Jamie Ford

"The atmosphere has totally changed. All of the commercial team made their targets for the month!!! - Julie Bassett

THE SHORT ROAD TO MENTAL STRENGTH

This practical and engaging book serves as a roadmap for cultivating a mentally strong mindset, to get results.

"You will uncover the latent strength you have within, enabling you to face challenges head-on and emerge stronger on the other side.”

John O'Sullivan

Managing Director, Tumu Group

Winners of the EY Family Enterprise Award of Excellence, Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2023

ABOUT THE BOOK

THE SHORT ROAD TO MENTAL STRENGTH

Step out onto 'The Short Road to Mental Strength’ with Jamie Ford's insightful guide.

Through practical chapters and engaging anecdotes, you will learn how to:

Navigate life's challenges with clarity & strength

Separate your emotions from thoughts

Reclaim control over your mindset

This must-read book offers transformative strategies to empower your journey towards resilience and self-mastery. Discover the power of a mentally strong mindset and cultivate habits to take charge of your life.

AUTHOR

ABOUT JAMIE FORD

Jamie overcame his natural pessimism through studying Dr. Martin Seligman’s (PhD) research on Learned Helplessness and Learned Optimism. He was also the first consultant in the Southern Hemisphere to be accredited by Essi Systems in the US as a trainer and coach in Emotional Intelligence (EQ).

Jamie is a charter associate member of the International Positive Psychology Association and a founding member of the NZ Association of Positive Psychology. As a Director of Resilient Minds (www.resilientminds.co.nz), Jamie mentors senior management professionals in business and government sectors, focusing on training, HR, and sales. He also leads the acclaimed "Building Your Mental Strength and Resilience" course, attended by thousands for transformative outcomes.

Jamie is a father of three adult daughters, and a proud grandfather to two granddaughters and two grandsons. Beyond family he finds joy in competitive brass band trombone playing, with seven NZ & Australian titles to his name. He also has a row of bronze, silver, and gold medals from racing in waka ama (outrigger canoe) competitions. Jamie’s passion extends to motorcycle adventures across New Zealand and beyond, and his latest acquisition is a 300km per hour Aprilia Tuono v4 Factory 1100.

Mindset matters...

and a mentally strong mindset matters most.

PREVIEW

BOOK CHAPTERS

CHAPTER 1:

I was on a long rough road for far too long

Jamie’s story of a journey through life’s challenges—tragedies and triumphs. Despite the stumbles, progress is always possible.

CHAPTER 2:

Put up a big strong barrier

Separate your thinking from your emotions. Stop allowing your emotions to get in the driver’s seat.

CHAPTER 3:

Are you the ventriloquist or the dummy

Take control of your mind instead of letting it control you. Maximise the value of new thoughts and manage self-talk effectively.

CHAPTER 4:

Take a test drive to find out what side of the short road you are on

Discover your untapped potential. Take the survey, gain insights, and reflect on whether you're on the short road to mental strength.

CHAPTER 5:

Part One of the two formulas that build your short road

Your thinking habits are deeply embedded. Use the TSE® formula to transform the way you approach challenges.

CHAPTER 6:

Part Two of the two formulas that build your short road

Apply the PGP® formula to rewire your brain and nourish your neural pathways.

CHAPTER 7:

Take charge of all those remote controls

Reclaim control over your emotions. Decide who has access to your emotional triggers with the help of the DHD© formula.

CHAPTER 8:

Mind your language: Navigating Beliefs, Emotions, and Cultural Learning

Your beliefs are more powerful than facts. Explore how childhood conditioning and “cultural learning” shape your emotions.

CHAPTER 9:

FEATNIA® is the machine that makes your short road a super-highway

Learn the FEATNIA® process to transform thoughts into actions and positively impact your emotions and life.

CHAPTER 10:

Thought attacks and how to prevent them

Take control of your thoughts before they take charge of your emotions. Upgrade your brain’s “software” to stay balanced.

CHAPTER 11:

Living above the line

Take complete ownership of your thoughts and emotions. Don’t be a victim—learn how to help others do the same.

CHAPTER 12:

Stop saying “Sorry”

What you should apologise for, and what you shouldn’t. Let others own their emotions while you take charge of your own.

CHAPTER 13:

Stop being so defensive

Everyone has an opinion, but yours matters most. Stay calm and confident, even when provoked.

CHAPTER 14:

Start showing that you are in charge of your life

Adopt the wisdom of the Stoics and demonstrate that you’re in control of your thoughts and actions.

CHAPTER 15:

Conclusion

Final reflections on living with a mentally strong mindset.

BOOK REVIEWS

MENTAL STRENGTH PEER REVIEWS

JILL MALCOLM

Journalist and Published Author

When I hit a challenge in my life that was too confusing for me to handle effectively. Jamie Ford taught me how much adjusting one’s mindset can radically change the outcome. I wish I had been aware of this much earlier.

His recently published book, The Short Road to Mental Strength adds even more to the knowledge I was given at that time. This is not just a textbook, Jamie has been in some hard places in his own life and learnt to work himself out of them by using the wisdom and strategies that he describes in an easily understood format.

Even if your life is going smoothly (and it seldom does forever), learning the tools the book offers gives powerful and practical insights to help the reader handle the challenges, large or small that at some stage, life brings to all of us.

Dr. David Keane

Speaker, Published Author, and Coach

Congratulations Jamie, you have written a beautiful book, and I love it for so many reasons.

I found your writing style really engaging – as if you were right there with me telling a story. I read every word and at no time did my attention slip.

While you and I have talked about the content before, it is great to have it written down and explained fully.

I now have a much better understanding of the Velcro and Teflon jackets schema and the thinking behind it.

Dr. Ian McCormick Phd.

