conditioning expert and strategic advisor to some of the world’s most elite performers. In 2017, Trevor was named the “Sports World’s Best Brain Trainer” by Sports Illustrated. From Ft. Bragg to Harvard Business School, from elite Quarterbacks to top-level CEOs. Moawad’s mission was clear – to motivate the motivated.

Russelll Wilson and Trevor Moawad:


Although Moawad is the author, NFL superstar Russell Wilson is a central figure to this book; he even wrote the book's foreword. Trevor and Russell had both a close professional as well as personal relationship. Trevor says that they were best friends. Wilson mentions that the aim of the book is to benefit everyone, and not just elite-level professional athletes. Wilson says:
"In our ten years together, we’ve learned time and again that neutral thinking is everything. The reality is that positive thinking can work, but we’re not sure if it works every time.
...The one thing we know that definitely works is negative thinking. And it always works negatively."

The writing in the book proper gets off to a great start. Moawad writes with an easy and engaging style, that's sure to effectively hold the reader's attention. He gets personal and tells the reader about his marriage falling apart. He also gives the reader a brief history of his upbringing; his father was a motivational author. Throughout the book, Moawad mentions the messages of positivity he was exposed to by both of his parents.

Your past does not determine your future, says Moawad, and this becomes a somewhat central theme to the book. He writes:
"Each play has a history and life of its own. It’s important. It matters. You are responsible for it. But it has nothing to do with what happens next..."

And then comments on the power of neutral thinking:
"Neutral thinking is a high-performance strategy that emphasizes judgment-free thinking, especially in crises and pressure situations. It is the cornerstone of what I teach the athletes and teams that employ me. The thing about neutral thinking that resonates with so many elite athletes, most of whom are deeply skeptical of any self-help, is that it’s real. It’s true. It acknowledges that the past is irrevocable, that it can’t be changed with mantras or platitudes.
Neutral thinking shuns all attempts at illusion or outright self-delusion, which are often the foundation of other motivational systems. Neutral thinking strips away the bull and the biases, both external and internal..."

Ok, so what exactly is "neutral thinking?" Moawad breaks it down here:
"Some might call it mindfulness. It certainly overlaps with aspects of mindfulness. But neutral thinking is more than simply being mindful. It’s a quick pivot step toward swift, decisive, stunning action.
Mindfulness doesn’t care if you win.
I do.

The idea of neutral stirred somewhere deep within me in my youth. It would expand a bit as I studied Taoism and the idea of balance in college. It would become much more prominent as a facilitator of mental conditioning concepts in the battleground of the sports world. Players knew that negative thinking would hurt them, but man, they struggled with positive thinking as the only alternative—just like I did.
The actual truth is not negative or positive when you remove judgment from it. It simply is. Neutral is the harmony between two extremes, negative and positive.
Neutral thinkers remain aware of the situation as it changes from moment to moment. We give ourselves the opportunity to learn from every situation, even if the outcome is not optimal at that specific time. The next behavior remains consistently in our control...
...Ever try to go directly from driving in reverse to driving forward without pausing? Your engine doesn’t like it, and neither did your tires when you laid down all that rubber. Your brain can’t handle that transition either. The correct order is reverse to neutral, then neutral to forward."

Most importantly, Moawad stresses, is to "stop saying negative shit out loud":
"The first step to getting out of a hole is to stop digging. Sometimes it’s easier to not do something than it is to do something. Stop verbalizing dumb-ass things about your inability to present in front of a group. Stop eating white bread. Stop drinking sugary drinks. Stop watching the news if it makes you mad.
Stop saying I can’t or I won’t or it’s impossible. You want something? It starts with one choice."


*********************

As briefly mentioned at the start of this review, It Takes What It Takes was an excellent book. I really enjoyed the presentation.
Anyone interested in self-development is sure to find much value in these pages.
I liked the book so much, that I will likely revisit it, and reread it in the near future.
5 stars, and a spot on my "favorites" shelf.
Profile Image for Carol.
Author 4 books411 followers
March 16, 2022
Great premise, and excellent actionable tips. The content starts off strong. The main points come in the first half of the book. Neutral thinking makes sense when explained vs positive or negative thinking. The storytelling is well-written and interesting. However, the latter portions didn’t illuminate any new ideas.

I’d recommend this book. It’s a fast read. Skim the later chapters.
Profile Image for Brig.
Author 3 books15 followers
March 4, 2020
Positive thinking not working?
Negative throught spirals the enemy?
Insert, Trevor and his clear, accessible, and relatable perspective on every day success.

Success is built brick-by-brick. Choices are the bricks and mindset is mortar. Laying one brick, with the correct mortar, and then the next is the key. Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Again, insert Trevor and his world-class friends dropping world-class advice bombs.

