Author

Once the embodiment of an aggressive athlete, Jason Dorland used to identify himself according to the results of his competitions―winner or loser. The elite rower was raised with an “in-it-to-win-it” attitude and was trained to think of every competitor as an enemy. It took a devastating loss at the 1988 Olympic Games to shatter this destructive way of thinking, and it took the advice of Olympic middle-distance runner Robyn Meagher (who would later become Dorland’s wife) to help re-shape his views on what it truly means to win―both in sport and in life.

When he retired from competition and became an elite rowing coach, Dorland knew he had to produce results but vowed to adopt a more process-based approach to competition than the one he had been taught. It was a radical shift that was not always welcomed by the sporting community. However, the outcomes were nothing short of extraordinary. Dorland found that by creating an emotionally safe environment for his athletes, they felt free to fail yet ultimately achieved success beyond their wildest dreams. Pulling Together reflects on Dorland’s coaching philosophy, the lessons his sport has taught him, and how those lessons can be applied both on and off the playing field.

If you're looking to purchase Pulling Together, Amazon or Chapters-Indigo are your quickest and cheapest options. Or, you could purchase one from your local independent bookstore. However, if you'd like a signed copy with a personalized note, if it's a gift for example, please contact me and we can figure out a way to get one to you! Cheers and thanks, for your support!

Chariots and Horses hit bookshelves in the fall of 2011 and immediately garnered positive attention from national team coaches, professional athletes and Olympians alike. Written as a memoir, Jason Dorland leaves nothing to hide in his compelling account of life as a high performance athlete. This inspiring page-turner openly reveals his heart-wrenching journey in the hopes of cultivating a healthier outlook for others.

Detailing his experiences rowing with the Canadian National Rowing Team and later coaching high-school crews, he reveals how a devastating performance at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, defined his life for years to come. “In it to win it,” he fell apart when that didn’t happen. The same win-at-all-costs mentality that made the Olympic loss so hard to bear was also what made it difficult for him to move forward, despite his efforts to overcome his overwhelming sense of failure. Over time, however, he came to a new level of understanding about facing challenge, and with this book he sets out to share what he’s learned with coaches, athletes, business people and anyone else who needs to perform at a high level without losing their humanity or their spirit.

An honest, intimate look at the reality of high-level athletics, Jason’s memoir is more than a sports story; in charting his progress from struggling athlete to an inspirational coach driven to instill a healthy competitive spirit in his rowers, he shows how in sports and in life, it’s all about the journey, not the outcome. To watch the Book Trailer—click here.

If you're looking to purchase Chariots and Horses, Amazon or Chapters-Indigo are your quickest and cheapest options. Or, you could purchase one from your local independent bookstore. However, if you'd like a signed copy with a personalized note, if it's a gift for example, please contact me and we can figure out a way to get one to you! Cheers and thanks, for your support!