What Makes the Great Ones Great

Is greatness born or built? Across business, sports, the arts, and the military, the highest performers share a common set of habits and mindsets that elevate them above the rest. Yet until now, few have studied these patterns in a systematic way, capturing what it truly takes to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best.

Drawing on more than two decades of front-row access to elite performers—from championship athletes and CEOs to world-class coaches and cultural icons—Don Yaeger has identified sixteen consistent characteristics that set the great ones apart. Through hundreds of interviews and countless hours of observation, he has uncovered a practical framework anyone can adopt to sharpen their own performance, raise their standards, and build a legacy of excellence.