I loved this book. It's going on my immediate recommendation list for people who have goals.
133 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2020
A series of cliches with a pinch of braggadocious stories binding them. Trevor Moawad seems like he could be an interesting guy, but communicates like he only has access to a sound panel of platitudes, to be repeated until you're almost convinced you've learned something new. There's almost something here, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. See, I can do it too. Pass.
Profile Image for Annette Aguilar.
10 reviews
August 3, 2021
One of my all time favorites. I have read it multiple times and each time I learn something different.
Profile Image for Brad Carl.
Author 15 books196 followers
July 8, 2023
Anyone who thinks this book is baloney is completely unaware of their surroundings and how their brain works. It's a great introduction to neutral thinking. I wish it had gone more in depth on exercises on how to practice it regularly. I might need to read the follow up book to learn more.
3 reviews
March 14, 2024
i think this book gives a good combination if actionable items and motivation albeit a bit cheesy sometimes

its odd but ive found that sports psychology really goes beyond competition or sport and these principles can really help u in life
November 12, 2021
I'm old enough now that I've read my fair share of self-help books that foster positive-thinking. I certainly know that negative thinking works--and it's never good. But sometimes I feel like getting to positive thinking when you're struggling is just... a bunch of crap! What if there is a different way? Trevor Moawad, who recently passed away, shares the foundations of his mental conditioning program which he has used over the years to train elite athletes. Firmly believing this can work for anyone, he was encouraged to write the book by Maria Shriver. I'm so glad he did. It has helped me to look at challenges differently, and to think about ways to better myself, differently.
Profile Image for Robert Rich.
372 reviews3 followers
April 6, 2022
This book ended up being a major bummer. NASCAR driver Ross Chastain mentioned he read it and it helped him tremendously, and as an absurdly anxious person, the premise resonated. But what I got were a few decent nuggets absolutely buried under 1) the author constantly name dropping and letting you know Russell Wilson was his best friend; 2) surprisingly profane passages that seemingly cropped up out of nowhere where the author decided to go f-bomb heavy; and 3) the dealbreaker passage where to test his own experiments the author subjected himself to negative stimuli including “hardcore metal rock,” completely ignoring how there are studies that show hardcore music can be extremely cathartic and is enjoyed by many well-rounded people.

If you’re an athlete or a bro you’ll probably love this. I’ll give neutral thinking a shot, but this book dipped well below neutral.
Profile Image for Garrett Wilson.
13 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2020
This book has some powerful messages. Way, way, way back in my athletic career, I never gave any credit to the mental conditioning side of things. Usually, the people I saw using it were people’s who I considered mentally weak.

I’m learning now what I wish I would have learned a long time ago...Your own thoughts are the most powerful driver behind your actions. This is meaningful for every single person, not just athletes, and not just sales people.
Profile Image for Amber.
53 reviews
April 8, 2020
Who hasn't heard of "the power of positive thinking", but this concept of neutral thinking was something I hadn't considered before. A very enjoyable read with do-able practical applications. Good stuff.
Profile Image for Katie Myers.
4 reviews
February 7, 2020
The whole premise doesn't even make sense! Russell Wilson and other great athletes - when you listen to them speak - talk positively and optimistically NOT "neutrally."
Profile Image for Kale Fountain.
7 reviews3 followers
December 14, 2020
It Takes What It Takes: Russell Wilson by Trevor Moawad

