NEW FROM HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW PRESS

“I absolutely love this book! … Mike draws on the latest research and his own coaching practice to explain why we care so much about what other people think of us and what to do about it.”

ANGELA DUCKWORTH, PhD

  • Best Selling Author of Grit
    Co-founder The Character Lab

The First Rule Of Mastery Book

“Whether the pursuit of being your best is in business, parenting, or sports, Michael Gervais’ First Rule of Mastery helps us place attention on those elements within our control rather than wasting focus and energy on those we cannot.”

SATYA NADELLA

  • CEO of Microsoft

Available Nov 7, 2023

Have you ever had a great idea in a meeting but didn’t raise your hand? Stopped yourself from speaking your truth because you were afraid of the consequences? Dressed to fit in and conform rather than express yourself?

Have you ever chased the dreams of others rather than your own?

That’s FOPO, our fear of people’s opinions. A psychological process so deeply engrained in everyday life that we don’t see it—and the consequences are great. FOPO is the water we swim in. The air we breathe. It’s everywhere and informs everything we do: the careers we choose, the cars we drive, the relationships we have, the risks we take or don’t take… the possibilities that we hold for ourselves.

If you feel like you’re on a treadmill seeking other people’s approval, ‘The First Rule of Mastery’ is an off-ramp to a better life.

INTRODUCING

THE FIRST RULE OF MASTERY

The First Rule Of Mastery Book

In The First Rule of Mastery, Gervais shows us the key to leading a high-performance life is to redirect our attention from the world outside us to the world inside us. He reveals the mental skills and practices we need to overcome FOPO—the same skills he’s taught to the top performers in the world including sports MVPs, world-renowned artists and musicians, and Fortune 50 leaders and teams.

Filled with fascinating stories from the worlds of sports and business, leading-edge science, and insights from the frontier of human performance, The First Rule of Mastery is a much-needed wake-up call that when we give more value to other people’s opinions than our own, we live life on their terms, not ours.

“The First Rule of Mastery brilliantly teaches us to focus on who we genuinely want to be, not on who we imagine others believe we are. This book is a masterclass on looking inward to determine our own value. Thrilled that this book is available to the world!”

APOLO OHNO

8x Olympic Medalist

Misty Copeland

“As a ballet dancer who has dealt with her fair share of criticism, I wholeheartedly recommend The First Rule of Mastery. With each page, Michael Gervais gently guides us toward a liberating realization: our worth is not defined by the judgements and opinions of others, but by our own self-awareness, passion, and commitment to our craft.”

MISTY COPELAND

Principal Dancer
American Ballet Theatre

“The First Rule of Mastery eloquently and convincingly shares modern insights and timeless wisdom to free oneself from the Fear of Other People’s Opinions (FOPO) so that we can explore our potential, expand our contributions in life, and do so in service of others. The evidence-backed perspective prompts self-reflection and enables action through a practical toolbox for application in the real world.”

BRADY BREWER

Executive Vice President
Starbucks Coffee Company

About
the Author

Michael Gervais, PhD

Dr. Gervais is one of the world’s top high-performance psychologists and leading experts on the relationship between the mind and human performance. He has spent his career helping the best of the best across the worlds of business, sports, the arts, and science when they need to achieve the extraordinary. His clients include world record holders, Olympians, internationally acclaimed artists and musicians, MVPs from every major sport and Fortune 100 CEOs.

He is the founder of Finding Mastery, a high-performance psychology consulting agency that helps individuals and innovative companies solve the most dynamic human performance challenges through mindset training. Dr. Gervais is also the host of the Finding Mastery Podcast and the co-creator of the Performance Science Institute at USC.

PRE-ORDER THE BOOK NOW

(PURCHASE A HARDCOVER COPY AND FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO GET YOUR BONUSES)

THE FIRST RULE BONUSES

PRE-ORDER

1 BOOK

AND GET

  • The High Performance Mindset training module from the Finding Your Best course
  • Dr. Mike’s Daily Meditation audio downloads
  • Exclusive access to the LIVE Virtual Book Launch event with Dr. Michael Gervais in November!
  • An entry for a chance to win a 1-on-1 session with Dr. Gervais! (see full Contest Rules below. Only 1 entry per person)

PRE-ORDER

3 BOOKS

AND GET

  • All of the above, plus:
  • Access to an exclusive LIVE Virtual Podcast Taping with Dr. Michael Gervais

PRE-ORDER

10 BOOKS

AND GET

  • All of the above, plus:
  • A free (1) person access to the Finding Your Best course ($499 value) – use it yourself, gift it to a teammate, or share with someone you love.

ORDER FOR YOUR TEAM OR ORGANIZATION

Elevate the performance of your entire team by sharing copies and activating The First Rule of Mastery inside your organization.

Discounted pricing is available for purchases of 11 or more copies.

Contact booksales@findingmastery.net for more information.

PRE-ORDER from your
favorite bookseller

HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR PRE-ORDER BONUS

Pre-order your hardcover book(s) from any of your favorite retailers below.

Fill out the form below with your order confirmation.

Book Pre-order Form

Book Pre-order form

Get your pre-order bonuses.

Check your inbox for an email from us with your exclusive bonuses.

Kerri Walsh Jennings

“It’s wild how much we each allow FOPO to shape our days, our confidence and ultimately, the space we take up in the world. This book is an indispensable roadmap to self mastery for us all.”

KERRI WALSH JENNINGS

5X OLYMPIAN AND 4X MEDALIST

Kathleen Hogan

“The First Rule of Mastery brilliantly articulates how to navigate the challenges of FOPO (Fear Of People’s Opinions). Gervais’s insights make it an essential read for leaders seeking to inspire a culture of learning over external validation.”

KATHLEEN HOGAN

EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer of Microsoft

Julie Foudy

“I so wish I had read this book earlier in my life. This is absolutely a game changer for anyone looking to become their very best self, and most important, their happiest self—in a world that desperately needs us to be both.”

JULIE FOUDY

2X FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CHAMPION AND 2X OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST

RULES FOR CONTEST:
Each The First Rule of Mastery book pre-purchase will provide the purchaser with the opportunity to submit one (1) entry to the contest through the online form provided on this web page. No purchase is necessary to enter the contest. Only one contest entry per purchaser, regardless of the number of books purchased. To enter the contest without pre-ordering, send an email to booksales@findingmastery.net and include your name and “coaching session giveaway” in the subject and body of the email. By sending an email to enter the contest, you will receive one (1) entry into the contest and you are consenting to subscribing to Finding Mastery’s email newsletter and other marketing communications. The contest starts July 10, 2023 and ends November 6, 2023. The contest winner will receive one (1) one-on-one 45-minute, virtual coaching session with Dr. Michael Gervais.
The contest winner will be chosen by random draw on November 7, 2023. Contest winner will be notified by email to the email address provided on entry. Any winner that doesn’t respond within one week of being notified will forfeit their prize and a new winner will be selected. Offer only valid for US Residents. Void where prohibited. Contest sponsor is Finding Mastery Inc. (“Finding Mastery”). Contest question can be directed to Finding Mastery at info@findingmastery.net.