Mike Avila releases book on perseverance after life-changing accident

Water ski racing legend and entrepreneur Mike Avila has released Not Today: The Secret to Never Giving Up, a memoir and practical guide centered on recovery, resilience and daily persistence. The book has already reached No. 1 in three Kindle Store categories as Avila extends his message from sports into business and personal adversity.

Why it matters: - Mike Avila is using his racing comeback story to reach readers facing injury, grief, career setbacks and other personal challenges. - The book frames persistence as a daily practice, not a one-time burst of motivation. - The release adds a new chapter to Avila’s broader work in athletics, coaching, entrepreneurship and mentorship.

What happened: - Mike Avila announced the release of Not Today: The Secret to Never Giving Up. - The book reached No. 1 in Personal Transformation, No. 1 in Sports and Outdoor Biographies, and No. 1 in Addiction and Recovery in the Kindle Store. - The release centers on Avila’s recovery after a devastating accident left him with a third broken neck, a broken jaw joint and paralysis on the right side of his body. - Avila described the book as part memoir and part practical blueprint.

The details: - Before the accident, Avila had already returned from three career-ending injuries and kept competing at the highest level. - After being pulled lifeless from the water, resuscitated and rushed to the hospital, Avila said he faced a crisis unlike any before. - The book focuses on a two-word mindset that helped him move forward one day at a time. - Avila says the approach can help readers through uncertainty, loss, physical hardship and personal struggle. - The book is aimed at people dealing with challenges in relationships, careers, physical health, mental health and other parts of life. - The book also targets readers who are already content with life but want to pursue bigger goals and a more meaningful future. - Avila has also built a multimillion-dollar construction company and helped other entrepreneurs start and grow firms.

Between the lines: - The book turns a high-stakes sports injury into a broader message about discipline and identity after crisis. - Avila’s story blends elite competition with business success, which gives the book credibility beyond the sports world. - The positioning suggests the book is meant to be both inspirational and tactical, not just autobiographical.

What's next: - Avila continues to compete in boat racing while coaching and mentoring others. - He is extending the same message of persistence through his book and his business work. - More information