Well, today was a special day.
Not only did I throw out the first pitch at the Trenton Thunder game; I also asked my girlfriend, Sarah McLoughlin to marry me after the pitch.
I went 2-for-2…I threw a strike and she said yes!
A very special Thank You to the Thunder staff and players, especially Bill, Krysten, Rachel, Dave, Justin Snyder and the great Brandon Laird for their help and support on this special day.
So here I am sitting in the front row at the Trenton Thunder game.
I have been spending some time with several of the players before the games and I am amazed at how driven these professional athletes are.
I have given some of them a copy of my book and a mental toughness piece I wrote, with great feedback.
It amazes me how thirsty these players are.
Thirsty for knowledge and constant improvement…they have growth mindsets.
It doesn’t matter if you are a professional baseball player, a dentist, or a pianist…if you’re not thirsty, you’re not growing.
This blog is not to give you something to drink…this blog is to make you thirsty.
Drink up.
How you do anything is how you do everything.
I have seen many athletes (and non-athletes) focus on speed.
They think everything is a race. When they are warming up for a practice, they want to come in first. When they are writing a paper, they want to compete it first. When they are working on a project…well, you get the idea.
Here’s the problem…
When you rush, you are training yourself to be sloppy. You are focusing on quantity, not quality.
When you train yourself in the wrong way, you have to go back and do it over again (re-training your body, re-writing that paper or re-doing that project).
The great Dan Millman once told me, the key is to focus on excellence in the moment. Be mindful. Be great.
Try it, just for today.
Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Michael Sachs, Ph.D. at Temple University.
Ever notice how athletes are superstitious?
Many baseball players don’t step on the foul line when hustling on and off the field.
Tennis players bounce the ball a certain number of times before they serve.
Eating the same meal before competition is also quite common.
Michael Jordan wore his college team shorts under his NBA uniform.
Not shaving until you get out of your slump happens all the time too.
Silly things, right?
Wrong.
New research shows that you may actually perform better if you are superstitious.
Rituals and lucky charms can help you–if you believe they can. They can give you added confidence.
When talking to Austin Romine, one of the Yankees’ top prospects who just played in the MLB Futures Game and the Eastern League All-Star Game, he told me that he has the same routine every single day. “Consistency off the field turns into consistency on the field,” shared Romine.
A long time ago, I wished someone good luck before a competition and they said, “I don’t need luck–I create my own luck.”
I guess they were right.
The less tension and effort, the faster and more powerful you will be.
-BRUCE LEE
If you’re an athlete, go back to a time when you were performing at your peak. Notice how you weren’t exerting that much energy? Weren’t you “just” doing it?
Be loose, clear your mind. But be focused.
When you are practicing, you should think about your technique.
When you are competing, you should be more automatic.
Take a deep breath and trust your game.
You have only one job today.
Take a risk.
Now, don’t take this the wrong way…I’m not saying you should quit your job and sell coconuts on the beach, but you should get out of your comfort zone — in your sport, in your job and in school.
Eleanor Roosevelt said that you should do one thing a day that scares you. She knew that you have to take risks to get results.
One of the biggest risks I took was starting my own business. I was scared to death, but I did it. And I’m glad.
If I had stayed in my comfort zone, I would still just be a tennis pro.
But now, not only am my own boss, I am a speaker, author and authority on mental toughness.
With big risk comes big reward.
One of my biggest risks became one of the best decisions I ever made.
Someone once said, “Go out on a limb, because that’s where the fruit is.”
Never let your fears stand in the way of your dreams.
-author unknown
What do you aspire to be?
What level is your effort?
If your effort is less than your aspirations, the space in between is just HOPE.
Recently, I had a female student who has been progressing nicely. Unfortunately, she goes to a school that has a strong tennis team, so she did not make the team last year.
But she’s not giving up. In fact, she’s working harder.
I recommended that she play some tournaments to get match-tough and experience some pressure situations.
She did. And played well. She lost, but she learned a lot and gained much confidence by just putting herself out there.
I have another student who, when he started playing tournaments, lost in the first two rounds for the first year. But he persisted, and then started winning. He now consistently gets to the finals of tournaments.
Most people don’t like to lose, so they don’t compete. But those are the people who don’t grow.
My students’ efforts are high.
I like that. And I’m proud of them. With a mindset like that, you can’t lose. The results come as a by-product.
Effort = Aspirations = Success
You cannot control your emotions. They go up and down, like a roller coaster.
That’s normal.
However, most people’s actions are congruent with their emotions.
But that’s not what the peak performers do.
The peak performers maintain a high level in their actions, regardless of how they feel.
You can feel tired, negative, or not into it, but it is your choice what kind of attitude you have and what kind of effort you give.
The greatest athletes in the world can do their best when they feel their worst.
And so can you.
*BOOK SIGNING TODAY AT EVERYONE’S RACQUET IN PHILADELPHIA. 3PM. http://www.everyonesracquet.com
