Getting to Neutral by Trevor Moawad and Andy Staples Summary
Overview of Getting to Neutral
In "Getting to Neutral," mental conditioning coach Trevor Moawad reveals how elite athletes and CEOs overcome adversity through neutral thinking. Endorsed by Ciara and written during his own cancer battle, this Wall Street Journal bestseller offers the mindset that transformed Russell Wilson's NFL career.
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Key takeaways
The Power of Neutral Thinking: A Mental Game-Changer
When Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception returned for a touchdown in the first 81 seconds of a 2020 game against the Patriots, he didn't panic or spiral into negativity. He simply moved on to the next play. This wasn't "bouncing back" - because he never "bounced away" in the first place. This exemplifies neutral thinking, a revolutionary mental approach developed by Trevor Moawad, one of the most influential mental conditioning coaches in sports who worked with elite performers like Wilson, Nick Saban's Alabama dynasty, and special operations military units before his death from cancer in 2021. Unlike traditional positive thinking that can feel forced or inauthentic, neutral thinking offers a practical alternative that resonates with elite performers who find "just be positive" advice ineffective. It's about stripping away emotional reactions and focusing solely on what's factually true and what you can control. When you're down by 10 points with two minutes left, positive thinking says "we can win this!" while negative thinking says "we're doomed." Neutral thinking simply asks: "What's the next best move to improve our position?" Think about the last time you faced a significant setback. Did you waste energy on self-criticism or wishful thinking? What if instead, you had immediately shifted your focus to the concrete next step that would move you forward? This is the power of neutral thinking - it frees you from emotional baggage and positions you to take effective action regardless of circumstances.
Beyond Positive Thinking: Finding the Middle Path
Taking the Next Right Step: Action Over Anxiety
Values as Your Compass: Finding Direction in Chaos
Behaving Your Way to Success: The Habit Revolution
Protecting Your Mental Energy: Escaping the Negativity Trap
The Journey Continues: Building Your Support Team
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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