Author of Frustration inoculation

This is a practical and easy to read book on building mental strength which draws on Albert Ellis's Rational Emotive Therapy,

Martin Seligman's Learned Optimism and Stoic philosophy.

It has a range of case studies and simple step by step exercises to undertake.

I highly recommend it.

Peter Harbidge

GM Hudson Recruitment (Ret)

There is never a bad time to work on mental strength, but the modern age throws us quite demanding daily challenges.

As such, I believe your book is perfectly pitched. It is a reference book as well as a manual. Something to have at your side, rather than gather dust on a library shelf.

Congratulations on this valuable new publication and thank you for the many insights and tips you have provided, I am already quoting some! I have also purchased copies for our adult children, nephews and nieces. I wish you every success.

Stewart Forsyth

MA Psychology, Post Grad.

Jamie Ford’s Mental Strength book has a road trip theme. The title for example. The picture of Jamie negotiating a race track corner on his Triumph Daytona on the back cover. What I most noticed while reading was the flavour of Jamie’s seminars on mental strength. I haven’t been to one, but I got a real feel for how Jamie communicates his message.

Jamie’s book is not a lecture on attribution theory. His is a road-tested and successful approach to helping people get their heads around thinking skills. And of making the practice of useful self-talk part of how they live their lives.

Part of his ability to help people connect with his message are the stories he tells.

From the moving story of his father’s early death to the birth of his profoundly handicapped daughter. The pronouncements of public figures illustrate the impossibility of injecting emotions into others. He describes the antics of seminar participants throwing Velcro balls at others in jackets which the balls either slide off or stick on.

For me this is the superpower of the book. Jamie’s approach to building mental strength is based on serious science of helping people re-think their thinking.

There is real substance to his points about framing success as permanent, pervasive and personal, and correspondingly, seeing and talking to oneself about failures as transient, specific and external.

I recently watched Inside-Out 2. Wasn’t Joy such a joy! The Pixar crew got their points across so deftly. How memories become habitual thoughts and so beliefs. All in the format of a funny and moving story about a girl trying to fit in. It looked good too – the mountains of multi-coloured memory balls, the bright shiny snowflake-like self-concept. This is the point that Jamie makes when he describes how we accidentally learn near-random stuff from what life throws at us. Many times for many of us, these beliefs set us up to be hopeless and helpless in the face of future challenges.

A recent review describes the evidence for the model as “overwhelming”. This is an approach that helps people change their lives – whether that’s getting over depression or lifting their performance.

Heather Levack

NZROT (Ret), ANZPA Cert. Role Trainer. (Ret)

In this book, Jamie does not hide the fact that his own personal life story is what has motivated him to find a way to deal with and overcome the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune". Seeking answers by reading widely, he has drawn many threads together to formulate a pathway that will lead to better interpersonal relationships and greater self-awareness and self-esteem.

The result is a synthesis of Eastern and Western teachings that confirms this writers belief that there is more than one road to a good life and happiness. There are universal truths that are reflected in Religious, Stoic and Buddhist teachings, which can lead to a happier life, and these are well researched and documented in books of psychologists such as highly esteemed Martin Seligman.

What Jamie has done is too synthesise these teachings into a number of easily remembered "rules" around which he has developed a learning programme which he has been teaching for twenty five years, and which has enabled his students to live more contented and more productive lives.

Perhaps the most revolutionary "truth" that Jamie teaches is that contrary to “received wisdom”, others do not have the power to hurt your feelings. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent".

Jamie has found a way to help people learn how not to become prey to other people's words.

This is a Self Help book which is short and easy to read and will benefit those who take the trouble to apply themselves to its concepts.

Get your copy today

In The Short Road to Mental Strength, author Jamie Ford presents a powerful guide to building resilience and self-mastery. Drawing from his extensive experience in behavioural change and the Science of Optimism, Jamie offers readers transformative strategies designed to empower them in navigating life's challenges.

KIND WORDS

What people are saying about working with jamie

CHRIS

SALES MANAGER

What I liked most about the ‘Building Resilience and Bouncing Back Fast Programme’ was that it was no nonsense, practical strategies that are easy to implement. Since the programme my performance has improved and I’m better able to handle setbacks that are out of my control. Setbacks also provide opportunities that may not have been considered. I would highly recommend this programme to other people because IT WORKS! It also provides benefits in both the business and personal arena.

NICKY

GM PEOPLE & CULTURE

I’ve had the privilege of working with Jamie Ford over the past decade, and I can confidently say that his impact has been nothing short of transformative. Jamie’s expertise lies in building resilient individuals and fostering positive culture within organizations. Here’s why I highly recommend Jamie’s coaching and training programs: Research-Based Approach, Life-Changing Skills, Holistic Transformation, Proven Methodology & Practical Solutions.

STEPHEN

GENERAL MANAGER

I found the Resilient in Adversity, Composed under Pressure’ course had key lessons that were easy to understand and remember. This has enabled me to continue to apply them well after I attended the course. One of the benefits I’ve received is that I now self review the way I am thinking about a situation to reflect whether I am approaching it from a positive perspective. I recommend this course because the ideas and concepts are easy to apply.

BRENT

Coach Development Officer

The Learned Optimism and Resilience Course helped me to learn why I think the way I do and recognise it in myself, which then allowed me to do something about it. One of the benefits I’ve received from this course is I can recognise and understand why others think and feel about themselves. I learnt a lot about the way I think and feel about myself. I can now utilise a range of tools to assist in my own personal development.

GET YOUR BOOK NOW

Join Jamie Ford on this transformative journey and uncover the strength within you.

With practical chapters and engaging anecdotes, this book serves as a roadmap for cultivating a mentally strong mindset, which is essential in today’s fast-paced world.