CHAMPION UNLEASHED

A self-help book about how to live like a champion by altering one’s mindset, language, and goals.

Debut author Moore has plenty to say about suffering setbacks in life, which for her have included breast cancer, divorce, and failed entrepreneurship. But despite these obstacles—in fact, because of them, she says—she’s discovered and implemented what she characterizes as valuable “champion principles” of success. In six chapters, she urges readers to “Clear out the junk [in your mind], seek the company of people who can propel you forward, drop the excuses, and shift your perspective,” as well as commit to your endeavors and “program your mental GPS” to take you where you want to go in life. She shares insights and practical counsel for applying these principles, often drawing on her personal experience and including several Christian references. She ends each chapter with a short list of “action steps” to take in order to think, speak, commit, and so on, like a champion. The book concludes with a short and spirited “Champion Manifesto” and a collection of motivational quotes, many of which highlight the potential value of failure. Moore’s “champion” theme initially comes off as corny (“Your inner champion is in there…just waiting to be unleashed. Let’s go find that champion!”), but she embraces it in a way that eventually ends up feeling quite motivating. Her prose style portrays her as a tenacious, rousing coach, seasoned in the game of life and adamant about helping others, and in this book, she’s not afraid to be blunt when necessary. Some of the advice here is too clichéd (“Own your fear”) or vague (“Decide to change your perspective…take the necessary actions to adjust”) to be especially helpful. However, most of it is constructive and original, or at least presented in a fresh way, as in such lines as “You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with” and “When the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count!”

A perky, if occasionally trite, pep talk that often motivates and informs.