MESSAGE #791 UGANDA IS JUST LIKE THE UNITED STATES…

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“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.”
-WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

Last night I attended “BID TO BUILD UGANDA,” a silent auction and WARDANCE film showing in Princeton, organized by Yoga for Unity, and its founder, Kristen Boccumini. Boccumini has already raised $20,000 for this cause and plans on going to Uganda in February to help out.

In Uganda, there has been a civil war going on for 20 years.

“They live in conditions unimaginable to us always living in fear. Rebels come in the night and steal the children away, forcing boys to join and kill even their own family members while the girls are forced into sex slavery.”

The film, WARDANCE told us about five year old boys raising their three year old sisters. And babies born with HIV and dying soon after.

But luckily the children have a distraction – music and dance.

This moving film shows one tribe’s quest to become the best performers in all of Uganda.

Their instructors kept talking about “mood” and the importance of smiling. When they are playing music and dancing, all of their troubles vanish. Life is good.

They worked hard. “We are going to show them that we are giants.”

Remember David and Goliath?

The competition consisted of eight categories and they, the Potango tribe, ended up winning the Traditional Dance category. They were the first ones to ever bring home a trophy.

Nobody expected them to win, but they worked hard and believed in themselves.

“Even though we live in the war zone, we can still do great things in life.”

You may not live in the war zone, but you may have some adversity in your life. You may face challenges. The right attitude will determine what type of results you get.

Bob Ryland lived through segregation. He thought, “It is what it is. You can’t do anything about it.” But Ryland is one of the most optimistic people I know.

You should have seen the smiles on the children of Uganda when they were singing and dancing.

If Bob Ryland and the children of Uganda can smile in adverse situations, I think we have it pretty good. I know I will never complain again.

Don’t count the days, make the days count.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #790 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRET…

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“I don’t want to find myself in a nursing home someday, thinking that all I did was play it safe.”
-CHARLIE EITEL

I have dedicated myself to researching how the great ones became great.

One reason is because they take risks.

Most athletes like to stay in their comfort zones. For example, I see too many doubles players stay back at the baseline because they are more comfortable. But the truth is, they will win more points at the net, even if they don’t want to be there. They think that if they come in, they will either get passed or lobbed.

They’re worried about something that hasn’t even happened yet!
This happens in the workforce too. Many people don’t want to start their own business for fear of failure.

Many musicians don’t like to play in front of audiences for fear of a poor performance.

The winners take risks because their mindset is that they can get back whatever they lose.

It’s not about the results anyway. The great ones know that it’s all about learning, improving and having fun.

How can you learn and improve if you don’t takes risks?

MESSAGE #789 READ THIS MESSAGE UPSIDE-DOWN…

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˙ƃuıpɐǝɹ ɹoɟ sʞuɐɥʇ
¿ʎɐpoʇ ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp op oʇ ƃuıoƃ noʎ ǝɹɐ ʇɐɥʍ
˙ƃuıʇʇǝƃ sı ǝslǝ ǝuoʎɹǝʌǝ ʇɐɥʍ ʇǝƃ oʇ ƃuıoƃ ǝɹ,noʎ ‘ƃuıop sı ǝslǝ ǝuoɹǝʌǝ ʇɐɥʍ op noʎ ɟı ˙pʍoɹɔ ǝɥʇ ɯoɹɟ ʇno ƃuıpuɐʇs – ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp ƃuıɥʇǝɯos ƃuıop sı lnɟssǝɔɔns ƃuıǝq oʇ sʎǝʞ ǝɥʇ ɟo ǝuo

MESSAGE #788 NOT NECESSARY…

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“A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.”
-SENECA

Have you ever gotten so worried and stressed out about something and then it never actually happened?

We, as humans, tend to worry about the past and the future, but the past is already behind us and the future has yet to come.

The only thing we have control over is our present.

What we do on a daily basis creates our destiny.

What are you doing every day? Are you reacting to life, or are you creating your life?

What causes you pleasure? What causes you pain?

Things have to be important enough to you in order for you to take action.

Is making money important to you?
Is helping others important to you?
Is being the best athlete important to you?

Think about who you want to be in the future, and then stay in the present and make it happen.

Make a list. Check it twice. And get to work.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #787 A GOOD WEEKEND…

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“A true champion is someone who does their best when they feel their worst.”

Today’s message is especially dedicated to Patricia Koznick.

This weekend I was coaching and speaking to some of the top 10-year old tennis players in the country at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the USTA Northeast Cross-Sectional Training Camp.

Here’s what I noticed on Day 1…

1. They all have great strokes.
2. They all need work on their mental game.

At the end of Day 1, I gave a seminar to the players, coaches and parents on the mental side of sports and life. I talked about effort and attitude and how it’s less about being the best and more about giving your best.

Well guess what?

Here’s what I noticed on Day 2…

1. They all had better attitudes.
2. They were using the techniques that I talk about the day before.

I saw increased energy levels.

I saw positive body language, even when the score was not in their favor.

I saw players taking action and improving.

See, many people learn techniques, but then the go and do what they normally do.

Knowledge is nothing without action.

You can’t just take a class and then assume that it will help you.

You can’t just take a piano lesson and assume that you will become good.

You have to take action. Use what you know.

What are you going to do today?

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #786 OOPS!!

