MESSAGE #1178 GO FOR IT!

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There are two types of people in the world…

Those who take action.

And those who don’t.

As I work on my forthcoming book, “The Pinstripe Principles: Why The Yankees Are So Mentally Tough (and how you can be too),” I am reaching out to people that I never thought I would ever talk to.

Yesterday, I interviewed Babe Ruth’s daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens. Last night I was chatting with Yogi Berra’s wife, Carmen.

Jorge Posada has already agreed to speak with me after the season is over.

I also spoke with John Zieman at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum and he already wants me to do a book signing next season.

And this is just the beginning.

But what does this have to do with you?

You have to take action.

You can’t just talk about writing a book, or taking up the guitar, or eating better, or studying, or practicing.

Anyone can talk about what they’re going to do.

But the successful people DO what they’re going to do.

MESSAGE #1173 THE SECRET TO SUCCESS

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to all the great coaches that attended the MSC Coaches Clinic featuring basketball coaches from Rutgers, Villanova, St. Joe’s, Robert Morris and Temple.

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.

-GEORGE HALAS

Have you ever heard anyone say…

“I wish I would have partied more.”

“I wish I would have held back.”

“I wish I would have slacked off more.”

Of course not. You see, in sports and life, it is better to go all out than it is to hold back.

So the next time you don’t “feel like” doing what you need to do, whether it’s practicing, studying or cleaning the house, just do it anyway. And do it well. If you do, you’re better than most everyone else.

And guess what type of results you will get?

MESSAGE #1171 WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE PRESSURE’S ON?

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Well, the Yankees were losing 3-0 in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Minnesota Twins last night and they came back to win 6-4.

“The switch kind of turns on when the postseason rolls around over here,” says Yankee Nick Swisher.

That’s a winning mindset.

Most people fold when the pressure is on.

But the great ones get turned on by the pressure.

It’s a choice.

What will you choose?

MESSAGE #1170 SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY

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The other day I was getting ready to teach a young boy. Before we went on the court, I said, “This just might be the best lesson you’ve ever had.”

“I thought EVERY LESSON is the best I’ve ever had?” he responded.

I liked his answer.

So we went on the court and his energy level was exceptionally high, even in the warmup. We started hitting and he was totally focused and high-energy.

It truly was one of the best lessons he ever had.

And he created it in his mind first.

The problem with many people is that either they act how they feel or they think negatively.

And that’s what they get. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Does your day determine your attitude, or does your attitude determine your day?

MESSAGE #1168 WHEN TO GET SERIOUS

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Dr. Alan Goldberg is one of the top sports psychologists in the world. Goldberg says you have to know when to be serious in sports.

“The time to try hard and get serious should ONLY be WHEN YOU PRACTICE and NEVER, EVER WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE COMPETITIVE ARENA,” says Goldberg.

“When you get ‘serious’ about the outcome of any game, match or race you inadvertently set yourself up for frustration and failure.”

Think about a time when you performed “in the zone” or “in flow.”

Didn’t you “just” do it? Weren’t you focused but relaxed?

That’s peak performance.

How do you do it?

Focus on your strategy, effort and attitude, instead of the outcome.

MESSAGE #1166

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In Derek Jeter’s professional debut in the minor leagues, he played a doubleheader and went 0 for 7 with five strikeouts.

He doubted himself.

But he didn’t show it. Nobody knew.

He continued to work hard and he persisted.

Challenges can make or break you.

In fact, William Arthur Ward once said, “Adversity causes some men to break, others to break records.”

How do you react in challenging situations?

MESSAGE #1163 SALES

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I work with athletes but I also work with salespeople to help them increase sales.

When I was interviewed for my forthcoming book, “Success Simplified” with the great Stephen Covey, the interviewer asked, “Do you have experience in sales?”

I said, “No, but I do have the most difficult sales job–I try to sell people on themselves.”

You see, this blog is not just about mental toughness, it’s about believing in yourself.

Believing in your abilities.

Believing in your potential.

When you look at all the successful people in the world, they were not born to be great athletes, salespeople or musicians–they were trained to be.

Anything is possible with the right training.

What do you want to be great at? Who’s already doing it? Why aren’t you copying them?

I asked minor league baseball players, who do you want to be like? Mariano Rivera?

Are you doing what Mariano Rivera is doing right now? Are you training like him?

The answer is usually no.

You don’t have to wait to become successful to do what successful people do.

Believe.

Achieve.

MESSAGE #1161 MENTAL WEAKNESS

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Recently, I was teaching a high-level high school player and we were playing a groundstroke game to 11 points.

I was up 7-1 and he said to me, “Can we play another one after this one?”

In his mind, he had already lost.

And then he really did lose.

When you think about the future, you can’t perform well in the present.

Remember what the great philosopher, Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over til it’s over.”

MESSAGE #1154 BE LIKE THE MICK

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Supposedly, Mickey Mantle once hit a weak ground ball to second base and, as usual, took off out of the batter’s box. But his spikes got stuck and he fell on to all fours and couldn’t get up. Instead of giving up and heading to the dugout, he furiously doggy-paddled to first base.

That’s giving your all, no matter what.

MESSAGE #1151 A QUOTE

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Supposedly, I once said the following quote…

Excellence
is not
expected effort-
it is
extra effort.

I can’t remember saying it, or where and when, but my source is good, so I must have.

Either way, it’s true.