Inner Excellence

Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life by Jim Murphy

Author

Andrew Levine
February 06, 2025

❝

Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. Master your mind, and you master your life.

— Jim Murphy, Inner Excellence

EDITOR’S NOTE
Super Bowl Book Battle: Birds Edition

If you caught us on Tuesday, you read Scott’s Book Spotlight, a nod to the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, it’s time for the Philly Special.

I’m no fan of the Eagles—they took down my St. Louis Rams on their way to the Super Bowl. But since I was born in The City of Brotherly Love (and went back for college), I’ll give them their due.

Today’s book, Inner Excellence, was unofficially selected by Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown, who “went viral” for his sideline reading stunt. Lucky for author Jim Murphy, sales of the book spiked by 53,000,000% (yes, 53 million percent), rocketing it up to #1 on Amazon.

Enjoy the book—and enjoy the big game.

But first, forward this email to an Eagles fan in your life! 🦅

— Andrew

Extraordinary performance isn’t just about talent—it’s about mastering the mind.

In Inner Excellence, Jim Murphy distills years of coaching elite athletes and business leaders into a powerful guide for mental mastery. He reveals how top performers cultivate clarity, resilience, and a winning mindset—proving that success starts from within.

This book isn’t just about performing under pressure; it’s about transforming your mindset to unlock your full potential in every area of life.

SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
The Three Core Pillars of Extraordinary Performance

1️⃣ Master Your Focus: Success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters with total clarity. Murphy emphasizes the power of presence and eliminating mental clutter to stay locked in on your goals.

2️⃣ Reframe Pressure as a Gift: High performers don’t fear pressure; they embrace it. By shifting your mindset, you can turn anxiety into an advantage and thrive in high-stakes moments.

3️⃣ Trust the Process, Not the Outcome: Instead of obsessing over results, focus on the daily habits that lead to success. Murphy explains how detaching from results and committing to the journey creates lasting excellence.

INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
From Overwhelmed CEO to Visionary Leader

A CEO of a struggling company was constantly putting out fires, chasing short-term wins, and drowning in stress. His reactive leadership drained his team and stalled growth.

Embracing Inner Excellence changed everything. He cut distractions and refocused his team on a clear vision. Instead of seeing pressure as a threat, he used it to sharpen his decision-making. By trusting the process and prioritizing steady progress over quick fixes, his company’s culture improved, momentum returned, and success followed—not from working harder, but by thinking differently.

BOOK FACTS
Inner Excellence

  • Published: May 1, 2020

  • Print length: 360 pages

  • Listening length: 10:29

  • Ratings: 4.8 Amazon, 4.3 Goodreads

Hey runners: Do you qualify for RunDot’s new research opportunity?

The RunDot Project is an annual research initiative. It helps runners reach their true performance potential through optimized run training.

RunDot athletes improve running performance 3.2x more than non-users and see positive changes in 30% less training time.

Qualified participants will also receive 2 free months of run training.

Who qualifies?

Those who meet the following criteria:

  • Train with a device with GPS capabilities

  • Have not used RunDot or TriDot in the last 12 months

  • Not a professional runner

  • Enthusiastic and motivated to reach their running goals

Does this sound like you?

NFL ON ESPN
A.J. Brown Explains His Sideline Reading Incident

CBS NEWS: THE DAILY REPORT
Author Jim Murphy Talks “Going Viral”

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