The Pursuit of Excellence and Legacy Creation
THE BOOK, THE POWER OF PRESENCE
Most people are under the impression they are thinking all the time and that they are doing it. But they are wrong. They’re not doing the thinking that they’re doing; they are being “thunk.” Day after day. Same old stuff, over and over. All the time. By internal forces they don’t understand, and often don’t want to. This is the bad news. The good news? It’s possible to interrupt this cycle of fatality and futility, and do something else. Like choosing yourself whether to rethink, unthink, or not-think at all. This book explores these options.
We begin to awaken – meaning see the world in a radically new way – when we begin to “observe” the thinker rather than just “be” the thinker. This is a higher level of consciousness. Here, we see that there is a vast intelligence beyond the active mode of mind, beyond thoughts, thoughts, and ever more thoughts. We also begin to realize that the most important things in life – including love, joy, truth, beauty, and hope – exist beyond thought, in stillness, in no-mind. This stillness is also our essence, our sacred self.
THE POWER OF
PRESENCE
(e.g. being in the moment)
SPORTS
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM (P.O.P.)
WIN WITH CANDI
CONSCIOUS
AWARENESS
NOT-THINKING
DECISION-QUALITY
INTENTIONAL
HOW TO WIN MORE
WITH LESS …
less effort; less energy;
less drama; less distraction;
less doubt; less confusion;
and less stress
KEY POINTS
Mind “control” is managing the way your mind works.
In sports, we know that mental conditioning is even more
important than physical conditioning.
In key moments, your mind automatically defaults to
negative thoughts that is turn create negative emotions
and negative energy.
There is a proven “calming” process that very few
people know that turns negative thinking into positive results.
Perfect this process, and you won’t recognize yourself when
it comes to consistently succeeding at winning.
The process involves breathing, affirming, visualizing,
and posturing. Master these, and you master your sport.
Introduction
Hello. I’m Walter. I am an internationally-recognized research and sports psychologist who specializes in mindfulness as it applies to functioning at a high level under pressure. I have advised business executives, the military, aspiring politicians, senior diplomats, and professional athletes. The goal is to ask people to notice what their mind is telling them on a regular basis – especially at critical times of distress – and then changing the channel themselves to one that is calm, more peaceful, and offers more clarity. With regular practice and perseverance, positive results can be had in a few weeks. A more complete transformation can take up to a year.
Visit my website: www.walterdoylestaples.com
Or send me an e-mail at walterdstaples@gmail.com for more information.
We can’t see clearly when our mind is doing all the thinking
for us. Calm and clarity can only come when we do our own thinking,
on our own terms, and for our own reasons.
Books by the author
The quality of our consciousness each moment determines the quality of our life each day. This tells us a great deal just how precious Presence actually is.
CORPORATE
“Regarding ‘Everyone A CEO, Everyone A Leader,’
Dr. Staples’ latest book, I found it ‘right on’ in its many insights, keen observations and suggested plans of action. I hope you will enjoy reading it and benefit from it as much as I did.”
– Isadore Sharp
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
“‘Think Like A Winner!’ by Dr. Walter Doyle Staples
is a great motivational book. If you want to be a winner,
you must first think like a winner. In order for players to be successful, they must first create a success mentality –
you are what you think you are.”
– Urban Meyer
Former Head Football Coach
University of Florida Gators, commenting on how
this book by Dr. Staples helped his team win both the 2006
and 2008 U.S. College National Championship.
P R A I S E from several world-renowned authorities for
books by Walter Doyle Staples
“If you’re reading In Search of Your True Self, you’ve
stumbled across one of the best books ever written. Walter Staples
has put so much wisdom and so many practical strategies for success
into his book that it could have been three books.”
– Jack Canfield
Co-Creator, the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series
“Leaders are those who have a vision of excellence and have
acquired the necessary skills to help themselves and others reach their
full potential. By applying the principles in Think Like A Winner! you
you are taking a major step in this direction.”
– Dr. Kenneth Blanchard
Co-Author, The One Minute Manager book series
“Helping people discover their richest possibilities and reach
their greatest heights is an extraordinary gift, and one that Dr.
Staples shares.” – Think Like A Winner!
– Anthony Robbins
Author, Unlimited Power and Awaken the Giant Within
“Think Like A Winner! is a scholarly motivational book. It
convincingly presents workable formulae for releasing potential.”
– Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Former Pastor, Marble Collegiate Church
Author, The Power of Positive Thinking
“Dr. Staples has written a complete manual for personal and
professional development. His book, Think Like A Winner!
will surely help many reach the pinnacle of success.”
– Art Linkletter
Author, Lecturer, and Television Personality
“If you want to maximize your life’s potential and at the same time
enhance the lives of others, Think Like A Winner! is vital reading.”
– Dr. Robert H. Schuller
Former Senior Pastor, The Crystal Cathedral
Author, Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do
“The book, In Search of Your True Self has an important message –
how to master the process of personal empowerment to help ourselves
and others live fuller, more productive lives.”
– Denis Waitley
Author, The Psychology of Winning and Seeds of Greatness
“He’s done it again! Dr. Staples has hit the major issues in personal
performance head on. In Search of Your True Self opens your eyes to
the critical determinant of happiness and success in life.”
– Brian Tracy
Author, Maximum Achievement
“Nearly everyone knows they have more talent and knowledge
than they are using. The book, Think Like A Winner! provides both
understanding and action steps that will make a difference!”
– James W. Newman
Author, Release Your Brakes!
“Dr. Staples has pulled all the magic together from a myriad of sources
and blended it in his own special style into a fascinating journey. We’ll
all be inspired by his new book, In Search of Your True Self.”
– Les Brown
Author, Live Your Dreams
“If you’re looking for the key to success, look no further. Dr.
Staples’ new book, In Search of Your True Self will tell you how
to unlock the power within.”
– Peter McWilliams
Author, Life 101 and Wealth 101
“In an easy-to-follow format, In Search of Your True Self provides a
roadmap to transform the person you are into the person you want to be.”
– Michael LeBoeuf, PhD
Author, The Millionaire in You
“GMC: The Greatest Motivational Concept in the World is a wise
and practical book interestingly presented.”
– Dr. Laurence J. Peter
Educator, Psychologist, and Management Theorist
Co-Author, The Peter Principle
ANNEX A
Stillness Exercise
Sit in a chair, hands resting on your thighs, back straight,
feet apart, and looking out at the horizon with your eyes wide
open. Begin to n-o-t-i-c-e what you see, hear, smell and feel,
including your butt on the chair and your feet on the floor.
Slowly switch your attention to yourself. Find in you the
silence that is there, calmly and quietly waiting to be noticed.
Several slow, deep breaths will help you in this regard.
As silence begins to reveal itself, what do you see and how
do you feel? As you and the stillness in you become one, return
to seeing the world in front of you. See the stillness that is
also there, and the calm and clarity that comes with it.
Now be that stillness, be that joy, be that peace
. . . be you!
“When words fail, let silence speak. The deepest
connections are forged without sound.”
—Rūmī
(1207–1273)
Sufi Mystic and Poet. His Thought and Works loom
Large in Persian Literature and Mystic Poetry
Tennis Statistics
Below are ten of the greatest women and ten of the greatest men of the Open Era (since 1975), showing how many Grand Slam finals they reached before winning their first major championship.
The Most Persistence Champions
Among the twenty all-time greats, the players who waited the longest for their first Grand Slam title were:
Kim Clijsters – 4 lost finals before first win
Ivan Lendl – 4 lost finals before first win
Justine Henin – 2 lost finals before first win
Andre Agassi – 2 lost finals before first win
Novak Djokovic – 1 lost final before first win
A striking takeaway is that most of the greatest champions in tennis history won their first Grand Slam final once they got there. Reaching that first final was often the hardest hurdle; after that breakthrough, many went on to dominate the sport for years.
Players Who Lost 3 or More Grand Slam Finals Before Winning Their First Major
Player | Finals Lost Before First Grand Slam Title | First Major Won |
Ivan Lendl | 4 | 1984 French Open |
Kim Clijsters | 4 | 2005 US Open |
Alexander Zverev | 3 | 2026 French Open |
Andre Agassi | 3 | 1992 Wimbledon |
Goran Ivanišević | 3 | 2001 Wimbledon |
Andy Murray | 3 | 2012 US Open |
Dominic Thiem | 3 | 2020 US Open |
Jana Novotná | 3 | 1998 Wimbledon |
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