Alan Stein, Jr. is a high-performance coach, speaker, and author who has worked with some of the biggest names in basketball, including Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry. His teachings focus on applying the principles of elite sports to business and life.

The primary sources for these insights are his books, "Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best" and "Sustain Your Game: High-Performance Keys to Manage Stress, Avoid Stagnation, and Beat Burnout," as well as his numerous keynote speeches and podcast interviews, many of which are available on his website and YouTube.

On Fundamentals and the Process

  1. "Success is not a destination, it's a journey. And the journey is the fun part." (A core theme in his talks, emphasizing the importance of embracing the process). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)
  2. "The basics are the basics, and you can’t beat the basics." (A lesson learned from Kobe Bryant, stressing that mastery comes from a relentless commitment to the fundamentals). (Source: Raise Your Game)
  3. "Fall in love with the boring, mundane, monotonous, repetitive, and unsexy." (This is his definition of what it takes to master the fundamentals and achieve greatness). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. on The Jordan Harbinger Show)
  4. "Are you practicing something, or are you just doing it?" (He distinguishes between mindless repetition and deliberate, purposeful practice designed for improvement). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  5. "High achievers are masters of the mundane." (This quote encapsulates his philosophy that excellence is built on consistent execution of simple, daily disciplines). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Keynote "Raise Your Game")
  6. "Don't get bored with the basics." (A simple yet profound reminder that the foundation of all high performance is a mastery of the fundamentals). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  7. "You can't skip steps. Everyone has to do the work." (He emphasizes that there are no shortcuts to sustainable success, a lesson learned from watching the world's best athletes train). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)
  8. "Show up. Do the work. Every single day." (A mantra that summarizes his approach to consistency and discipline). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Social Media Presence)
  9. "What’s your ‘empty gym’ work?" (He asks what work you are putting in when no one is watching, as that is what truly separates the good from the great). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  10. "The best in the world don't do anything different; they just do the basics better than everyone else." (This highlights his belief that mastery isn't about secret formulas, but about superior execution of the fundamentals). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. on The School of Greatness Podcast)

On Mindset and Self-Awareness

  1. "The most important conversation you have every day is the one you have with yourself." (Stressing the power of self-talk in shaping your reality and performance). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Keynote "Raise Your Game")
  2. "Be aware of the stories you tell yourself." (He teaches that our internal narratives dictate our actions and our limitations). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  3. "Unseen hours produce visible results." (This emphasizes that the work done in private, when no one is watching, is the true driver of public success). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)
  4. "Self-awareness is the foundation of high performance." (He argues that you cannot improve what you do not acknowledge; you must know your strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies). (Source: Sustain Your Game)
  5. "Confidence is earned in practice. It's displayed in games." (Confidence isn't something you can fake; it's a byproduct of preparation). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. on The Jordan Harbinger Show)
  6. "Control what you can control." (A timeless piece of advice he often repeats, focusing on effort, attitude, and preparation rather than external outcomes). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)
  7. "How you do anything is how you do everything." (He believes that your character and commitment show up in small tasks just as much as in big ones). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)
  8. "Don't let your ego get in the way of your growth." (He encourages a humble, coachable spirit as essential for continuous improvement). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  9. "Stress is a necessary ingredient for growth." (From his book Sustain Your Game, he reframes stress not as a negative, but as a catalyst for adaptation and improvement, when managed properly). (Source: Sustain Your Game)
  10. "Look in the mirror first." (Before blaming others or external circumstances, take ownership and look at what you can do differently). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Social Media Presence)

