This book offers a compact, science-based guide on how to achieve excellence in anything, from professional skills to recreational activities you are passionate about. Whether your pursuit of mastery involves becoming an excellent leader, writing a book or running a marathon, here you will find the ingredients to make that happen. Learn how to: - figure out where to invest your efforts, based on what matters to you; - develop your skills using deliberate practice; - sustain motivation over long periods of time; - deal with obstacles in your pursuit of excellence; - use self-compassion to recover from set-backs; - achieve flow, mastery and meaning in cultivating a craft; and much more Rich with practical insights derived from the most recent findings in the psychology of achievement, this book is the indispensable companion to everyone who is committed to excellence for its own sake.