Personal pool reflections by Diane M. Todd, M.S., PMP® | Not a mental-health service.
Pool can humble you in one rack. The lessons last much longer.
Book One: The Six Quiet Rewards of Competitive Pool: Beyond the Felt.
Bad rolls. Missed shots. The occasional conversation with your cue ball. Competitive pool has a way of bringing patience, confidence, and resilience to the table—along with everything that tests them.
You don't have to play pool to recognize pressure, setbacks, and starting over.
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The cue ball doesn't always cooperate. There's more to the game than the score.
Patience & Discipline | Emotional Control
- The right shot may be worth waiting for—even when the cue ball has other plans.
- One bad roll can test your composure. It doesn't get to run the whole evening.
Resilience to Failure | Confidence Building
- A missed shot is a plot twist, not the ending.
- Confidence is making the next decision without putting the last one on trial.
Competitive Edge | Social Growth
- A sharp read of the table can matter more than a lucky roll.
- Competition reveals a lot about people, and gives them a reason to connect—even if they disagree about the score.
Meet the main characters
The Inner Match
Who shows up at your table?
One player. Two very different voices.
Under pressure, both show up uninvited.
Spaz predicts disaster.
Stillwater would like to see the shot first.
SPAZ: The panic voice
'You're gunna miss!"
Rushed play. Tightened Grip.
A full disaster forecast before
the cue ball even moves.
Stillwater: The steady voice
"Noted. Now where's the pocket?"
No lecture. No drama.
Just the shot in front of you.
The Choice: Which voice gets the next shot?
Two voices. One cue.
Spaz brings the commentary.
Stillwater brings the focus.
Both show up. Only one gets to call the shot.
What readers are saying...
The cue ball had plenty to say. Now it's the readers' turn.
Dana R.
"This book is deeply relatable. Competitive pool demands a level of consciousness that’s not necessarily understood on the outside. This book offers a deep yet easy to read perspective on personal growth, mental maturity, emotional regulation, and self-confidence. A journey everyone will go on in their own way but learning to recognize your shot and be ready to take it once it’s seen both on and off the table is a valuable lesson."
Camyrn C.
"I really enjoyed this book! You do not have to be a pool player to appreciate the personal journey and life lessons that the author articulates. I found her story inspiring and personally motivating."
Rosie H.
"I met Diane Todd when I started taking pool lessons from Calvin Coker, who wrote the forward for the book. I was intrigued by this woman, so I ordered her book, The Six Quiet Rewards of Competitive Pool, Beyond the Felt. While I expected advice on shooting pool, I found a deep introspective view of Diane’s life. Diane demonstrates how shooting pool is a metaphor for life. Diane’s book is short, comprehensive, and entertaining, with good advice about observing your own life as she takes you through the “Six Quiet Rewards”. Anyone who has ever picked up a pool cue, beginner or expert, will be able relate to her stories of wins and failures as she reveals her experiences without ego, just with the truth of who she is. I highly recommend her book and see how the “Six Quiet Rewards” relate to YOUR life."
