MESSAGE #1348 MENTAL TOUGHNESS FROM A GOLD MEDALIST
Here is a brief, but great video I did with gold medal skier, Lindsey Vonn…listen to EVERY word she says…
MESSAGE #1347 WAKE UP!
The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.
—PAUL VALERY
In four days, I leave for my honeymoon to Maui, Hawaii. Many people have said to me, “I’m sure you just can’t wait!”
The truth is, I CAN wait.
Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to it, but it’s not like I can’t function until that day comes. I can honestly say that I love what I do, and my life, so much that I feel like I’m in Hawaii every single day.
The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.
The best thing I ever did was I stopped dreaming and started taking action. I began creating the life of my dreams. And now, life is better than my dreams.
What would you rather do, “live” for the weekends and your two weeks of vacation every year…
Or would you want to do what you love and create the life you imagined?
Sounds like an alarm clock to me.
Good morning to the new you.
MESSAGE #1344 SUCCESS ON PURPOSE
Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great David and Summer Platt.
Every once in a while I hear a great saying. The most recent one was told to me by one of the top motivational speakers and experts in sports psychology, Rob Gilbert.
During our phone conversation today, he mentioned the phrase, “Success on purpose.”
I really liked that.
Most people either think that success is only attainable by a select few, or that it has to do with luck.
The truth is, that you can create success…on purpose.
“How do you do that, Ed?” you ask?
1. Figure out what you want.
2. Write down specific steps you need to take to get there.
3. Talk to others who have done what you want to do.
4. Learn from their successes and from their failures.
5. Get to work and do whatever it takes.
MESSAGE #1338 YOUR MENTAL DIET
What are you feeding your brain?
Negative thoughts or positive intentions?
It’s your choice what type of mental diet you have, but be mindful that you will reap what you sow.
I once knew someone who didn’t take chances and who didn’t have high expectations due to the fact that he didn’t want to be disappointed. He was right, he was rarely disappointed, but he also didn’t do much with his life.
Let me tell you a story.
There once was a young man who said, “I want to do great things in this world, and I know I can!”
Then there was an old man who said, “I wish I would have done great things in this world, and I regret that I didn’t.”
End of story. To me, this is the saddest story. Why?
Because it was the same man.
You see, you may be living, but are you ALIVE?
Are you counting the days, or are you making the days count?
Recently, I got a message on Facebook from a young man in Toronto who was determined to help others…after he received his medical degree. I said that he didn’t have to wait to get his degree to make a difference in others’ lives. He could pay someone a sincere compliment. He could volunteer his time to people in need. He could just be a good listener.
So take a look at your goals. And take a look at your mental diet.
Someone once said that the beauty of life is that you need not wait another moment to make a difference in the world.
Yes, I’m talking to YOU.
MESSAGE #1337 LET GO #2…
Recently, I gave some advice to a young friend of mine, Madison (above). She had a test in school the next day and I told her to just relax while taking it and give it her all. Well, I saw Madison yesterday and asked her how her test went. Her response was, “I got a 100!”
We all want to achieve greatness, but the problem is we often put too much pressure on the results.
The best way to get the best results is…
Not worrying about the results!
Focus instead on staying loose and concentrating on the task at hand.
If you put the time in studying (or practicing), you are ready. Trust the work you put in, take a deep breath and go for it.
When you focus on HOW you can perform well, instead of IF you can perform well, your world changes. Your results change.
Too many people worry about what parents will think or what friends will think…if they perform poorly. This is a recipe for disaster. Don’t worry about the past or the future…the power is in the present. The best performers in the world from athletes to students to business owners, know the secret.
Relax and go all out!
One question at a time. One point at at time. One meeting at a time.
Gandhi put it best…
“Full effort is full victory.”
Thank you, Madison, for reminding me of this very important lesson and inspiring me to be better at everything that I do!
MESSAGE #1336 LET GO
Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness.
-The Buddha
Learn to let go. That is the key to success.
Thinking too much—Bad.
Putting too much pressure on results—Bad.
Letting go and trusting your game—Good.
You can think during practice, but during competition, just trust your hard work and have fun.
Take a moment and think about a past peak performance you had. Didn’t you play loose? Weren’t you just playing?
The more you can let go, the better your results.
MESSAGE #1335 NATIONAL CHAMP!
Anthony Robles has just become the NCAA Division 1 National Champion for wrestling. And Anthony Robles has only one leg. Watch this inspiring interview.
MESSAGE #1333 ARE YOU JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS?
Cory Arbiso, New York Yankees, Spring Training 2011, Tampa, Florida
Are you just going through the motions in your sport and life?
Do you mindlessly go through practice and wonder why you are not improving?
Do you mindlessly drive your car and find yourself ending up someplace else?
Do you mindlessly speak with people and forget what they say?
This happens all the time.
Recently, I was in Tampa, Florida for Spring Training for the Yankees. I spent some time with pitcher, Cory Arbiso. Cory and I talked about how he mentally prepares for competition.
During pitching drills, instead of just going through the motions, Arbiso uses visualization. Most pitchers just rush through the drills, but Arbiso takes his time and makes the session as realistic as possible. He varies the timing on his delivery and even checks imaginary runners. In his mind, Arbiso imagines the type of pitch he is going to throw and the location, even if there is no ball in his hand.
The more realistic and mindfully you practice, the more you will be able to deliver in competition.
At the professional level, everyone is an elite athlete, but the ones that make it are the ones who slow the game down and master the game between the ears.
MESSAGE #1327 KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL
In the image above, Derek Jeter is keeping his eye on the ball.
In your life, whether in sports, sales or school, you need to keep your eye on the ball. Stay focused on what you are doing, and do one thing at a time. When you are eating…eat. When you are practicing…practice. When you are studying…study.
Let me tell you a story…
A young boy traveled across Japan to the school of a famous martial arts master.
“What do you wish from me?” the master asked.
“I wish to be your student and become the finest karateka in the land,” the boy replied.
“How long must I study?”
“Ten years at least,” the master answered.
“Ten years is a long time,” said the boy.
“What if I studied twice as hard as all your other students?”
“Twenty years,” replied the master.
“Twenty years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?”
“Thirty years,” was the master’s reply.
“How is it that each time I say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take longer?” the boy asked.
“The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the Way.”
MESSAGE #1326 BRAINS
Well, I’m back home after a great few days in Tampa, Florida. The photo above is a pitchers’ meeting in Yankee minor league camp. The Yankee organization is fortunate to have many experienced coaches that help the young prospects develop. And the ones that will most likely make it are the ones that listen and apply what they are told.
Woodrow Wilson once said, “I use all the brains I have, and all that I can borrow.”
Who are you learning from? If there is someone that is successful at what you want to do, why aren’t you learning from them? Nobody can do it all on their own. Find a mentor and create your game plan for success.
A dream without a team…is a nightmare.
Create your dream team today.