Joe De Sena, the founder and CEO of Spartan, a leading global endurance sports brand, grew up in working-class Queens. From a young age, he showed an entrepreneurial spirit, establishing a multimillion-dollar pool cleaning business before venturing into Wall Street and launching his own trading firm. In 2001, he left Wall Street for Riverside Farm in Vermont, where his passion for adventure races led to the creation of Spartan Race.

Preface by Ben Askren

INTRODUCTION: EXTREME BALANCE: A Paradoxical Quest

SECTION I: The Hypocritical Mind: The Data, The Science, What We Know

CHAPTER 1: Where Salt Meets Pepper

CHAPTER 2: The Problem with Extremism

CHAPTER 3: The Importance of Flexibility

CHAPTER 4: How Champions Become Champions

SECTION II: The False Dichotomies: “And” Over “Or”

CHAPTER 5: Caring Deeply AND Keeping it in Perspective

CHAPTER 6: Focusing on Process AND Focusing on the Outcome

CHAPTER 7: Thinking You’re Good Enough AND Thinking You’re Never Good Enough

CHAPTER 8: Respecting Your Opponent AND Crushing Your Opponent

CHAPTER 9: Preparing for Anything AND Expecting the Unexpected

CHAPTER 10: Using Your Head AND Using Your Instinct

CHAPTER 11: Pushing Through Pain AND Pulling Back the Reins

CHAPTER 12: Being an Individual AND Being a Team Player

CONCLUSION: Sport as Preparation for Life, Except When It’s Not

Appendix: The Path to EXTREME BALANCE