What: Paul Sullivan ’95, will discuss his book, Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don’t, which was published by Portfolio/Penguin in 2010. The Common Hour event is open to the campus community.
When: Thursday, February 24 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Rittenberg Lounge in Mather Hall on the Trinity campus, 300 Summit Street.
Background: “It is a situation we have all witnessed or experienced firsthand. The make-or-break moment arrives. The decisive at-bat, the well-rehearsed concert performance, the public speech. Then suddenly—aaarggh. It all goes wrong. The ball whistles past, the fingers slide all over the keyboard, the voice becomes an inarticulate mumble. You are now a choker. You have failed in the clutch.”
So begins a Wall Street Journal review of Sullivan’s book, which examines why some people succeed under pressure and others crumple. Sullivan’s book uses individual stories to provide explanations as to why some individuals thrive and others choke. And he offers suggestions to readers about getting through what The WSJ calls a “make-or-break moment with a better chance of success.”
Sullivan cites examples from the world of sports, business, the military and the arts. He lists several traits that help people deliver a clutch performance: focus, discipline, adaptability, presence, fear and desire.
Clutch has won plaudits from other reviewers as well. Time magazine called the book “a well-written examination of what makes a person perform despite stress.” Strategy & Business Magazine named Clutch one of the best business books of 2010. And Lou Holtz, former football coach at Notre Dame, said of Clutch: “Everyone knows that it’s difficult to work under intense pressure, but what Paul Sullivan explains so well in this book is that there is a certain art to it that anyone can master. Clutch is an engaging and insightful read that will help you overcome even the toughest challenges.”
Sullivan writes the “Wealth Matters” column for The New York Times. His articles have appeared in Fortune, Conde Nast Portfolio, The International Herald Tribune, Barron’s, The Boston Globe and Food & Wine. From 2000 to 2006, he was a reporter, editor and columnist at the Financial Times.
Sullivan also writes a blog, which can be read at: www.pauljsullivan.com/blog/.
A 1995 graduate of Trinity with a major in history, Sullivan also earned a degree from the University of Chicago.
A light lunch will be provided for registered participants. To reserve a seat and/or lunch, please e-mail common-hour@trincoll.edu.