It Takes What It Takes

How To Think Neutrally And Gain Control of Your Life

by Trevor Moawad, Andy Staples

4.6(1,688 ratings)

14 min read

Brief overview

This book shows how adopting a neutral mindset can transform how you handle pressure, setbacks, and success. Using vivid examples from sports and everyday life, it provides practical methods to acknowledge reality and act decisively without getting trapped in negative or overly positive thinking. You’ll learn how to stay calm in chaotic times and channel that stability toward achieving meaningful personal and professional goals.

A New Way To Think

Have you ever found yourself feeling stuck between negative self-talk and forced positivity? Neutral thinking offers another way. It’s a perspective that helps you see what’s really happening and respond to it constructively. By skipping the extremes, you focus on what can be done right now rather than judging the past or worrying about the future. This approach encourages you to accept reality without letting it crush your motivation. There’s no pretending; mistakes or setbacks aren’t denied. Instead, you acknowledge them, then pivot your attention to the next move. This is vital in high-pressure situations, whether that’s leading a sports team or facing a personal crisis. Neutral thinking gained traction as elite coaches sought methods to help players remain calm and productive when everything was on the line. Instead of hoping for good outcomes or obsessing over what went wrong, athletes learned to anchor themselves in the step-by-step tasks that shape their performance.

Getting to this balanced mindset requires intentional practice. Each moment is treated like its own challenge, defined by the question: “What do I do now?” The past can’t be changed. The future is unwritten. By focusing on what’s truly in your sphere of control, you develop resilience without ignoring harsh truths.

In everyday life, neutral thinking helps you handle the unexpected. It might be a career setback, relationship strain, or daily stress. Regardless of the context, you learn to spot the facts, accept them, and advance with constructive actions, rather than dwelling on fears or self-criticism. This shift empowers you to bring your best to each day’s challenges.

A neutral mindset sees events clearly, then uses that clarity to act effectively.

Why Negativity Is So Potent

Our minds are wired to respond more intensely to negativity than to positivity. That’s why one critical comment can overshadow a bunch of compliments, and why bad news commands so much of our attention. Unfortunately, we often add to this negativity by replaying regrets and speaking in defeatist ways. This cycle can wear us down, making challenges seem insurmountable. Instead of fueling productive behaviors, negative self-talk amplifies doubts, drains energy, and can push us to give up prematurely. Loyalty to brutal realism or ‘tough love’ can be a mask for hopelessness if we dwell endlessly on what’s going wrong.

In competitive settings—like professional sports—negativity can be especially damaging. Athletes who fixate on one bad play may lose focus for the rest of the game. In everyday life, the same principle applies. A single setback at work or a rough conversation with a friend can unravel your confidence if you let the negativity linger.

Neutral thinking breaks this pattern. You still notice obstacles and disappointments, but you don’t fuel them with your words or repeatedly dwell on them. You replace “I messed up again” with “I missed that chance, now here’s the next step.” With calm, accurate language, you keep negativity from dominating your mindset.

We can’t always avoid negative news, but we can choose how much power we give it.

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What is It Takes What It Takes about?

"It Takes What It Takes: How To Think Neutrally And Gain Control of Your Life" by Trevor Moawad with Andy Staples introduces readers to the transformative concept of neutral thinking. The book emphasizes the importance of adopting a mindset that neither leans excessively on optimism nor succumbs to pessimism. By embracing neutral thinking, individuals are better equipped to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and maintain composure during life’s unpredictable moments.

This book resonates with anyone who finds themselves grappling with stress, negativity, and other emotional barriers. Through insightful examples drawn from the realms of professional sports and everyday life, the authors demonstrate how neutral thinking can empower individuals to achieve personal and professional success. By acknowledging reality without getting trapped in self-doubt or false hope, readers can cultivate a balanced perspective that enhances resilience and decision-making.

Moawad's work is a refreshing take on mental conditioning, especially in a world where conventional positive thinking often falls short. By steering away from polar extremes, "It Takes What It Takes" provides readers with the tools to craft deliberate actions grounded in clarity, making it a quintessential read for those eager to transform their mindset and life outcomes.

Review of It Takes What It Takes

"It Takes What It Takes" shines as a beacon for individuals seeking to overcome mental barriers and embrace a more balanced approach to life's challenges. One of the book's key strengths lies in its presentation of neutral thinking as a viable middle ground between positive and negative mindsets. Moawad adeptly outlines practical steps readers can take to bypass emotional extremes, thus enabling more effective decision-making in both personal and professional realms.

The authors elucidate this concept through vivid anecdotes from sports and real-life scenarios, making the theoretical principles accessible and relatable. The book dispels the myth that emotions must dominate responses, teaching readers how to assess situations with a clear head and decisive action. As such, it's particularly beneficial for those accustomed to letting past setbacks or fear of the future dictate their present actions.

The writing style is engaging yet straightforward, forgoing complex jargon for clarity and practical advice. The inclusion of real-world examples makes it suitable for a diverse readership, including athletes, professionals, and everyday individuals striving for better mental clarity. Moawad's emphasis on actionable steps ensures that readers leave with not just understanding but also strategies they can implement immediately.

Ultimately, "It Takes What It Takes" is a masterclass in mental resilience, highly recommended for anyone willing to challenge their habitual thought processes and conditions. By adopting neutral thinking, readers can unlock new levels of potential and satisfaction in their pursuits.

Who should read It Takes What It Takes?

**Athletes and Coaches:** When competing at high levels, the mental game is as important as the physical. This book offers strategies to regulate emotions and enhance performance.
**Leaders and Managers:** Executives and team leaders can benefit from neutral thinking to make balanced decisions, especially in high-pressure environments.
**Students and Academics:** Academic pressures can lead to stress and overwhelm. By learning neutral thinking, students can improve focus and stay calm during exams.
**Mental Health Advocates:** Professionals supporting others' mental well-being can find valuable insights into how neutral thinking can improve overall psychological health.
**Self-Improvement Enthusiasts:** Individuals aiming to boost personal growth will appreciate the actionable mindset strategies for handling emotional swings and setbacks.

About the author

Trevor Moawad is a renowned mental conditioning coach who has worked with elite athletes, business leaders, and military personnel. He is the President of Moawad Consulting Group and the CEO and co-founder of Limitless Minds. Moawad has been part of eight national championship games and has supported the U.S. Special Operations community, Major League Baseball, the NBA, UFC, and many other elite professionals. He has been featured in various media outlets, including Sports Illustrated, USA Today, ESPN, Fox Sports, and NPR. Andy Staples is a writer who has covered college football for Sports Illustrated since 2008 and hosts Playbook weekdays on SiriusXM Channel 84. Together, they present a no-nonsense approach to personal development, emphasizing the concept of neutral thinking to achieve success.