MESSAGE #1260 THE WORLD’S SHORTEST SAD STORY
Once upon a time a young boy said to his family, “I want to do great things in this world; I know I can.”
Then, an old man said to his family, “I wish I had done great things in this world; I wish I did.”
End of story.
Why is this story so sad?
Because the young boy and the old man were the same person.
At the end of your life, do you want to say, “I wish I had” or “I’m glad I did”?
I think we all know the answer.
You can also apply this mindset to each and every day. Each and every practice. Each and every game.
At the end of the day, or at the end of the game, take the mental toughness test.
You pass the test if you say:
“I’m glad I did.”
MESSAGE #1254 SUCCESS IS NOT MAGIC
Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Nancy Johanson in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Magic is pretty simple: It’s practice, it’s training and it’s experimenting while pushing through the pain to be the best I can be.”
-DAVID BLAINE
Magic is not unlike sports, or life, for that matter.
David Blaine was not “born” to be a magician. He was “trained” to be one. As a young boy, Blaine was intrigued by Houdini. Magic became his passion. Then he got to work. He began training.
Blaine took the time to practice, he trained, he experimented and pushed through the pain.
Whether you’re a tennis player, chef, or business owner, you need to do the same.
Last night I spoke with my good friend Bob Ryland, who was the first black professional tennis player. He was also Arthur Ashe’s hero and coached the Williams sisters. Bob told me that the first time he saw the Williams sisters, he didn’t think they were talented.
But guess what?
They worked hard.
Harder than anybody.
And they got results.
And you can do the same.
MESSAGE #1245
“The first and best victory is to conquer self.”
-PLATO
Recently, I worked with a young girl and she hated serving. She avoided it. Every time she practiced her serve, she would inevitably expect the worst.
I told her I was optimistic about her serve and that she should be as well. “You get what you focus on,” I told her.
Instead of focusing on how much she hated serving, I just told her to think about her technique and adjustments.
She stuck with it and started getting her serves in. And guess what?
She started smiling.
Had she given up or avoided serving, her serves would still be the same.
She conquered herself and began getting the results she wanted.
My student came up to me after class and said, “Thank you, coach. Today I learned a very important lesson.”
Conquer yourself and the sky is the limit.
MESSAGE #1240 WINNING MINDSET
Practice like you are the worst player.
Compete like you are the best player.
Work hard in practice.
Stay loose in competition.
MESSAGE #1228 WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Are you looking for a certain level of success in sports, sales or school?
Is there somewhere you want to get to?
Let me tell you a secret.
It’s not out there.
Success is already inside you.
If you have the right mindset (all-out effort/constant improvement) and have passion for what you do, you are successful.
Set goals, but enjoy the process.
Success is a journey, not a destination.
Success is a marathon, not a sprint.
I recently spoke to a minor league baseball player and asked how his off-season was going, how his workouts were going. He said they were going fine. There wasn’t excitement in his voice. It didn’t sound like he was pushing himself to get to the next level. It almost sounded like he was giving up or that the major leagues was a near impossibility.
All of the successful people in the world have one thing in common–They act successful BEFORE they become successful. That comes from inside. And this is trainable.
There are no limits, you can always improve. Don’t be content. Create your vision. Start taking action.
With this mindset, ANYTHING is possible.
MESSAGE #1224 BRUCE LEE 3
“Defeat is a state of mind.
no one is ever defeated
until defeat has been accepted
as a reality.
To me, defeat in anything
is merely temporary,
and its punishment is but an urge
for me to exert greater effort
to achieve my goal.
Defeat simply tells me
that something is wrong in my doing;
it is a path leading to
success and truth.”
-BRUCE LEE
MESSAGE #1221 KEEP GOING
With Billie Jean King at my US Open book signing
Champions keep playing until they get it right.
-BILLIE JEAN KING
I once had a student who began playing tournaments. In her first tournament, she lost first round. In the next tournament, she had the same result. And the next, and the next. For practically the first year, she didn’t get past the first round.
I told her, “This is a great way to improve, learn and develop as a player.”
She agreed with me, although she wanted better results. Well, she stuck with it and then started getting results.
She started winning some matches. She got to the 2nd round, then the 3rd and now it is rare if she doesn’t make it to at least the semifinals. She is also on her high school varsity team.
Most people give up too soon. They want immediate results. The great ones persist.
You need to hang on until you catch on.
Winning may feel good temporarily, but you learn more from losses.
The two most important questions you can ask yourself after a game/match/practice session are:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how did I play?
2. What can I do differently next time to get to a 10?
Focus on constant improvement and as a by-product, you will win more.
Recent Comments