MESSAGE #1060 FIXED VS GROWTH MINDSETS

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Carol Dweck, Ph.D. at Stanford University.

I just finished listening to and interview with Carol Dweck, Ph.D. and author of “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.”

I talk about Dr. Dweck in my book, “Game. Set. Life.” and her research on fixed versus growth mindsets.

In a fixed mindset, people worry about their skills/talent and think that you only have a certain amount.

People with growth mindsets feel that the sky is the limit and that it takes challenges for you to grow and improve.

With a growth mindset, setbacks are opportunities to grow and improve.

I asked Dr. Dweck what an athlete can focus on when they are not playing their best game, or when the pressure is on.

She said that instead of beating yourself up after a loss, you should think about what you can do to improve next time and what you can work on in practice. The key is effort and practice, not results. Don’t worry about talent.

Dweck talked about her own career and said that “Everything involves setbacks.”

It’s true.

And I always say, “A setback is a setup for a comeback.”

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #1059 A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Eric Tecce.

Goethe once said, “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is; treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.”

Think about how you treat yourself.

Think about how you treat others.

Many years ago, at a school in England, there was a computer glitch. It classified a class of gifted students as below average and it classified a class of below average students as gifted.

Five months later, the error was found.

But the most amazing discovery was after they tested the students.

The gifted students (who were classified as below average) had significantly lower IQ scores.

The below average students (who were classified as gifted) had significantly higher IQ scores.

Interesting.

What does this mean?

As an athlete, coach, teacher or parent, we should always assume that greatness is attainable.

Because it is.

Remember Henry Ford…

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way, you’re right.”

MESSAGE #1058 WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Rich Benvin in Denver, CO.

Success is often determined by our verbage.

Have you ever used any of the following?

“I can’t do it.”

“I have to win this match.”

“If only I had more more money.”

These are limiting beliefs.

Try the following, instead…

“I can’t do it yet.”

“I want to win this match.”

“I am grateful for the money I have and I am confident that more is on the way.”

That’s a different mindset – a winning mindset. And anyone can have one.

MESSAGE #1057 PAIN MANAGEMENT

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I recently received an email from a psychology student at UCLA asking, what is your favorite “pain management” technique that you would share with a marathon runner to help get through “the wall”?

As a runner, pain is part of the process and as long as you are not risking injury, you have to push through it.

Too often, our mind gives up before our body.

In yoga, when you feel you cannot hold a pose any longer, the secret is to shift your focus to another body part, your breathing or anything besides the fact that you cannot hold it any longer. Once you fight through that pain, it becomes easier. Running (and life) is the same way.

If you don’t feel like working out anymore, or if you don’t feel like making more sales calls, or you don’t feel like studying anymore…FIGHT THROUGH IT.

And remember…

Don’t Quit. Can’t Fail.

MESSAGE #1056 JUST DO IT

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I’ve seen many amazing things in sports, but on May 26, 2010, I experienced the most amazing thing…well, almost.

I was selected to interview a player at the Mrs. G’s Very Important Blogger event at the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, Trenton Thunder game. Little did I know, it turned out to be one of the Yankees’ top prospects, Brandon Laird.

We had a great conversation before the game in the hallway, next to the clubhouse, underneath the stadium. To checkout highlights and a video, click HERE. Laird then proceeded to hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run), with a walk-off home run with two outs, to win the game. It was only the second time someone hit for the cycle in franchise history. The reason why it was “almost” the most amazing thing I have experienced in sports was because I left when the game was still tied, 5-5. (I know, shame on me).

Well, this past Saturday night, amidst a whirlwind Special Olympics Summer Games weekend, I headed back over to the stadium, on, ironically, Special Olympics night. I again spent some time with Laird before the game.

When we were talking back on 5/26, I asked him what his best home run he ever hit was, and he said it was in a playoff game in high school.

The first thing Brandon said to me this past Saturday night was, “Remember last time you asked me what my best home run was? It was the night we spoke, when I hit for the cycle.”

We had another great conversation about success and mental toughness. He talk about his new routine and I asked the million-dollar question…

“What do you do when you don’t feel like doing your routine?”

“I just suck it up and do it anyway.”

