Alex Wortman, an Ann Arbor-based performance and life coach, is perhaps better known in Michigan as the inventor of bumper bowling. While inventing sports equipment might seem like an odd sideline for another psychotherapist-turned-coach, it’s natural for Wortman, who emphasizes the body-mind connection in his work.

“Typically, we use sport as the microcosm… within which people discover the dynamics of well-doing and discover how to integrate the powers of body mind, and spirit in the service of performing at one’s best,” Wortman said.

Wortman’s educational background is in psychology and social work, and he practiced traditional therapy for many years. However, over time, he realized he wanted to help people move beyond their problems and beyond the diagnosis - whether it was depression or ADHD - and learn to become optimal performers in their field.

Wortman said he isn’t sure how he became so achievement-oriented, but he thinks it may have to do with being educated by Jesuits while growing up in Detroit.

“It was drilled into me to be all you can be and do all you can do,” Wortman said.

Boredom, fatigue and anxiety are the three main factors that keep people from performing at their best, Wortman said, and his job is to help them overcome those and fine-tune their behaviors so that they can become the best they can be.

Wortman has worked with amateur and professional athletes, but he’s also worked with corporate executives and hospitality industry workers. In each case, he asks them to choose a sport or a fitness activity like yoga or tai chi, and then he helps individuals perform these activities to the best of their abilities. Once his clients learn new skills, he helps them translate them into other areas of their life.

He has also published a book, called “The 13th Power,” that explains his philosophy in depth. In the book, he breaks any action — such as hitting a baseball or serving a customer — into three phases: preparation, execution and completion. Each of those stages is further broken down into steps such as “firing up” and “breathing out.”

Wortman likes to joke that while some people who are particularly good at handling horses are called “horse whisperers,” he likes to think of himself as a “human whisperer,” helping people perform at their personal best.

He says the following question drives his work with each client: “What can I do as a coach to teach people to be their own best coach?”

Background

Education: Master’s degree in social work (Wayne State University); graduate work in educational psychology (University of Michigan).

Family: Wife, Zena Sheinberg; daughter Amy and son Anton; dog Tony.

Residence: Ann Arbor.

Business Insights: Things go swimmingly when all involved discover their own ‘inner-whisperers’ and experience the joy in performing at one’s best.

Best business decision: Patenting our Bumper Bowling products, launching our own business, and contracting with the Brunswick Corporation.

Worst business decision: Being a bit too quick in agreeing to an early buyout from Brunswick.

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Put time, money and creative energies into research and development of new products and services.

Personal hero: My brother.

How do you motivate people? By coaching and evoking states of “optimal experience” whereby work and play become highly focused and increasingly enjoyable.

What advice would you give to yourself in college? Never stop learning, growing and creating. That’s where the fun is, and that’s what will get you where you want to go.

Word that best describes you: Achievement-oriented.

First Web site you check in the morning: E-mail.

Confessions

What keeps you up at night? Not a thing. I’ve taught myself how to clear my mind, get into a nice rhythmic and ritualistic breathing pattern, and within a minute, I’m out like and light and into the world of dreams.

Pet peeve: Individuals and organizations that simply don’t care to improve everyday performance and make for a better world.

Guilty pleasure: Chocolate.

First job: Farmhand and horse trainer/whisperer.

First choice for a new career: Filmmaker/actor.

Treasures

Favorite cause: Land conservation.

Favorite book: “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.”

Favorite movie: “The Wizard of Oz,” a delightful children’s story with a very adult message: the Wizard you seek is within and with the integrated powers of brain (scarecrow) heart (tin man), and courage (lion), you’ll find your way to the yellow brick road and get where you want to go.

Favorite hobby: Golf.

Favorite restaurant: Real Seafood.

LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter? Facebook

Typical Saturday: A run with my good dog, Tony, to the Arb, golf (unless it’s raining heavily or there’s more than four inches of snow on the ground), watch a movie.

What team do you root for? Wolverines, Tigers, Wings.

Wheels: Whatever’s under me: my running shoes, my bike, my horse, my skates…when really necessary I drive my 1990 300 SE Mercedes Benz.

Who would play you in a movie? Donald Sutherland.

Sarah Rigg is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at sarahrigg@yahoo.com.