Relentless: From Good To Great To Unstoppable (2013) is a motivational book by Tim S. Grover. The book explains how top competitors succeed by relying on their instincts, learning to thrive under pressure, and pursuing victory with obsessive focus. Grover, the founder of training facility “Attack Athletics,” blends real-life anecdotes drawn from his work with basketball greats Michael Jordan, Dwayne Wade, and Kobe Bryant with his brand of tough-love coaching, explaining how to become a victorious “Cleaner” rather than a “Cooler” or “Closer.” 

Key takeaways include:

• Prioritize Instinct over Deliberation
• Harness Anger and Your Dark Side
• Treat Pressure as a Fuel, Not a Stressor
• Pursue Excellence, Not a Finish Line
• Strategize Flexibly for Success

This guide refers to the 2013 Kindle edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of cursing, addiction, illness, death, and graphic violence.

Summary

Grover introduces the concept of a “Cleaner,” someone who relentlessly pursues excellence and success. He points to basketball players Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant, both of whom he has trained, as prime examples of Cleaners due to their commitment, work ethic, and ability to perform instinctively. 

Grover describes the intense regimen he makes his clients commit to as a way of illustrating that Cleaners always have an intense work ethic. He challenges the reader to embrace the discomfort that comes with developing their mental and physical stamina: All the greatest athletes know how to get into “the zone.” This mental space is characterized by a lack of emotion, except perhaps a controlled anger, and working from instinct instead of deliberative thought.

Grover argues that many people allow themselves to be constrained by self-doubt, others’ opinions, and pointless rules. Cleaners, by contrast, unapologetically embrace their “dark side” to fuel their achievements. In line with this, Grover challenges the reader to reframe stress as a positive force in their lives—something that hones one’s skills and expands one’s abilities. 

Grover praises Cleaners’ ability to take initiative in emergencies and make decisive calls about what to do. Their constant competitive instinct sets them apart from others, as they never rest on their laurels or give less than their full effort. At the same time, the best Cleaners know how to motivate others and ensure their own success by supporting their team. 

Grover questions contemporary culture’s obsession with passion and inner drive, dismissing them as merely mental states that, on their own, are useless. He points to Cleaners’ willingness to take action and keep commitments as the real roots of their success. This often means embracing being feared instead of liked: Worrying about fitting in or being popular is a distraction from the pursuit of success. Similarly, real high-achievers do not look for yes-men but instead surround themselves with honest and trustworthy employees who also excel at what they do. 

Cleaners are also distinguished by their perspective on failure, as they perceive disappointments as temporary setbacks and use their experience to come back and achieve greater things. Ultimately, Grover acknowledges that many Cleaners experience the loneliness and burnout that can come with attaining excellence. Nevertheless, he celebrates the Cleaner work ethic and “addiction” to success, urging the reader to honor their dreams by taking action to make them come true.