MESSAGE #1206 WORRY

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Many times I work with an athlete on strategy. For example, I will tell a tennis player to come to net so he/she can finish off the point.

As a response, they often say, “But they might lob over my head!”

I tell them not to worry about it until it happens.

I know many business owners that don’t take risks because of the dreaded, “What if?”

Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t prepare for these situations. You should.

The bottom line is that you need to get out of your comfort zone.

You need to take risks.

You need to what you’ve never done so you can get the results that you’ve never gotten.

Preparation…YES.

Worry…NO.

MESSAGE #1200 MINER #12

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I have a new hero.

His name is Edison Pena.

Edison Pena was one of the 33 men trapped underground in the Chilean mines for 69 days.

And this Sunday, he will be running in the New York City Marathon.

While trapped, Pena, known as miner No. 12, ran up to 6 miles a day in underground black tunnels with a flashlight and often dragging a wooden pallet behind him. He ran in work boots. He ran in 86 degrees.

Before the miners got trapped, Pena’s daily commute was nearly two hours each way…on bicycle.

And then he became trapped underground. During this time, Pena fought with his own mind.

“I became two people: the weak person who wanted simply to give up, and the person who chose to be strong – to run and to survive,” he said. “Eventually, I chose to live.”

“I ran to forget that I was trapped.”

And even though he has never run more than 10 miles, he will be giving his all this Sunday in the marathon.

“I know it will be very hard, but I have no fear,” Pena said.

Edison Pena said he is an athlete, “not a grand champion.”

He’s wrong.

As for the rest of you reading, the next time you don’t feel like running, going to work, or studying…

THINK OF EDISON PENA.

MESSAGE #1196 MAKE UP YOUR MIND

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When you talk about success, I think it all starts in your mind.

It starts with that little voice inside your head.

And if you’re asking yourself right now, “Do I have a little voice inside my head?”…that’s the voice I’m talking about.

In order to be successful, you need to have the right mindset.

1. You need confidence–believe anything is possible (even if you have to fake it).

2. You need to accept and let go of negative thoughts (yes, they will arise).

3. You need to set goals (specific mastery goals).

4. You need to add value and help others (then you will get what you want).

5. You need to focus on the process (attitude and effort) instead of the product (winning/losing, making the sale, final grade, etc.)

Once you make this paradigm shift, you world will change.

And your results will change.

MESSAGE #1194 MJ

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I’m a big Michael Jordan fan.

Everyone knows that MJ got cut from his high school basketball team.

But here’s something that nobody knows…

Michael was cut from his varsity team but was allowed to play on junior varsity.

Well, on the last day of the season, MJ asked the varsity coach if he could just ride on the bus with the varsity squad.

The coach said yes, as long as he carried the varsity players’ uniforms.

He agreed.

So not only did Michael Jordan get cut from his high school basketball team, Michael Jordan carried the varsity team’s uniforms.

Then, the next school year, he worked harder than anyone else and eventually became the Michael Jordan that we all know.

Be like Mike.

MESSAGE #1188 EMBARRASSING

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I once had a student who hated being embarrassed. During lessons and during competition, he would just drive himself crazy thinking about what people thought about how he was playing, and what they would think if he lost, or missed a shot.

Guess how he played?

Poorly!

The reason why this type of focus hurts your performance is because when you focus on external factors, you are not focusing on what is going to help you play your best game.

The way to play your best game is to focus on your strategy, your effort, your attitude. If your strategy isn’t working, make an adjustment.

The key is to NOT let anything external have any influence over you.

Is it hard?

Sure.

Is it a choice?

Definitely.

MESSAGE #1187 A TIP FROM JOHN MCENROE

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There are scores of players who can hit every shot in the book who never make it into a Grand Slam event. Those who make it are there because they are mentally tougher. They wanted it more.
-JOHN MCENROE

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 #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?