I can make ANY of you quit smoking.

Matter of fact, I could make ANY of you get rid of ANY bad habit you want.

I did it last night and I can do it for you…

You have to really WANT to kick the habit. Here’s what I did.

I helped my friend Angela quit smoking in less than 5 minutes. How did I do it?

Simple…

I just told Angela to take out her checkbook and write me a check for $1,000. I then said, “If you don’t smoke from now until December 31, 2008, I will give you your check back. If you DO smoke, I will cash the check.”

See, it’s too easy to SAY you’ll quit smoking. The problem with that is, when you do it on your own, it’s too easy to go back. But when something is on the line, and other people know about it, you’ll stick with it.

You can do ANYTHING you want, if you WANT it bad enough.

I’ve heard of grandmothers lifting cars that were on top of their grandchildren. An overweight father losing 50 lbs without thinking about it so he was fit enough to do a blood transfusion for his sick daughter.

Do you believe you can do ANYTHING you want?

I do.

“It’s not too late to be what you might have been.”

Thanks for reading.

Today’s message is dedicated to the Robbinsville Lady Tennis Ravens, who this year won 7 times more matches than they did last year.

Teamwork is an individual strength that is necessary to achieve peak performance. Positive psychologists also call it citizenship.

Teamwork is needed in practically everything you do. Your team may consist of your family, friends, classmates, coaches, teammates in sports, co-workers, etc.

Remember, TEAM stands for Together Everyone Achieves More…as long as there is a Total Effort from All Members.

Many people know the first part of this acronym, but not the second part…it’s just as important.

A team is only as strong as it’s weakest link. If one person slacking, it brings the whole team down. That is why a total effort from all members is crucial.

Use all the brains you have…and all that you can borrow.

A teammate can be your accountability partner, someone who knows your goals and makes you stick to them. When you do it on your own, it’s easier to put things off.

Your responsibilities as a teammate are:

Lead by example
Play all out
Have good character
Put the team first
Be positive
Support your team
Make good decisions
Be fair to everyone on your team

EVERYONE you affect or that affect you, directly OR indirectly is on your team. That includes officials, your boss, and even your enemies. See, it’s the people that challenge you the most that makes you the strongest. There are always lessons to be learned, so remember to be grateful for even the most difficult situations and people.

If your attitude is that EVERYONE is plotting to do you good…

SUCCESS IS INEVITABLE.

“It’s always better to go all out and lose, than to not try and win.”

Thanks for reading.

Today’s message is especially dedicated to Kylee and Cara Longo.

Last night was the Paul Green School of Rock Music’s Winter Concert in West Windsor, NJ. It was the first time I attended this event, so I didn’t have any expectations going in. All I have to say is…

I was blown away!

The ages ranged from 7-17 and it was just like a rock concert. Kylee and Cara Longo played keyboards, guitar, bass, and even sang. While they are 7 and 10 years old and most of the cast were older and bigger, they did an amazing job. It takes a lot of courage, discipline and focus to perform under that type of pressure.

Many times we look to have perfect performances and have everything come easy, but when we can perform under extreme conditions and overcome those pressures, that is when we learn and grow the most.

They performed songs such as “Wheel in the Sky,” “Barracuda,” “Ballroom Blitz,” “Carry on Wayward Son,” and “Hotel California” to give you an idea.

What also impressed me was the fact that most of the kids could play multiple instruments. This made me very excited because when people play different instruments, then they actually get better results because they do not play the instruments mindlessly. Often times we are on “automatic” when we play an instrument and take it for granted. That is the exact reason why many elite pianists learn music away from the piano.

Mike Morpurgo owns the Princeton School of Rock Music, which originated in Philadelphia. These students practice 4 hours per week, which shows their dedication, drive and persistence.

The Princeton School of Rock Music Winter Concert was an unbelievable experience on many levels. The performers amazed me with their skills. I was not only impressed, but inspired.

Great job, Longo Sisters!

Thanks for reading.

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the one and only Nicole Arendt.

Nicole Arendt is a former WTA Touring Pro and now a coach at the National High Performance Academy and Head Coach of the Cran Brook School in Sydney, Australia. Arendt was a 4-time All-American at the University of Florida and was inducted into the Gator Hall of Fame in 2001.

Nicole’s highest rank in singles was #49 in the world and #3 in doubles. She has 16 doubles titles under her belt and has make the finals of Wimbledon and won the US Open Masters (above) in 2006.

I spoke with Nicole yesterday and asked her what it took to succeed on the pro tour.

The first thing she talked about was the mental side of the game. You need self-efficacy; believe in your self, especially when you’re not winning. Arendt talked about having the desire and passion for all aspects of the game.

To succeed on the pro tour, you also need to want and like to travel. Especially in tennis, where there is no off-season, so you are basically living out of your suitcase. Many times you are travelling by yourself and people don’t realize how much of a challenge that can be.

The final thought from Nicole was that you need to be willing to put yourself on the line and be able to handle the spotlight. Whether you make it or break it, it’s all you. There is no one to blame.

I first met Nicole Arendt in 1997 and have been fortunate enough to become friends with her and spend some time with her on the pro tour. Her accomplishments speak for themselves, but what impresses me the most about Nicole is that she is so modest, humble, and gives it her all in everything that she does. If you met her on the street, you wouldn’t know that she was one of the top tennis players of her time.

So the next time you watch the US Open and think about the fact that it is impossible to become a player on the pro tour, think of Nicole Arendt – with belief in oneself, passion, desire and the right mindset, anything can happen.

Thank you, Nicole.

And thank you for reading.