The Real Work

A Guide for the Young Athlete Growing Up in Sport

By: Morgan Stuart

Narrated by: Morgan Stuart

What does it take for an athlete to thrive under pressure — and in life? It’s not just their physical skills — it’s the mindset they build along the way.

Morgan Stuart, a professional infield coach for youth softball players, knows that success is more than just your stats. It’s about how athletes handle challenges, respond to pressure, and turn setbacks into opportunities for growth.

In this book, Morgan shares 12 core traits that help athletes build resilience, focus, and self-awareness. Through relatable stories, actionable tools, and thought-provoking prompts, this guide offers a framework for:

• Turning failure into a tool
• Building confidence despite doubt
• Breaking free from the cycle of comparison
• Developing self-talk that moves you forward instead of holding you back

A Note from the Author: As a coach, I see so many athletes playing hesitant, scared, and safe. As a former player, I know what it’s like to struggle with doubt and overthinking. I wrote this book to share stories from my journey and to give athletes the tools to focus on what truly matters: building the mindset to enjoy the journey and reach their full potential—no
matter the results.

©2024 Morgan Stuart (P)2024 Morgan Stuart

Mental Resilience Foundations -- Must Read!

I learned about this book because I follow Morgan Stuart's work on softball defense. But this book goes so far beyond softball or even sports. Those that follow and like Morgan Stuart know she is laser focused on building strong foundations for defense. It is not flashy, there are no short cuts, you just keep showing up with intention and passion day after day. This book is exactly the same way in developing our athletes' mental health and mental game. Many other books teach you techniques to gain a mental edge, which is good, but this book focuses on how you build strong mental foundations to weather the challenges and failure that will inevitably come your way at some point. In my view, you can't rock the mental game without strong mental health and resilience, and this book will be a great help for that.

The audio version is handy and helpful in flipping to the relevant section and wherever you need a reminder. And to hear Morgan Stuart tell her stories and read the prompts in her own voice -- that brings everything alive!