A master class in achieving and sustaining excellence, even in the most challenging of times―from the host of The Learning Leader Show and author of Welcome to Management Millions of business professionals aspire to become effective leaders. But for hardworking, growth-oriented top performers who are always looking to improve and for rigorous thinkers who are never quite satisfied with the status quo, the true goal is the lifelong pursuit of excellence . Leadership advisor Ryan Hawk has interviewed hundreds of the most productive achievers in the world on his acclaimed podcast, The Learning Leader Show , to discover the best practices for pursuing and sustaining excellence. He found a pattern of uncommon behaviors that set these stellar individuals apart. By following their examples, you will learn how to: Commit to yourself and the process―and build purpose, focus, and discipline - Develop resilience to face new challenges―and find inspiration for the long haul - Seek guidance―and lead others to new heights - Meet the moment―and make the most of every opportunity to excel - Create a trusted group of advisors―and become a lifelong learner Packed with specific actions to take, experiments to run, and tools to analyze what works best for you, this uncompromisingly practical guide will inspire, challenge, support, and empower you to become your very best. Put mindsets into action and turn behaviors into habits with The Pursuit of Excellence . "Ryan Hawk is one of the most impressive leaders and teachers of leaders in the world. . . .This book is an absolute must-read if you care to live an excellent life." —from the Foreword by Patrick Lencioni , New York Times bestselling author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Advantage "Ryan Hawk's curiosity and work ethic has led him to uncover the uncommon behaviors of the world’s greatest leaders. This book reverse engineers excellence in ways that will inform and inspire." —Daniel H. Pink , New York Time s bestselling author of When , Drive , and A Whole New Mind "Ryan Hawk's pursuit of excellence raises the standards of all those he encounters. As he strives for excellence, he brings out the best in others. This book will bring out the best in you. Read it!" — Jon Gordon , Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Training Camp and The Energy Bus " The Pursuit of Excellence is not just interesting, or inspiring, it will literally change your life. Filled with fascinating examples and practical advice for how to approach your career differently, this book is a must-read. I highly recommend it." — Erin Meyer , Professor of Management Practice at INSEAD and New York Times bestselling coauthor of No Rules Rules "This book is fire. I can't stop reading it. I'm going to buy one for all our new hires." — Bert Bean , CEO of Insight Global "This is an outstanding read on everything that goes into excellence. Ryan delivers real, practical, and profound insights into the pursuit of a standard of excellence in our lives and work. The anecdotes are fascinating and speak to the years of his detailed study of high-achieving people, as well as his own pursuit of this standard. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to more of Ryan's work." — Chris Holtmann , Head Coach of the Ohio State University Men's Basketball Team "Ryan Hawk has led teams on the football field, in the boardroom, and while working with senior leaders in corporate America. He's learned how to build trust, take action, and get results. If you want to do the same, read this book!" — Joel Peterson , Chairman of JetBlue Airways and author of The 10 Laws of Trust "Ryan Hawk conducted one of the most thoughtful interviews I've ever had. He probed for ideas that are down to earth and practical for all." — Jeff Immelt , former CEO of GE and author of Hot Seat "Ryan Hawk is a master of dualities: He's a great leader, but also a ferocious learner. He's an accomplished athlete, but he's also excelled in the business world. He's eminently interesting, but he's also genuinely interested. Ryan has uncovered the secrets of what the best leaders do and how they think. Do yourself and your team a favor and read this book." — Liz Wiseman , New York Times bestselling author of Multipliers and Rookie Smarts "Ryan Hawk is someone who points the way, illustrating how you can't lead a team or a company until you first learn to lead yourself. He offers inspiring and practical advice based on his lessons as a sports and business athlete and shares insights he’s learned from others along the way." — Beth Comstock , former Vice Chair of GE and bestselling author of Imagine It Forward "Ryan Hawk is that rarest of people—a truly curious soul who asks questions that drill down into the heart of the matter, leave space for contemplation, and gently urge his subjects to look inside for answers they might not yet have discovered themselves." — R