Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Ben Zislis.

Once upon a time, there was a tennis player. This tennis player was playing on his high school team. Well, one day, his coach says, “I’m going to move you from Varsity to Junior Varsity.”

The player said, “Alright, but why?”

“Because you’re lazy.”

It was at that moment that the tennis player thought, “NOBODY is EVER going to call me lazy again in tennis.”

So he went down to JV and all he did was become the most ENERGETIC player on the team. He started hustling and really working hard. He was playing better and really pumping all the other teammates up. After a match one day, an older gentleman approached the young man. “Son, I like what ya got. How would you like a scholarship to Harvard University?”

This young man went on to Harvard, graduated and began working. Well, he got a job as a sales person for some big time company, and worked for a few months. Then one day he got fired. So he went into his boss’ office, and said, “Why did I get fired?”

“Because you’re lazy.”

So the young man thought to himself, “NOBODY is EVER going to call me lazy again in sales.”

He didn’t change anything in his selling approach.

He didn’t learn anything new about sales.

All he did was become the most energetic sales person.

He went on to become a very successful salesperson.

So that’s it…

In order to INSTANTLY improve at what you do, just INCREASE your energy.

It could be at tennis, work, relationships, teaching, telling a story, public speaking…anything.

Thanks for reading.

Yesterday, I met one of my idols, Jenny Murphy.

Jenny is a college student.

Jenny plays tennis, intramural football and soccer.

Jenny has been named player of the week…

Jenny is legally blind.

When playing tennis, she HEARS the ball hit by the other player and then can only SEE the ball when it bounces on her side of the court.

When playing QUARTERBACK for her football team, the receivers communicate with her by clapping or talking.

And when she plays soccer, I believe she is the goalie.

Jenny is one of my all-time heroes; if she can be a successful athlete while being legally blind…

IMAGINE WHAT YOU CAN DO…

“It’s not the hand that you’re dealt, it’s how you play the game.”

Thanks, Jenny.

And thank you for reading.

*NEWS*

CALLING ALL STUDENTS…

Join me tonight at 8pm for a phone seminar on “How to Succeed in School” with Dr. Rob Gilbert and Melissa Sapio.

The call is free…(just long distance charges)

The phone seminar number is 641 715 3200

The access code is 1072571 and then hit #

Joe Clawson is a player on the Skor Mustangs for the Special Olympics. #32 and his team had a game yesterday versus the Jaguars at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center in Lawrenceville, NJ.

I went with the great Brad Abouchedid to show Joey our support. I was in for a surprise.

Here are a few things I saw…

Leadership
Communication
Athleticism
Amazing Support from Coaches, Teammates, family and friends
Focus
Inspiration
and Lots of Smiles!!!

Final score…Joey Clawson and his Skor Mustangs: 37, the Jaguars: 22.

Even though the Mustangs scored more points, EVERYBODY WON!!!

When you give it your all, help others, have fun and learn…you WIN!

I interviewed #32, Joey Clawson after the game. I found out that the Mustangs have been undefeated for 5 years. Mr. Clawson, played tennis for Ewing High School and is now attending The College of New Jersey.

Joe has won 3 silver medals and 2 gold medals for the Special Olympics in States and Sectionals. He also was named best Athlete in 2003 by all the coaches.

I asked Joe what skills he needed to be a great basketball player. He said it took Concentration, Fitness and Teamwork.

Joe Clawson also feels that you can use those same principles in school and other areas of life. In the fall, he helps coach a local football team.

I can’t tell you how many times I said the word “Wow” during the game yesterday. I saw a tremendous amount of desire by all the special athletes, which reminds me of a quote from the Special Olympics…

“Programmed into our very human nature is the desire to push limits. Here is the proof.”

Great job, Joe!!!

Thanks for reading.

A father lived with his son on a farm and it was time to collect some grains. As the boy looked out at the harvest, he said to his dad, “Look at how those wheat heads hold themselves up so proudly. They must be filled with the most grains.” “No my son” the father said, as he crushed those wheat heads that stood proudly, “they only contain a few poor shriveled grains. The ones that bow their heads humbly, are the ones filled with the large golden kernels of wheat.”

Humility and Modesty are two necessary individual strengths in sports and life. If you think about it, no successful person can do it on their own. You need family, friends, coaches, teammates, opponents, classmates, co-workers, bosses, employees, competitors, the list goes on…

You DO need Confidence and Self Efficacy, but you don’t need to act like the best thing since sliced bread.

Thank you Melissa S. for sharing this story.

Thanks for reading.

*MENTAL TRAINING SEMINAR FEB 10 @ CanDo Fitness, Princeton 4-6:30pm.*

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“Don’t wait to become the person you might have been…” -Ed Tseng