MESSAGE #519 6 TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Today’s message is especially dedicated to Robert Gibson.
“1. Stress improvement, not perfection (or winning). 2. Don’t take yourself too seriously; laugh at yourself and have fun. 3. Set attainable goals; reach them and then set higher ones. 4. Be positive, walk tall, smile often, don’t complain or procrastinate. 5. Prepare purposely, but don’t over train. 6. Remember-Sports is a game and meant to be enjoyable.”
-DICK GOULD, Stanford University tennis
MESSAGE #489 LEARN FROM THE GREATS…
Do you believe that there’s greatness inside you?
Well, it’s true. So why, then doesn’t everyone achieve greatness?
Here are my top four reasons…
1. People don’t believe that they can be great.
2. They quit too early.
3. They don’t want it badly enough.
4. They try to figure everything out themselves.
One of the quickest ways to become great at whatever you do is to do what the great ones are doing. If you want to become a great tennis player, find out what the great ones are doing, and copy them. Train like they train. Eat what they eat. Think how they think.
Work, school and music are the same way.
“If I wanted to become a tramp,
I would seek information and advice
from the most successful tramp I could find.
If I wanted to become a failure
I would seek advice from men
who have never succeeded.
If I wanted to succeed in all things,
I would look around me
for those who are succeeding,
and do as they have done.”
-JOSEPH MARSHALL WADE
Thanks for reading.
MESSAGE #487 HOW TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN SPORTS AND LIFE…
Today’s message is especially dedicated to Adina Schicchi.
How can you get to the next level?
Well, let me ask you this…
Who is your team? Now, I’m not just talking about a sports team. I’m talking about a work team. A relationship team. A friendship team.
Do you surround yourself with people who support you? Who push you? All the successful people in the world have a good team around them. I’m motivated, but I still have great people around me so I can stay motivated. And it’s a team, so we motivate each other.
Maybe this story will help paint a better picture…
The rich father gathered the young men around a swimming pool filled with alligators. He promised his daughter in marriage, a sports car, two oil wells, and a top position in his company to anyone who had the courage and skill to swim across the pool.
Immediately, a young man splashed in and swam like blazes to the other side. The crowd went wild, clapping and cheering as the hero made it across. The rich father ran to his side, congratulated him, then asked, “Which prize do you want first?”
“First,” the young man sputtered, “I want the name of the guy who pushed me into the pool!”
We all need a push sometimes. There are things we don’t even know we’re capable of until we get out of our comfort zones.
So look at your team around you and see if they’re pushing you forward or keeping you back.
Start to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Thanks for reading.
MESSAGE #478 CHOICES…
Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Sandy Zio…Happy Birthday to a rock star!
I like to think that I have some important messages on my blog, in my book, and when I give motivational talks. But those important messages are nothing if you don’t do anything about them – if you don’t take action.
K – A = O (Knowledge minus Action equals Nothing)
Let me explain in a story…
A violin virtuoso living in America truly believed that he could play so well that he could actually charm a savage beast. Despite the warnings and pleas of his friends, he decided he would go to the jungles of Africa, unarmed, with only his violin to protect him. He stood in a clearing in the dense jungle and began to play. An elephant picked up his scent, and came charging toward him; but when he came within hearing distance, he sat down to listen to the beautiful music.
A hungry cat sprang from a tree with fangs bared but it, too, succumbed to the music. Soon a lion appeared to join the others. Before long, many wild beasts were seated near the virtuoso. He played on, unharmed.
Just then a leopard leaped from a nearby tree onto the violinist, and devoured him! As he stood licking his chops, the other animals approached, and asked, “Why did you do that? The man was playing such lovely music!”
The leopard, cupping his ear, said, “Eh, what’d you say?”
So it doesn’t matter what I put on this blog, if you don’t start to apply it to your own life. Don’t think about it…just do it.
Thanks for reading.
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Order “Game. Set. Life.” today… http://www.amazon.com/Game-Set-Life-Performance-Sports/dp/1419654756
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MESSAGE #477 DON'T READ THIS MESSAGE IF YOU'RE MOTIVATED…
If you’re already motivated…DON’T READ TODAY’S MESSAGE!
I don’t know for sure how many people stopped reading, but I’m pretty sure that no one did.
Nobody ever says they’re too motivated. It’s 4:58AM and I am very motivated, but I’m not TOO motivated. Anyone can be motivated one day, but the key is to be motivated every day. I couldn’t wait to get up this morning, to me, that’s a good sign.
My friend, Rob Gurden is also motivated right now, but he’s in California and it’s 1:58AM there. He doesn’t want to go to sleep! Another good sign. Rob is getting ready to help open a new Gambill Tennis Academy in Orange County, CA.
It takes a lot to impress me, but I’m impressed by Rob and I’m impressed by people who take the time to email me to say that they are applying the principles that I teach and striving to become better. I’m not impressed by people who say they are going to do things. “I should have done this” or “I should have done that.” Don’t listen to the old prophet, Ishoulda. Take action!
I’m not impressed by big homes or fancy cars. You can keep your hip clothes and tiny cell phone.
I am impressed by people that are taking action to improve. People that are moving forward. People that help others. People who know that riches on the outside are nothing without riches on the inside.
You don’t have to be great at the start, but you need to start to be great.
So go ahead, impress me…at work…at school…at practice…at home.
Thanks for reading.
MESSAGE #441 IMPROVEMENT…
Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Oscar Nawrot.
I watch what I eat and I exercise regularly. I meditate to stay mentally and emotionally balanced. I try to be a good person.
I call this preventive medicine. Too many people wait until they get sick or become overweight to take care of themselves. Too many people wait until they have a nervous breakdown before they work on being mentally tough.
I challenge you to constantly improve in all areas of your life…BEFORE you need to. DON’T be on automatic. We’re only on this planet a short period of time – make the most of it.
Most people are satisfied with mediocrity, but if you do what everyone else does, you’re going to get what everyone else gets.
The great Melissa Sapio, who edited my book, “Game. Set. Life.,” got a perfect 4.0 throughout all of college. She told me her secret…
Exceed expectations. Just do a little bit more. Just get a little bit better…every day: on the court, in the classroom, in the boardroom and at home.
“You don’t have to be sick to get better.”
Thanks for reading.
MESSAGE #434
The person who succeeds is not the one who holds back, fearing failure, nor the one who never fails…but rather the one who moves on in spite of failure. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
Thanks for reading.
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