Great answer, Brandon. And notice he used the “J” word…just.

In any great performance, they “just do it.”

When I asked Laird how he hit for the cycle, he said, “I worked my way to a hitter’s count and just got a good pitch to hit.”

Laird went on to become Eastern League Player of the Week and then Eastern League Player of the Month. It is amazing to see such an amazing athlete, but the thing I like most about Brandon Laird is not his athletic ability. The thing I like most about him is that he is a great person who has great character. He’s already in the Major Leagues, if you ask me.

Watch the video below for part of our conversation…

MESSAGE #1055 SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER GAMES RECAP AND VIDEO

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It was a busy but great weekend at the Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games 2010 at The College of New Jersey.

All of the tennis players played hard, had fun and did their best. What else can you ask for?

There were thousands of athletes, fans and volunteers. It is truly the best weekend of the year for me. Congratulations to all that made the 2010 Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games a success. Enjoy the photos and video recap.

MESSAGE #1054 SPECIAL OLYMPICS DAY 2

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Today was Day 2 of the Special Olympics Summer Games and it was filled with more inspiration, all-out effort and great teamwork.

I am always in awe of the great athletes, volunteers, family and organizers.

Where else can you see an athlete happy as can be because they gave it their all, even though they finished in last place?

We can all learn from them.

Here is the Special Olympics motto:

Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

MESSAGE #1053 SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER GAMES DAY 1

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In this video blog, Ed interviews Special Athlete and gold medalist, Alex Armour. Get ready to be impressed with Alex’s special gift.

MESSAGE #1052 50 THINGS TO DO (ASAP)

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Want to reach peak performance?

Then do these 50 things ASAP:

1. Meditate
2. Be a builder-upper not breaker-downer
3. Eat vegetarian (as much as you can)
4. Drink more water
5. Write a gratitude letter
6. Write down 5 things you want to accomplish by the end of the year (then do whatever it takes)
7. Talk less, do more
8. Complain less
9. Compliment more
10. Make the important thing the important thing
11. Cultivate gratitude every day
12. Play with your dog
13. Catch someone doing something right
14. Switch from coffee to green tea
15. Buy someone special a gift…just because
16. Smile
17. Laugh
18. Just do it, whether you feel like it or not
19. Be a leader
20. Be a teacher
21. Be a student
22. Strive for constant improvement
23. Go all out, every day
24. Don’t get irritated, get intrigued
25. Give more than you get
26. Be yourself
27. Fail forward
28. Sleep less
29. Exercise first thing in the morning
30. Call Success Hotline 973.743.4690
31. Do something that scares you
32. Read more
33. Watch TV less
34. Learn in the car (audio books)
35. Practice yoga
36. Focus on the process not the product
37. Don’t be well-rounded; be sharp-edged
38. Listen, really listen
39. Be mindful
40. Slow down when you’re in a rush
41. Relax when the pressure’s on
42. Breathe deeply
43. Stay in the present moment
44. Do a little bit extra
45. Act as if it were impossible to fail
46. Dress to impress
47. Be the change you wish to see in the world
48. Get a mentor
49. Be a mentor
50. Leave a legacy

MESSAGE #1051 WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM A KID

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Last night was the major league debut of baseball phenom, Stephen Strasburg, age 21.

He is a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals, who selected him with the first pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. Strasburg signed for a record $15.1 million contract on August 17, 2009. ESPN called him the “most-hyped pick in draft history” and Sports Illustrated called him the “most hyped and closely watched pitching prospect in the history of baseball.”

Now, there are many top prospects, but many of them never make it.

I think, if Strasburg stays healthy, he will make it.

Why? Because he works hard. And he’s humble. He goes all-out in every start.

So what did Strasburg do last night in his major league debut?

He struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates (a Nationals single-game record) over seven innings in a 5-2 victory. Oh, and his last pitch was faster than his first – 99 miles per hour.

“They didn’t really talk to me about a game plan or how to attack certain hitters,” the 21-year-old Strasburg said. “They just told me to go out there and enjoy it.”

I will be certain to follow this young man’s career over the next few years and I have a good feeling about it.

In his post-game interview he said the 5 most powerful words…

“I definitely think anything’s possible.”