MESSAGE #1229 MARIANO RIVERA

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Today I had the fortunate opportunity to meet one of the most mentally tough athletes in history, Mariano Rivera, closer, New York Yankees.

Teammates have said that Mariano is very humble and is the same person that he was when he played in the minor leagues. I could believe that. He was such a pleasure to speak to and had such a great positive energy about him.

Rivera once said:

“When you start thinking, a lot of things will happen. Emotions take place, and you have to know how to control your emotions. If you don’t control your emotions, your emotions will control your acts, and that’s not good.”

Rivera told me today that during pressure situations, you need to keep your composure.

How does Rivera do it? He focuses on the catcher’s mitt. He acknowledges the pressure, then gets to work.

You may not have Mariano Rivera’s cut fastball, but you can have the same mindset and focus as him.

Starting NOW.

MESSAGE #1228 WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

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Are you looking for a certain level of success in sports, sales or school?

Is there somewhere you want to get to?

Let me tell you a secret.

It’s not out there.

Success is already inside you.

If you have the right mindset (all-out effort/constant improvement) and have passion for what you do, you are successful.

Set goals, but enjoy the process.

Success is a journey, not a destination.

Success is a marathon, not a sprint.

I recently spoke to a minor league baseball player and asked how his off-season was going, how his workouts were going. He said they were going fine. There wasn’t excitement in his voice. It didn’t sound like he was pushing himself to get to the next level. It almost sounded like he was giving up or that the major leagues was a near impossibility.

All of the successful people in the world have one thing in common–They act successful BEFORE they become successful. That comes from inside. And this is trainable.

There are no limits, you can always improve. Don’t be content. Create your vision. Start taking action.

With this mindset, ANYTHING is possible.

MESSAGE #1227 WHY THIS IS “THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR”

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Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
-BUDDHA

For many, this is the most wonderful time of the year. I concur.

Even though I feel like this all year ’round, I particularly enjoy the holidays for one main reason.

People GIVE.

Don’t get me wrong, people giving is not so I can get “stuff.”

People giving is actually people GETTING.

Let me explain…

When you give to someone, you GET much more in return. It feels better when you GIVE than when you receive. That’s a big reason why I blog every day and donate my time, services and products throughout the year. It makes ME happy.

When you give, you feel good.

The best way to make yourself happy is to make someone else happy.

The best way to get motivated is to get someone else motivated.

The best way to become successful is to make someone else successful.

That’s why I think this is the most wonderful time of the year.

Can you apply this to teamwork? School? Your job?

You bet.

As a matter of fact, research has shown that people who volunteer and give more of themselves, reap the health benefits (mental and physical) for up to 50 years.

It’s about OTHERS.

So as you go through this holiday season, focus less on what you might get and focus more on what you intend to GIVE. And remember, it doesn’t necessarily have to be an object, it can be your time, a compliment or just doing a little bit extra.

MESSAGE #1226 LEARN FROM GEORGE FOREMAN

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Someone once asked George Foreman, former world heavyweight boxing champion of the world, how he withstood the pain from being a boxer.

Foreman replied:

“If I see what I want real good in my mind, I don’t notice any pain in getting it.”

How does this relate to you?

1. Visualize the athlete, student, or salesperson you want to be.
2. Do whatever it takes to get there. No exceptions.
3. Begin today.

MESSAGE #1224 BRUCE LEE 3

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“Defeat is a state of mind.
no one is ever defeated
until defeat has been accepted
as a reality.
To me, defeat in anything
is merely temporary,
and its punishment is but an urge
for me to exert greater effort
to achieve my goal.
Defeat simply tells me
that something is wrong in my doing;
it is a path leading to
success and truth.”
-BRUCE LEE

MESSAGE #1223 BRUCE LEE TOO

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As promised, today’s message will include more of Bruce Lee, who would have turned 70 yesterday.

“If you want to learn to swim, jump into the water. On dry land, no frame of mind is going to help you.”
-BRUCE LEE

Think about it. If you learn all the technical and physical aspects of your sport/job, that is good. But you have to put yourself out there to get “tougher.”

In college, you learn theory.

In the real world, you gain experience and first-hand knowledge.

In practice, you learn theory.

In competition, you gain experience and learn how to win.

Most people don’t like to be thrown into pressure situations, but it is there where you learn the most.

It is there where you grow the most.

MESSAGE #1221 KEEP GOING

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With Billie Jean King at my US Open book signing

Champions keep playing until they get it right.
-BILLIE JEAN KING

I once had a student who began playing tournaments. In her first tournament, she lost first round. In the next tournament, she had the same result. And the next, and the next. For practically the first year, she didn’t get past the first round.

I told her, “This is a great way to improve, learn and develop as a player.”

She agreed with me, although she wanted better results. Well, she stuck with it and then started getting results.

She started winning some matches. She got to the 2nd round, then the 3rd and now it is rare if she doesn’t make it to at least the semifinals. She is also on her high school varsity team.

Most people give up too soon. They want immediate results. The great ones persist.

You need to hang on until you catch on.

Winning may feel good temporarily, but you learn more from losses.

The two most important questions you can ask yourself after a game/match/practice session are:

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how did I play?

2. What can I do differently next time to get to a 10?

Focus on constant improvement and as a by-product, you will win more.

MESSAGE #1218 IMPROVEMENT

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Players get better after their coach gets better.

Students get better after their teacher gets better.

Employees get better after their manager gets better.

Many coaches, teachers and managers wonder why their players, students and employees are not getting optimal results.

But it’s not about the players, students or employees.

It’s about the coaches, teachers and managers.

So what can you do?

1. Lead by example. Others will follow.
2. Show your passion. It will be contagious.
3. Respect EVERYONE. We are all equal.
4. Strive for constant improvement. We can always improve our craft.
5. Develop a TEAM-first mentality. The great ones know individual goals come second.

MESSAGE #1216 ACTION

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to all the great basketball/tennis players, coaches and parents that attended my “Mental Edge” seminar.

In my seminar today, in conjunction with the great Micah Lancaster’s basketball session, I talked about how to get the mental edge in sports and life. I shared some of the mental secrets of the world’s greatest athletes.

One of the keys I stressed was that knowing the mental secrets was not good enough–you need to APPLY them.

Information is nothing without implementation.

Everyone knows what they need to do, but most people don’t do it.

And here’s the secret…

A real champion does what they need to do, when they need to do it, whether they feel like it or not.

You don’t have to feel like a champion to act like a champion. It’s a choice, and it can begin right now.

A special thanks to Brian Klatsky for making “The Mental Edge” possible today.