MESSAGE #652 STROKES OF GENIUS…

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Jon Wertheim has been a full-time member of the Sports Illustrated staff since September 1997. He is one of the magazine’s most versatile writers, as he covers a broad range of topics including tennis, the NBA, sports business and social issues. Wertheim’s work has been included in The Best American Sports Writing anthology and he has written several books, including “Blood in the Cage,” “Venus Envy,” and “Strokes of Genius,” which is currently on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Strokes-Genius-Federer-Greatest-Played/dp/0547232802).

I spoke with Jon yesterday and asked him the following questions…

ET: What, in your opinion are the three keys to success in writing?

JW: 1) Passion for the subject. Whether it’s a piece of fiction or a report from a school board meeting, it’s so much easier to write when you care about the topic. 2) Reporting. When you go nuts on the reporting, the pieces tend to write themselves. 3) Practice. Sounds trite, but like any skill, it only gets better with rehearsing.

ET: How long did it take for you to become successful?

JW: I don’t really look at myself as successful. There are pieces I wrote in high school that I’m still proud of; there are pieces I’ve written in the past year I’m embarrassed by. It’s a source of both exhilaration and frustration but every time you write, you start every time with a blank screen. You’re only as successful as your last piece of work.

ET: Do you think anyone can become a writer?

JW: I do think anyone can become a writer. It’s such a passion-driven pursuit that attitude and discipline mean more than level of education for instance. It helps if you enjoy reading. It helps if you have the discipline to see a piece through. It helps if you can type better than I can. But, especially, in this digital age, there are really few barriers to entry.

ET: What is your favorite aspect of your job?

JW: My favorite aspect of the job is telling compelling stories that, yes, are usually sports-related, but hit on deeper themes. Sports are such powerful tools to understand the culture: politics, sex, race, economics, etc.

ET: How does writing help you in other areas of life?

JW: Good question. The discipline writing demands carries over from everything to time on the treadmill to diet. It’s been a way to meet people from all over and travel the world. It’s given me the flexibility to work from home and see plenty of my wife and kids. But mostly it’s a source of enjoyment. Little puts me in a better mood than feeling as though I’ve had a strong writing session.

I have studied experts in all different fields, ie, sports, music, writing, painting, business and academics, and it is amazing to me how similar they all are. The above interview proves that point. Like Mr. Wertheim says, you need to have passion for what you do and you practice. Then, you can do anything.


Thanks for reading and thank you, Jon Wertheim.

MESSAGE #651 HARD WORK BEATS TALENT…

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I remember reading an interview with Carol Dweck, professor at Stanford and author of Mindset. She was talking about the great Olympic athlete, Bruce Jenner.

“He was incredibly talented in sports, and had a fixed mindset, really grooving on his talent, but he had a learning disability and he had to struggle in school. He saw that the struggling paid off and led him to learn. And then he thought one day, ‘What if I put that effort where I already have the talent? What will that do?’ So he transferred it and said he never would have had the sports success he had, had he not had this learning disability. Had he not come to understand the power of effort to ignite your ability, to increase your ability.”

Did Bruce Jenner have talent?

Of course he did, but we ALL have talent.

Many talented people don’t make it because they feel that they don’t need to put the work in. These people have a fixed mindset. And guess what? They are often surpassed by less talented people who do put the time in.

If you do what you love and work hard…the sky is the limit.



Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #650 I THOUGHT MY FIRST TALK WAS A FLOP!

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“I don’t divide the world into the weak and the strong, or the successes and the failures, those who make it or those who don’t. I divide the world into learners and non-learners.”
-BENJAMIN BARBER

I’ll never forget my first talk that I gave. It was at Montclair State University with the great Dr. Rob Gilbert to Disney interns. I decided to speak on the topic of goal setting. I spent quite some time preparing for the big day.

Well, Dr. Gilbert introduced me and I started talking about goals. I only spoke for a few minutes when he interrupted me and took over.

