Introduction

Can you tie your shoes?  

Of course you can!  How hard do you have to try to tie your shoes?  You’re probably thinking, “What?  I don’t even have to think about it.  I just do it!”  That’s right.  It has become a habit—something that is now a natural and effortless process.

But wasn’t there a time when you didn’t know how to tie your shoes—a time when you really did have to think about the whole process?  Of course there was.  

We all went through this learning process.  Even Einstein wasn’t born with the ability to do something as simple as tying his shoes.  None of us were simply born with this skill.  We’ve all had to learn the process on our own.  Nobody could do it for us.

If you think about it, anything we do well today, we learned through repetition.  Once we’ve learned the techniques, and what is required, all we have to do is practice until we become good at it.  Just like riding a bike, for example—something we don’t need to think about anymore!

Well, after reading countless books and interviewing hundreds of people, I’ve discovered something interesting.  I found that the most successful people in the world are not necessarily the most talented or most gifted.  Instead, they became the best at what they do because they chose to be excellent.

Just like we’re driven to learn to tie our shoes or ride a bike, these individuals were driven to master the process of success.  They learned certain techniques and information that have enabled them to be the best they can be.

Michael Jordan wasn’t born with a basketball in his hands.  In fact, he didn’t even make the cut for his high school basketball team!  But through repetition, he continued to take the time to practice and learn the skills he needed to be the best.  Donald Trump didn’t know how to buy a piece of property the moment he came out of the womb.  Julia Roberts didn’t just waltz into Hollywood.  She worked hard to build her skills and reputation.  Are you beginning to recognize the trend here?

Extraordinary individuals are not born, they’re made.

Very, very few people are born with extraordinary abilities.  Almost every supersuccessful person I’ve interviewed developed his or her exceptional skills through dedication, creativity, and repetition.  They have formed habits that help them become better and more successful.  

The best coaches in the world will often tell their athletes that the key to succeeding is mastering the fundamentals of the game.  It’s often the most basic of skills that separate The Good from The Best—or in our example, make the difference between a mediocre life or an outstanding life.  And we’re guessing you want to be an outstanding individual … otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this.

In the end, it all boils down to the little things we do each day and how well we do them.  As corny as it sounds, the little things do make a big difference.

In our first book, “Cool Stuff” They Should Teach in School, my brother Kyle and I spent 3.5 years researching the most essential information needed to succeed in the real world.  Then, we took that information (which is usually considered dry and boring) and added some humor and a unique layout.  It’s our hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.

If you’ve read “Cool Stuff” They Should Teach In School, you are now armed with some of the most essential fundamentals for the game of life—the most important game you will ever play.  Today, it’s up to you to master these fundamentals by practicing them. To help you in this process, I created this Coaching Course.  I wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to form the habits that will help you thrive in school, in sports, in your career, and in your life.

That’s a big commitment to make.  I know that.  But I also know that if you’re willing to put in the effort and give these exercises your best, they will help you build a life you’re proud of.

[This is part of the introduction]

What makes this book unique?

Unlike many other books, this is not just a collection of great concepts and ideas, but it’s a skill-building course that involves the reader.  Rather than just reading how to be successful, teens will now acquire new skills and habits by participating in the exercises.  As we all know, information and ideas are most powerful when they are habits—and to build habits, action must be taken.  In fact, studies have shown that we retain only 20% of what we read, but we learn up to 90% of what we experience.  

The other thing that makes this book unique is that it’s written by young people for young people.  The language is simple, the tone is conversational, and the exercises are fun and to the point.  I didn’t include anything that I wouldn’t do myself.

Sample Exercises

There are over 100 different exercises in the book, but one of the most popular ones is titled, The Attitude Tweaker, which is designed to change the reader’s perspective on the daily tasks many people consider to be a nuisance.  Instead of saying, “I have to” go to school or “I have to” go to practice, the exercise focuses on developing a more empowering outlook by saying “I get to” to go to school, practice, etc.   Most young people in the world don’t get to do the things many young people take for granted.

Some other exercises are titled, “My Comfort Zone Eviction Notice,” “Turn Focus into Feeling,” “Open Your Mind,” “Actions Speak Louder Than Words,” “The Communication Challenge,” “Be Clothes-Minded,” “The Name Game,” “The Trend of a Friend,” and so on.

In The "Cool Stuff" Coaching Course you will discover how to:

• Create new positive habits to enjoy more success
• Develop a winning attitude
• Communicate clearly and effectively
• Make a good impression and keep it
• Break through your comfort zone to achieve more
• Defeat peer pressure through self-discovery
• Set goals to stay focused and get exactly what you want

Schools & Teachers

"Cool Stuff" They Should Teach in School is required reading in many schools across the country. Many teachers have written me asking for a resource they can use to help them bring the content into the classroom into a focused and structured way. This is precisely why I created this book. Many teachers have found this to be an extremely valuable addition to their curriculum.

With that said, this book is not only designed for classroom settings. It is also a powerful resource for individual readers.

Testimonials

“This book is a valuable resource for mastering the life-skills necessary to succeed in the real world.  The exercises are fun, to the point, and very powerful.” 

- Jack Canfield, author of The Success Principles, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

“Going through this course was a great experience.  It was like Kent was my personal coach guiding me through these life-skills.”

- Andrew Hughes, age 16, student

Book Specs

Perfect Paperback: 205 pages
Publisher: Cool Stuff Media, Inc.; Volume 1 edition (January 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0976025825
ISBN-13: 978-0976025825
Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces

Order Information

All physical books (excludes ebooks) authored by Kent Healy and sold through this online store will be personally signed by him.

For bulk orders or questions, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call toll free: 1-866-928-COOL