Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim S. Grover (Scribner, April 16, 2013)

Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable

by Tim S. Grover (Scribner, April 16, 2013)

Legendary trainer Tim Grover (who worked with icons like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade) breaks down what separates the elite from everyone else. He classifies people into three levels of competitiveness:

• Coolers — They play it safe, follow the lead of others, and are simply "good."
• Closers — They perform well under pressure and can deliver big moments, but they still need some guidance or structure; they're "great."
• Cleaners — The relentless dominators who thrive in chaos, ignore distractions like emotions or fear of failure, and control the uncontrollable to become truly "unstoppable."

The book is packed with raw, untold stories from the world of elite athletics, emphasizing total commitment, embracing discomfort, and entering the "zone" where instinctive peak performance takes over. Grover's style is blunt and direct: anything short of full relentlessness keeps you stuck at "good" or "great"—never unstoppable.

At the core of the book are The Relentless 13 — the essential traits shared by Cleaners (the highest level). Grover labels every single one as "#1" because none ranks above another; they all work together to create that unstoppable edge. While the exact phrasing comes from the book (and each gets its own chapter), here are the 13 specific traits:

1. You keep pushing yourself harder when everyone else has had enough. (You finish what others quit.)
2. You get into the Zone, shut out everything else, and control the uncontrollable. (Instinct takes over; no overthinking.)
3. You know exactly who you are. (Unshakable self-awareness and confidence.)
4. You have a dark side that refuses to be denied. (You harness inner intensity, anger, or drive without apology.)
5. You’re not intimidated by pressure; you thrive on it. (Pressure is fuel, not a threat.)
6. You don’t compete with anyone; you make them compete with you. (You set the standard and force others to chase.)
7. You have an obsessive need for results. (End results matter more than anything else.)
8. You’d rather be feared than liked. (Respect through dominance over popularity.)
9. You trust your instincts over what anyone tells you. (No second-guessing; you know.)
10. You finish what you start, no excuses. (Completion is non-negotiable.)
11. You adapt and adjust instantly to any situation. (Chaos doesn't faze you; you control it.)
12. You hate losing more than you love winning. (Failure fuels you harder than victory.)
13. You demand more of yourself than anyone else could ever demand. (Your standards are unrelenting and self-imposed.)

These traits aren't always pretty or balanced—they demand sacrifice and intensity—but Grover argues they're what turn the best into the absolute best. The book challenges you to recognize these in yourself (or develop them) if you want to go beyond great.

If you're serious about peak performance in sports, business, or any high-stakes pursuit, Relentless is a no-nonsense wake-up call. Highly recommended for anyone tired of "good enough."