Inner Excellence: A Guide to Finding True Success Beyond Hustle

What if we took 67 minutes not to do more—but to reflect more deeply?

Here, we may just discover that high performance is not about pushing harder, but about softening into who we already are. In a world that constantly rewards hustle, productivity, and external validation, Inner Excellence offers an intentional pause.

It's a timely message—especially on Mandela Day, when we honour a legacy defined not by status, but by conviction, service, and inner strength

Jim Murphy’s Inner Excellence offers something radically different. It is a return to inner stillness, self-trust, and quiet courage.

I picked up Inner Excellence not because I wanted to achieve more or optimise my mindset. I picked it up because I was tired. Tired of the pressure to perform, tired of constantly questioning whether I was doing enough, and tired of trying to keep up.

This book did not meet me with more noise; it met me with silence, clarity, and a kind reminder that who I am, as I am, is already enough.

Jim Murphy, a former professional baseball player turned high-performance coach, has worked with Olympians, elite athletes, and top business leaders. However, this book is not just for people at the top of their game. It is for anyone navigating the everyday exhaustion of modern life. Whether you are showing up in a boardroom, raising kids, leading a team, or just trying to keep your head above water, Inner Excellence is a practical and compassionate guide back to yourself.

Redefining Success in a World Obsessed with Achievement

One of the most powerful ideas in Inner Excellence is its redefinition of what it means to succeed. Murphy introduces the acronym PALMS, which stands for Possessions, Appearance, Looks, Money, and Status. These are the things we are taught to chase, but Murphy argues they are often the very things that lead us into anxiety, burnout, and disconnection.

Instead of chasing external markers of success, Murphy invites readers to cultivate love, wisdom, and courage from within. True performance, he says, is not about control or perfection; it is about being fully present and leading from the heart.

This approach reminded me of Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, which also challenges the traditional narrative of hustle and hard work. Chopra speaks of flow and alignment, while Murphy speaks of clarity and self-mastery. Both make the case that real achievement flows from who we are—not what we force.

Shifting Your Mindset: The Power of Inner Beliefs

One of the most resonant parts of the book is Murphy’s focus on the subconscious mind. He explores how deeply held beliefs shape our reality and how we can start to notice and shift those patterns. This reminded me of Joseph Murphy’s The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. Both books show us that mindset work is not surface-level; it is about peeling back the layers and being brave enough to examine the stories we tell ourselves.

Murphy’s tools—like journaling, breathwork, meditation, and intentional reflection—are not flashy. They are slow, quiet, and incredibly effective. They offer a chance to rewire our thinking and release the constant loop of comparison and self-doubt.

Choosing Courage, Practicing Self-Compassion

What really landed for me were Murphy’s three pillars: love, wisdom, and courage. These are not motivational buzzwords; they are deeply lived values. In my own life, I saw how they show up in small but meaningful ways. Love might mean choosing self-compassion when I would usually self-criticise. Wisdom might look like pausing instead of reacting. Courage might mean staying grounded in an uncomfortable moment rather than escaping it.

These themes are very much in line with Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly, which explores the intersection of vulnerability and leadership. Like Brown, Murphy encourages us to show up honestly, to stay open even when life feels uncertain, and to lead from a place of integrity.

Mindfulness for Burnout and Daily Resilience

There is a meditative quality to Inner Excellence that reminded me of Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Miracle of Mindfulness. Murphy invites us to slow down, to notice our breath, and to come back to presence. This is not about retreating from life; it is about engaging with it more fully. It is about showing up grounded and clear, instead of reactive and overwhelmed.

One quote that really stayed with me was: “We climb mountains to see who we can become.” In a world that constantly tells us to do more and be more, that line reminded me to focus on becoming—not performing.

The Book’s Limitations and Why They Still Work

I did find that some of the examples, which draw heavily from elite sport, did not always land with me. I wanted more examples from real, everyday moments—conversations with loved ones, parenting challenges, decision fatigue, and mental clutter. However, the principles are universal. Whether you are preparing for the Olympics or simply trying to live with more intention, the message holds: You do not have to perform for your worth. You already have it.

Who This Book is For

If you are looking for a high-energy, quick-fix, “crush your goals” mindset book, Inner Excellence may not be what you are after. But if you are feeling burned out, disconnected, or disillusioned by the never-ending chase for validation, this book will meet you gently, without judgment.

This is a book for people who want to lead more mindfully, show up more fully, and live with intention rather than anxiety.

Try This: One Practice to Bring Inner Excellence to Life

Each morning, ask yourself this simple question: What does leading with love look like today? Then notice how it shifts your actions, your words, and your presence throughout the day. This small question creates big change.

Final Thoughts: Returning to Yourself

Inner Excellence is not loud. It does not shout at you to hustle. It whispers instead. It asks you to listen. It asks you to lead from love. It calls you back to the person you were before life told you to strive harder and do more.

Like the works of Chopra, Brown, Hanh, and Murphy, this book reminds us that the inner world is where true transformation begins. It offers clarity for those of us navigating performance pressure, burnout, or the invisible weight of needing to prove ourselves.

You do not need to be more. You do not need to do more. You just need to come home—to your breath, your values, and your presence. That is where excellence begins. And that is where this book takes you, one page at a time.

* Inner Excellence is available at Exclusive Books.