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“Adversity causes some men to break, others to break records.”
-author unknown

I had a very important talk yesterday.

I forgot my notes.

Yesterday was Day 1 of the USTA Northeast X-Sectional Training Camp at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. There were sixteen of the top 10 and under players from the Middle States, Eastern and New England sections of the USTA.

I was one of the coaches for the singles and doubles play. At the end of the day, I gave a talk to the players, parents and coaches, but I had a little bit of a challenge.

As I was being introduced, I was getting organized and looking for my notes, and then I heard, “…and here’s Ed Tseng.”

I had to go on; no time to find my notes.

So I had to make a decision.

Was I going to freeze up, or trust my instincts and do what I’ve done over thirty times in the past year?

I went with my instincts.

I think it went well. Very well.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. You can’t control that. You can only control your reaction. Sometimes you have to improvise.

If I relied on my notes during my talks, I probably would have been in big trouble. But I try to be more mindful and speak from the heart. That is why I was able to confidently go on and give my talk.

What do you do? What potential challenges might you face?

But more importantly…

How will you react?

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #785

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“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.”
-BRUCE BARTON

I leave in about six minutes to head into New York City for a weekend USTA training camp for the top players in the northeast at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

I will be coaching at this camp, as well as giving a talk to the players, coaches and parents.

Part of my message will have to do with the quote above.

It’s not about your circumstances.

It’s about your perceptions.

How you perceive your situations is directly related to your performance.

All of the ability is already inside of you.

Do the right things, get the right results…

Do what champions do and before you know it…

YOU WILL BE A CHAMPION.

Next blog message from NYC.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #784 IT’S ABOUT OTHERS…

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“If you want happiness for an hour – take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day – go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month – get married.
If you want happiness for a year – inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else.”
-From the Federal Palace Restaurant in Hong Kong (Thanks, Guy Kawasaki!)

Last night I attended a benefit for HomeFront, an organization that helps families “break the cycle of poverty.”

Every single night, HomeFront helps…

-Over 450 children and parents sleep soundly in a safe place

-171 people reside in HomeFront’s permanent, affordable, service-enriched housing

92% of their funds go directly to their programs, and they have just started a Women’s Initiative, empowering women.

I went to show my support and to donate a signed copy of my book. I also spoke briefly and shared a story on how the key to true happiness is helping others.

I remember a story about two men standing at their friend’s funeral and one of them asking the other, “How much did he leave?”

The other responded, “He left…everything.”

See, many of us go through life trying to accumulate as many things as we can – homes, cars, electronics, but we can’t take any of that with us.

At the end of our lives, it doesn’t matter how much we have.

All that matters is what we leave behind. How much of a difference we made. How we treated others.

I don’t get paid to blog every day, but it motivates me to motivate others. It’s my way of making a difference, in my own little way.

Am I perfect?

Not even close.

But I’m doing what I love and appreciate every single day – I’m just like you – trying to become a little bit better every day.

I have been fortunate to realize that external riches are nothing without internal riches. Now go make a difference today!

Have a super day, everyone.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #783 KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL…

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“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.”
-ANTHONY ROBBINS

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Kari Adams in Princeton, NJ.

When we play sports, we need to focus. We need to keep our eyes on the ball.

But focus is not enough.

We need to focus on the right things.

1. Focus on your strengths, but focus on your weaknesses too.
2. Focus on where you want to go, not where you don’t.
3. Focus on the things you can control and forget about the things you can’t.

Goal setting is a major component. Write down your goals. Make them specific. Set a time frame in which to reach them. “You can’t hit a target you cannot see.”

My friend, Jeff Greenwald, author of “The Best Tennis of Your Life,” has an interesting perspective on focus. He says that when you’re playing a point, you need to have laser focus. Pretend that your eyes are a camera lens and you are zoomed in. But after the point, have the lens go to wide-angle and relax. Take in nature, have gratitude.

I really like this technique because most people think you have to focus all the time. This isn’t true…or possible. Focus and then relax. I have parents tell me that their child has no focus and that they’re looking at the other courts during a tournament. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that if they can re-gain their focus for the next point.

You can use this at work or school too. My friend and mentor, the great Dr. Rob Gilbert, Professor of Sports Psychology at Montclair State University and author of “How to Have Fun without Failing Out” talks about the 15-minute rule. If you’re doing work (business or school), go all-out for fifteen minutes and then take a quick break. Then get back to work. Keep alternating between your work and breaks. This will keep you fresh and focused.


Thanks for reading.

For all you athletes out there, don’t miss my workshop with internationally known yoga master, Naime Jezzeny at Yogaphoria in New Hope, PA on October 4th from 10am-11am. The free session will focus on the mental side of sports and the power of yoga to improve focus, gain strength and prevent injuries.

MESSAGE #782 HOW TOUGH ARE YOU?

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“Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream.”
-PETER MCWILLIAMS

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Sarah McLoughlin.

Anyone can perform well when they are feeling good.

But the true winners perform well, even if they are not on top of their game; when things get uncomfortable.

The problem is, when things get tough, people give up. They run away. The great ones stick with it. They actually enjoy it more.

You can’t avoid challenges, but you can decide how you react to them (right, Serena?).

Watch the video below https://www.edtseng.com (thanks to Sarah McLoughlin for sharing this) to see what tough people do….

Thanks for reading.