I felt bad. I felt like a failure. I felt that there was no hope.

But I didn’t give up. Instead, I thought, “What else could this mean?”

I later learned from Dr. Gilbert, that instead of just providing information, you need to use quotes, incorporate videos, tell stories, and give demonstrations to make your point.

And now, I feel very confident in my speaking abilities.

Instead of having a fixed mindset and thinking I wasn’t born to be a speaker, I had a growth mindset and focused on learning and improving.

That’s the key to reaching peak performance, it doesn’t matter whether you’re playing Bach or playing baseball.


Thanks for reading, and Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mothers out there.

For a free 10-minute peak performance consultation, email:

MESSAGE #649 I DON’T CARE ANYMORE…

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I often hear from loyal blog readers telling me what they want to accomplish in life.

I have a confession.

I don’t care.

I don’t care what you say.

I care what you do.

An ounce of action is worth a pound of theory.

Now get to work. And do something nice for mom tomorrow.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #648 I FOUND IT!

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“You don’t have to be great at the start, but you need to start to be great.” -author unknown

I found optimism – it was on TV last night.

I don’t watch much television. I feel that most of it is either a waste of time or trying to put fear into you (the news), or trying to make you buy something. I’ll watch Yankee games, some Tennis Channel and DVDs, that’s pretty much it.

Well last night, the great Melissa Sapio called me and left a message saying, “There’s something you might want to watch at 10pm.”

Boy, was she right! The show was called “Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.”

It was amazing.

Michael J. Fox, famous for his roles in “Family Ties,” “Spin City” and “Back to the Future,” was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1991. Instead of becoming a pessimist and asking why (Why me?), he became an optimist and asked how (How can I make the most of this?).

The show was about optimism, and how you can find it anywhere in the world.

You can find it in Lance Armstrong – who feels that his life is better because of his challenges.

You can find it in the man who hands out free newspapers in New York City – who feels that you can choose to be optimistic every day.

You can find it in dairy farmers – who now work together and think outside the box in times of trouble.

You can find it in Bhutan – where happiness is a national pastime.

You can find it at Wrigley Field – where their Chicago Cubs are cursed, but fans still feel that every season is a new one and that “this is the year.”

And finally, you can find it in Bill Murray on the golf course – who instantly got it when Michael J. Fox said, “It’s about doing the right thing.” He also said that it’s not about winning, it’s about accepting yourself.

Other quotes I liked…

“I have gratitude in everything I do.”

“Do what you love.”

“Be optimistic, it’s contagious.”

I think that some people are born optimistic, but everyone can become optimistic. It’s a choice.

You don’t need a lot of money to be optimistic. You don’t have to live in a certain part of the world. You just have to have the right mindset.

The show ended with Michael J. Fox taking his last shot on the golf course. He said, “This is gonna be the best shot of the day…”

And it was.



Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #647 SOURCES OF VITAL ENERGY

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“A person of intellect without energy added to it, is a failure.”
-SEBASTIEN-ROCH NICOLAS DE CHAMFORT

I see people working out at the gym and they are lifting all these weights and getting big, but they can’t even bend over to tie their shoes. What these people are actually looking for is more energy.

How is your energy…

after work or after school?

There are three types of energy: physical, mental, and emotional.

Your physical energy is affected by the way you manage your environment and the way you care for your body. Your mental energy is influenced by the inventory of to-dos and projects you store in your memory bank. And your emotions reflect your inner feelings and how you deal with them. Attending to all three of these areas will enable you to recharge your batteries, plug energy drains and increase your ability to maximize your capacity for greatness.