On Habits and Consistency

  1. "Success is a game of habits." (He teaches that our daily routines and behaviors, compounded over time, determine our level of success). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  2. "The separation is in the preparation." (A mantra he uses to describe how elite performers differentiate themselves before the 'game' even starts). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Keynote "Raise Your Game")
  3. "Motivation is fickle. Discipline is reliable." (He advises against relying on fleeting feelings of motivation and instead focusing on building unwavering discipline). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)
  4. "It's not what you do, but how you do it." (The intention, focus, and quality you bring to a task are more important than the task itself). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  5. "Be a pro. Pros show up every day, especially on the days they don't feel like it." (This defines professionalism as a commitment to consistency, regardless of mood or circumstance). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. on The School of Greatness Podcast)
  6. "Your habits will determine your future." (A straightforward statement on the cause-and-effect relationship between daily actions and long-term outcomes). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)
  7. "The time to prepare is not when the opportunity presents itself." (Preparation must be a constant, proactive habit, not a reactive one). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Social Media Presence)
  8. "Small, daily deposits in the bank of excellence." (This is how he describes the process of building mastery through small, consistent actions). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  9. "Consistency is the hallmark of a champion." (He notes that what separates the best is not occasional flashes of brilliance, but sustained excellence over time). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)
  10. "What you do in the dark will eventually be brought to the light." (A variation on the 'unseen hours' theme, emphasizing that true preparation will always reveal itself in performance). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)

On Leadership and Teamwork

  1. "The true definition of a leader is someone who makes everyone around them better." (He promotes a service-oriented view of leadership). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)
  2. "Culture is what you create and what you allow." (Leadership is as much about setting a standard as it is about upholding it and not tolerating behavior that undermines it). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)
  3. "Be the teammate you want to have." (A simple, actionable principle for improving team dynamics). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Social Media Presence)
  4. "Energy is contagious. Make yours worth catching." (He teaches that leaders and teammates have a responsibility for the energy they bring to the group). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Keynote "Raise Your Game")
  5. "Communicate with passion and purpose." (Effective communication is a key tool for leaders to inspire and align their teams). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)
  6. "Great teams have a shared vision and a common goal." (Alignment is critical for collective success). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  7. "Hold yourself and your teammates to a high standard." (Accountability is the bedrock of a high-performing team). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)
  8. "The best leaders are the best servants." (Echoing the principle of servant leadership, where the leader's primary role is to support their team). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)
  9. "You can't lead where you won't go." (Leaders must be willing to do the work and embody the standards they expect from others). (Source Context: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Social Media Presence)
  10. "Celebrate the success of others." (A mark of a great teammate and a healthy culture is genuine excitement for the achievements of others). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)

On Sustaining High Performance

  1. "Success is not owned. It is rented. And rent is due every day." (One of his most famous quotes, borrowed from J.J. Watt, emphasizing that past achievements do not guarantee future success). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Keynote "Raise Your Game")
  2. "Burnout isn't a badge of honor." (From Sustain Your Game, he argues against the "hustle culture" that glorifies exhaustion and promotes strategic rest and recovery). (Source: Sustain Your Game)
  3. "The 'off-season' is where you make the biggest gains." (He uses this sports analogy to highlight the importance of periods of rest, reflection, and skill development to prevent burnout). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. on The Rich Roll Podcast)
  4. "Manage your energy, not just your time." (A modern take on productivity, suggesting that how you feel is just as important as how you schedule your day). (Source: Sustain Your Game)
  5. "Perform. Recover. Repeat." (This simple loop is his formula for sustainable, long-term high performance). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)
  6. "Are you getting better, or are you just getting tired?" (A critical question for anyone on a performance journey to ensure their effort is productive, not just draining). (Source Context: Sustain Your Game)
  7. "Passion is the fuel for the journey." (To sustain effort over the long haul, you must be deeply connected to your 'why'). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr. Website Blog)
  8. "Be a lifelong learner." (He teaches that curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning are essential to avoid stagnation). (Source Context: Raise Your Game)
  9. "Adaptability is a superpower." (In a constantly changing world, the ability to pivot and adapt is crucial for sustained success). (Source Context: Sustain Your Game)
  10. "Your legacy is the impact you have on others." (Ultimately, he suggests that true success is measured by the positive influence you have on the people around you). (Source: Alan Stein, Jr.'s Keynote Speeches)