When is the best time to give up?

Well, that’s easy.

The same time that you would tell a baby to stop trying to walk…

NEVER.

If you know what you want to accomplish, keep going until you get there.

Thanks for reading.

“Am I being hypnotized by society?”

or

“Do I know exactly why I’m here and CREATING the life of my dreams?”

Let me expand on that. I think that many people are letting their friends, family, the news and television control who they are instead of actually asking themselves who they are or why they are here. People are sheep, they just follow the flock. Just because your father was a doctor doesn’t mean YOU should be a doctor. Just because all the magazines show and say that everyone should look like a model, doesn’t mean it’s true. And guess what? We don’t need to super-size our food either.

And please stop using artificial sweeteners!!! Who cares how many calories you consume if you’re buried six feet under!

Athletes – you’re not competing against each other…you’re competing against yourselves. You don’t need to be a Michael Jordan, but you CAN become the best YOU! Are you just going out and playing or are you making the most of your practices and matches?

Everyone is so busy today, especially the kids, that we don’t have time to think about where we’re going. We don’t have time to get gas because we’re too busy driving. So make some time in your schedule that you can just think and be yourself and think about where you want to go. Be the architect of your future, not the prisoner of your past.

People think that bigger homes, nicer cars and the latest fashion are success…but they’re wrong. But that’s not it at all. What is?…

Time for yourself is everything. Creating the life that you want is everything. Enjoying and making the most out life is everything.

Now go out and start living the life of your dreams, but remember…

“You can’t make a dream come true if you don’t have a dream.”

Thanks for reading.

Today’s message is especially dedicated to all the inmates at the Mercer County Juvenile Detention Center.

Well, I walked into the Detention Center yesterday with its two sets of 20 foot fences and didn’t know what to expect. I checked in at security and then went into another room to wait. After that I was greeted by the recreation director and was searched by a guard.

I was prepared to give talks to three different groups and after I set up, the boys in the green shirts and khaki pants walked in single file. There was a bit of tension in the air and I didn’t make any eye contact initially. Well after a brief introduction, I started my talk. I knew I had to capture their attention and earn their respect within the first 2 minutes. Those of you that have heard me talk know that I incorporate magic into my talks as metaphors. So within the first 2 minutes, I made a glass coke bottle disappear into a paper bag and the crowd went wild.

The first group was the older boys, the second group younger and the third group was all girls.

I had high expectations going into the talks and I think that they exceeded expectations. I can’t speak for the inmates but to me good indicators were the following comments…

“Thank you Mr. Tseng…Thank you Mr. Tseng.”

“Are you coming back next week?”

Many of them came up to me afterwards and shook my hand.

One of the greatest moments of my life.

I look forward to helping create a mentoring program for them and tennis/fitness programs this summer.

Thanks for reading.

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Brian Jud.

It’s a rainy day today in Princeton, New Jersey. My lessons are rained out so I have nothing to do today. Usually I’m high energy, but I woke up today a bit sluggish and because of the cancellation of my lessons and the rain, I had an idea of just doing nothing. I felt lazy. But then I looked in the paper to see if there were any interesting events going on today, like speakers speaking or authors signing.

And LOW AND BEHOLD…I found a local author doing a book signing today on a book called “Map to Happiness.” YESSSSSSSSS!!!

Just up my alley…happiness is a key component to peak performance. No, it’s THE component to peak performance.

Well, needless to say, my energy level shot up, I felt like a new person and you bet your bottom dollar that I’m going to that signing. Did I just say, “bet your bottom dollar?”

Did I consume a lot of caffeine? Did I take uppers? Did I have a lot of sugar? No. I just got excited about something.

What gets you excited?

Why aren’t you doing more of that?

Don’t wait to FEEL excited, just start doing more of the things that get you excited and less of what doesn’t.

Put excitement into your schedule, especially if you are stressed from work, school or anything else.

Thanks for reading.