It Takes What It Takes: Russell Wilson by Trevor Moawad is a book written by a mentor of mental health (Trevor Moawad) for professional athletes like Russell Wilson. In the book, he talks about his experiences with Russell Wilson and how he helped him keep his mind clear with a growth mindset so he can play to the best of his ability. Russell Wilson battled through struggles at the start of his career like not performing the best or going through the passing of his father. Being an NFL quarterback is not an easy job. Russell talked about how hard it was to balance a regular life with his family when football was getting in the way. That’s when Trevor stepped in to help, he completely changed Russell Wilson’s career and helped transform him into the superstar he is today. Russell Wilson has credited him multiple times with the media for what he did for his career. Trevor didn’t just go as far as helping only Russell, he wrote It Takes What It Takes for everyone going through mental battles. He gives us advice, what to do in specific situations, and how to handle life positively. This is mainly for athletes so I can see how this book relates to most people and enjoy this amazing book. I give this book 5 stars because of how relatable the advice was and how I could use this book for future reference. This book is mainly for high school athletes and above who may be struggling with pressure or nerves while playing sports but, some kids can also read and benefit from it too. Lastly, people in my grade that could benefit from reading this book could be Sydney Guthard because she played varsity volleyball as a freshman, Landon Cose because he has to balance both baseball and basketball in one year, Eli Holt because he is playing football and baseball, and lastly anyone who is an athlete in our grade or Norris High School. It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad is a phenomenal book and is for sure one that I will keep around for as long as I need it!
1 review
October 4, 2020
It Takes What It Takes: How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your LifeTHIS BOOK IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE 100% SKIN IN THE GAME. It's for people who see no option or have no option but to succeed and perform at a high level every single day. This book is the blueprint for the mindset of how the greats sustainably do it. Some of the reviews on this book are unfair and I assume it's because those people do not have to continuously perform at a high level under crushing demands.
I'm a business owner and struggle with staying on my A-game (or just even keel) after going through a few too many years of life beating me down and the never-ending pressures/demands of being a business owner. I became deflated and extremely fatigued, yet was keenly aware that I was self-sabotaging and did not have a clue as to how to stop my spiraling. In 2019, I started drinking wine every single evening just to numb the stress and by 2020, I had a drinking problem that I was very ashamed of. No one around me was on my level or even in the same world of problems and stress so there was no way in hell they could help me. I needed a sustainable way of behaving, responding, dealing, and thinking about daily life while ambitiously growing my business and enjoying daily life. I've read more books than you can imagine. Some have really helped strategically with my business, but yet there I was with my sh** habits and responses to stress that were killing me and leaving on the constant verge of a breakdown. THIS BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE. I needed to learn the way people who have 100% SKIN IN THE GAME go about their day-to-day and also live fulfilling lives. I know I am the person and leader this book speaks to the most. If you have a demanding life that you want to get control of, read this book.
Profile Image for Jenel.
141 reviews14 followers
October 25, 2023
This book was such a wildcard for me. I’m shocked that I picked it to listen to and even more shocked that I enjoyed it. It was Atomic Habits meets ESPN, which threw me back to my high school basketball days. I hated the language, tolerated the NFL references I didn’t understand, and throughly enjoyed the no-nonsense mental toughness advice. There were just enough takeaways to keep me engaged. The main one being: “Negativity has a negative effect 100% of the time.” Positive thinking doesn’t work 100% of the time, but negative thinking always works. It’s a rut I need more practice getting out of.
April 20, 2023
Self Help books are simply a tool for motivation and are only as powerful the readers willingness to take action. The idea of neutral thinking is something I had introduced a year ago after reading the book and I have truly seen positive changes in achieving goals and enjoying a more positive life.

Overall a quick read that can offer an interesting perspective on how we operate in our daily routines.

“It takes a plan to achieve anything of value. When you plan, you identify an end goal and then chart out neutral behaviors that can help you reach that goal.”
Profile Image for Tomás Atilano.
64 reviews5 followers
July 19, 2021
Tremenda combinación del famoso mantra: el deporte como la vida.

Al final para ser exitoso, independientemente de cómo lo definas, no hay muchos caminos por dónde irse.

It takes disciplina, It takes elecciones difíciles, It takes liderazgo, It takes controlar tu campaña de marketing interna, It takes entender que solo lo que harás es lo que puedes controlar.

Al final, It takes what It takes.

Hermoso libro.
Profile Image for Toshya Leonard.
131 reviews
July 21, 2022
Was told to read this by my current mentor at work, and honestly, as some who doesn't like self-help/business books, this one wasn't half bad. I could've lived without ALL of the sports ball references, but I guess that comes with the territory. I did appreciate the concept behind "don't say stupid shit out loud," and the fact that he talks like a real person, not in constant toxic positivity.
481 reviews
August 12, 2022
If you are a fan of sports you will enjoy this book more than if you aren't a sports person. However, the basic principles of neutral thinking, determination, and achievement strategy resonate for everyone trying to get their life on track (or even for those still searching for the tracks). There are a lot of real life examples, which the behind the scenes peek at sports professionals is fascinating. There are also nuggets of wisdom; "A lot of times we feel as if we have choices to make about where we want to go and WHAT IT TAKES to get there.....we don't "have a choice" about how we are going to do things if we are going to STAY TRUE to the goals WE ALL made..." (pg. 73) I would recommend this book--especially for those sports buffs searching for motivation.
Profile Image for Joe.
22 reviews
December 1, 2020
I am not a fan of books that use sports as analogies, as life is so much more complicated than sport. I like that Trevor calls that out in the book. Hard to argue with the premise. Think about what you want, develop a plan, and work on controlling your actions and thoughts—good reminders but nothing revolutionary. If you like sports and want to have some useful insights packaged around sports metaphors, this is for you; if not, there are better books out there. Joe
4 reviews
July 3, 2021
Good book and important topic of how people think!
Profile Image for Avery Canter.
134 reviews1 follower
Read
March 10, 2022
ok so like it’s a good back but anyway i was forced to read this for wallace and today I MADE HER CRY omg honored

uno reverse 🤩🤩
Profile Image for Kjersti.
389 reviews
February 17, 2024
Wow, one of the most motivational and inspiring books I’ve read. Highly recommend, especially if you like sports.
Profile Image for Olivia.
20 reviews
Read
May 1, 2024
I actually really liked this book because of the “neutral mindset” Moawad talks about in here. It helped me begin to shift the ways I think about things in my life and at work.
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