What Happened When 'Winning Starts Within' Hit #1 on Amazon (And What It Means for Athletes Everywhere)

Three days ago, I hit "publish" on something I'd been working on for years.

Winning Starts Within: The 10 Pillars of Mental Performance officially launched on Friday, October 10th.

I'll be honest—I had no idea what to expect. Would athletes find it? Would coaches see the value? Would parents understand how this could help their kids?

The response has been overwhelming.

The Numbers That Stunned Me

As of Sunday, October 12th—just 72 hours after launch:

🏆 #1 Top New Release in Sports Psychology🏆 #7 in Teen & Young Adult Inspirational & Personal Growth🏆 #31 in Sports Psychology (Books)🏆 #33 in Sports Psychology (Kindle Store)

But here's what matters more than the rankings: the messages I'm getting from readers.

What Readers Are Already Saying

"I used the focus techniques with my basketball team before our playoff game. The difference in their composure was night and day." — High school coach

"My daughter read Chapter 6 on self-control and texted me: 'This is exactly what I needed.' She's been struggling with anxiety all season." — Sports parent

"The mudita principle alone is worth the price. Our team culture has shifted in just three days." — College volleyball player

"Finally, a mental performance book that doesn't feel like a textbook. My son is actually reading it." — Sports dad

These messages are why I wrote this book.

Why This Matters Beyond Rankings

Last week, I shared the story of sitting with a softball player, crying because she couldn't perform under pressure despite being physically prepared.

I wrote about the gap—the massive disconnect between how intensively we train athletes' bodies and how little we train their minds.

That gap is why 70% of youth athletes quit by age 13.

That gap is why student-athlete anxiety rates have doubled in the past decade.

That gap is why 62% of college coaches say mental toughness matters more than physical talent—yet almost no one teaches it systematically.

The response to this book tells me something critical: I'm not the only one who sees this gap.

Athletes know it. They feel it every time they choke in a pressure moment despite being prepared.

Coaches know it. They see talented players underperform because nobody taught them how to handle nerves or bounce back from mistakes.

Parents know it. They watch their kids burn out or quit sports they once loved because the mental weight became unbearable.

The #1 ranking isn't about me. It's validation that we're finally having the conversation youth sports desperately needs.

What Makes This Book Different (Readers' Perspectives)

I thought I understood what made Winning Starts Within different from other sports psychology books. But readers are showing me things I didn't fully realize:

1. "It's Actually Practical"

Multiple readers have mentioned they're not just reading it—they're using it immediately.

One basketball player texted me Saturday: "I used the BEAM focus system during our game today. It actually worked. I stayed locked in the whole fourth quarter."

A coach emailed: "We're doing one pillar per week with the team. The exercises at the end of each chapter are perfect for practice integration."

This isn't theory. It's a playbook athletes can implement today.

2. "The Case Studies Feel Real"

The three detailed athlete transformation stories in the book—the basketball point guard who lost her starting position, the baseball ace who became a closer, the volleyball benchwarmer who became captain—are resonating deeply.

Why? Because they're not celebrity stories athletes can't relate to.

They're real young athletes facing real challenges: pressure, setbacks, role changes, confidence loss, leadership opportunities.

Readers see themselves in these stories. And more importantly, they see a path forward.

3. "Mudita Is Revolutionary"

This surprises me most.

I introduced "mudita"—the Buddhist concept of finding genuine joy in others' success—as one principle among many. But readers keep coming back to it.

A volleyball coach messaged: "The mudita chapter transformed how my captains talk to younger players. The shift in team energy is palpable."

A parent wrote: "My son struggles with jealousy when teammates get recognition. The mudita concept gave us language to talk about it constructively."

When athletes learn to celebrate teammates' success as enthusiastically as their own, something magical happens: everyone's performance improves.

Toxic competition within teams becomes collective elevation.

What This Means for You

If you've been on the fence about getting the book, let me address what I'm hearing:

"Is this just for elite athletes?"

No. The book is for any athlete, coach, parent, or leader who struggles with confidence, pressure, focus, or mental blocks—regardless of skill level. The mental game matters at every level.

"Will this work for my sport?"

Yes. While I include specific examples from basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, and football, the mental performance principles apply universally. Pressure is pressure regardless of the game.

"Is it too long/complicated for a high schooler?"

Multiple parents have told me their teenagers are actually reading it—and using it. The case studies make it relatable, the exercises make it practical, and the writing style makes it accessible.

"Can coaches use this with their whole team?"

Absolutely. Many chapters include "Team Versions" of exercises specifically designed for coaches. Several teams have already ordered bulk copies and are implementing one pillar per week.

The Momentum Is Just Beginning

Here's what I know after this first weekend:

The mental performance gap in youth sports is real. And athletes, coaches, and parents are hungry for practical solutions.

This book is becoming the resource I wished existed when that softball player sat crying in my office.

The resource that gives athletes systematic tools for handling pressure.

The resource that shows coaches how to build championship culture beyond X's and O's.

The resource that helps parents support their kids without creating additional stress.

The rankings validate that the timing is right. The reader response validates that the content works.

What Happens Next

This is Day 3. The journey is just beginning.

Here's what I'm focused on:

Short-term: Getting this book into the hands of every athlete who needs it. Every review, every share, every conversation helps more athletes find these tools when they're struggling.

Medium-term: Building resources to support the book—workshops for teams, training for coaches, content for parents. The book is the foundation, but there's so much more we can build together.

Long-term: Changing how we think about youth sports development. Physical training + mental performance = complete athlete development. Not one or the other.

The mental game isn't optional. It's essential.

How You Can Help

If you've already purchased the book:

1. Leave an honest review on Amazon. Reviews determine how many athletes find this resource when they search for mental performance help. Even 2-3 sentences make a difference.

2. Share with one person who needs it. A coach dealing with team chemistry issues. A parent watching their athlete struggle with confidence. A player who knows their mental game is holding them back.

3. Use the tools. The book only works if you work it. Pick one pillar, implement the exercises, and see what changes.

If you haven't grabbed a copy yet:

The momentum is real. The tools work. The reviews speak for themselves.

Get your copy:

• Ebook: $19.99 (instant download)

• Paperback: $24.99 (physical book, signed copies available)

• Hardcover: $29.99 (premium edition)

Order here:

• Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VWg9cn

• My website: https://bit.ly/48omHb9

  
  

Launch week bonus: Order this week and email your receipt to ron@coachronmpm.com for exclusive bonus mental performance content.

One Final Thought

That softball player I wrote about last week? The one crying in my office because she couldn't perform under pressure?

She's now in her first year of law school after playing Division I softball.

The transformation happened because we systematically trained her mental game the same way we trained her physical skills.

She learned to build evidence-based confidence. She developed reset techniques for pressure moments. She discovered how to bounce back big—rising higher after hitting the ground hard.

That transformation is what this book makes possible.

Not because of magic. Not because of motivation. Because of systematic mental performance training that works.

The #1 ranking tells me athletes are ready for this conversation.

The reader messages tell me this approach works.

The question is: are you ready to train your mental game as seriously as your physical game?

Winning starts within.

Let's build your lighthouse together.