Rate the following statements on a scale from 1 to 5. 1=Never/NO and 5=Always/Yes

Physical Energy

I eat well and get plenty of exercise and sleep; I take care of my health. ____

I take time for myself to enjoy hobbies, pamper myself and otherwise physically re-energize. _____

My home environment is clean, neat and uncluttered, and reflects who I am. _____

My work environment is efficient, productive and facilitates productive activity. _____

My belongings are in good condition, meet my needs and reflect my personality. ____

Mental Energy

I only accept requests that fit within my time constraints and reflect my values and priorities. _____

I handle tasks as they come in (or make sure they’re appropriately scheduled for handling) instead of trying to keep a mental to-do list. ______

I only worry about the things I can personally control or address, and release those I can’t. ______

I accept what is and what can be, and let go of what isn’t, what could have been and what can’t be. ______

Emotional Energy

I express myself clearly, honestly and openly, even when it’s uncomfortable or about sensitive matters. ______

I don’t let issues build up – I address issues, problems and questions in the moment and only with the people they concern or who can do something about them. ______

I set clear boundaries on my time and attention. I respect other’s boundaries, and expect the same respect from them. ______

I accept and honor the emotions I feel – good or bad – and try not to judge myself or avoid my feelings. _______

Choose one of these types of energy and ask yourself the following questions…

Which statement is poorly rated or are out of sync with my priorities, values or needs?

What am I currently doing to address this issue?

What am I avoiding around this issue? Why?

What could be possible for me if my available energy in this area matched or exceeded my current needs?

What is stopping this from happening?

Finally, complete the following sentence…

This week, I will increase my energy by ______________________________.

NOW GO DO IT!


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #646 HOW TO SUCCEED…

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“To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To give of one’s self;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived —This is to have succeeded.”
-RALPH WALDO EMERSON

MESSAGE #645 SECRET TO SUCCESS…

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“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.”
-CARL ROGERS

DO WHAT YOU LOVE…

GIVE IT YOUR ALL…

LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES…

BE GRATEFUL…

HELP OTHERS…

THAT’S SUCCESS.

MESSAGE #644 WORLD LAUGHTER DAY…

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“Angels can fly because they take things lightly.”
-author unknown

Yesterday was World Laughter Day.

Is this a necessary day?

Well, we have Administrative Assistants Day.

We have National Nurses Day.

And we have National Boss Day.

I think that people create special days because of under appreciation.

The power of laughter is certainly under appreciated.

Laughter can strengthen your immune system, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve brain function, protect your heart, and make you feel good.

Oh, and I forgot…

Laughter can help you perform better in your sport and job.

Do you ever get nervous? Do you ever feel pressure? Do you ever feel like you’re thinking too much?

Laughter can help. It loosens you up.

When you laugh, you loosen up physically.
When you loosen up physically, you lighten up mentally.
When you lighten up mentally, you play better.
When you play better, you win!

Seek out ways to laugh: watch a funny DVD, go to a comedy club, listen to comedians while driving, seek out funny people.

“If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you.”
-STEVEN WRIGHT


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #643 MENTAL FITNESS TRAINING…

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“Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t that where the fruit is?”
-author unknown

All success begins in the mind.

Are you mentally tough in tennis…playing the piano…in your job?

Everyone knows that the mental side of sports and life is probably the key ingredient to success. But very few people have these skills.

Here’s the good news…

Your mental fitness is just like your physical fitness – it comes from training. You are not lacking mental skills, you just haven’t practiced them sufficiently.

Dr. Albert Ellis, an American psychotherapist, was the founder of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Ellis, who was born in 1913 and raised in the Bronx, was a painfully shy teenager, unable to bring himself to speak to women. But one afternoon he decided to make a change. He sat on a bench near the New York Botanical Garden and chatted with every woman who sat down. In one month he spoke with 130 women. “Thirty walked away immediately,” he said. “I talked with the other hundred, for the first time in my life, no matter how anxious I was. Nobody vomited and ran away. Nobody called the cops.”
(The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle)

So what does this mean?

You have to practice.

You have to put yourself in situations where you are forced to face your challenges.

The more comfortable you are being uncomfortable, the better your results will be.

Thanks for reading.