MESSAGE #1022 INTERVIEW WITH NEHA UBEROI
In this video blog, Ed Tseng interviews former professional tennis player, Neha Uberoi, as they talk about her toughest opponent, mental toughness and Princeton University.
MESSAGE #1013 ANGER
Today’s message is especially dedicated to all the players out there who have anger management issues.
I once had a student who would often get angry at himself after losing a point. And by once, I mean, I “often” have students who get angry and negative during competition.
Negativity and anger are common challenges for competitive players, but here’s the good news…
This can be overcome with training (just like fixing your backhand).
What do you say to yourself after you lose a point?
“I can’t believe you missed that shot!”
“You stink!”
“What’s wrong with you?!?”
Let’s analyze this voice for a second…
Does this “inner coach” help you perform better?
Of course not. What if a real coach spoke like this to their player? Wouldn’t you find a new coach?
If this is an issue for you, you need to find a new “inner coach.”
This inner coach should say something like…
“No problem. How can I make an adjustment? Good, now let’s focus on the next point.”
“That point is in the past, let’s focus on the next one.”
“You’re still in control. Let’s go!”
What you say to yourself between points will determine how you play and what kind of results you get.
How do YOU want to play and what kind of results do YOU want to get?
Remember this secret formula: S + A = R (Situation plus Attitude equals Result).
MESSAGE #1011 HANGING OUT WITH A CHAMPION
One thing that I have learned here in Orlando talking to some great coaches and mental toughness experts is this…
Champions are not normal.
They don’t have normal brains.
Lorenzo Beltrame shared a story about when he beat Pete Sampras twice on clay during a training session. He didn’t know how to console “Pistol” but before he could think of something, Pete said “This is great! I feel like I’m playing well and ready!”
That is not normal.
And last night I spent some time with Mark Dickson, former World #32, who has beaten Lendl and was even Agassi’s doubles partner. He was telling me about the days leading up to his match with Lendl, then #1 in the world. He visualized his strategy every day and EXPECTED to beat him. In his mind, he thought, “I can’t believe I’m going to beat the World #1.” And then he did in 45 minutes. I asked Dickson if he ever went into a match thinking he didn’t have a chance. He said “No.” And when he did lose, he thought, “What a great learning experience!”
That is not normal!
Well today I will be wrapping up a great 2.5 days at the Human Performance Institute and heading back home. Next stop, Philadelphia!
Have a great day everyone!
Homework: Don’t be normal today.
MESSAGE #1008 WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MYSELF…
One of the things I like about myself is that I have a growth mindset – I LOVE learning. I love what I do so much that I don’t want to go to bed at night and I can’t wait to get up in the morning.
Well in a few hours I will be hopping a flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Orlando, Florida to attend a mental toughness certification program for 2.5 days. The goal is to learn more about my craft. People say that I have become successful, but I don’t look at it that way; I will never say that “I’ve made it,” or “I know it all.”
I will never know it all. The sky’s the limit.
Carol Dweck, author of one of my favorite books, “MINDSET: The New Psychology of Success” and professor at Stanford University talks about fixed and growth mindsets.
“I think enjoyment is key. You have to have a passion for what you do. It’s not about your parents pushing you or your coach threatening you. It’s about you just wanting to be better and loving every minute of it. Not every minute, but most of it.”
I learn from everyone I can, from experts like Dweck, strangers, children…ANYONE.
I use all the brains I have and all that I can borrow. – WINSTON CHURCHILL
Next blog entry from sunny Florida…
MESSAGE #1006 WHAT WINNERS DO WHEN THEY LOSE…
I never prayed that I would make a putt. I prayed that I would react well if I missed. -CHI CHI RODRIGUEZ, golfer
How do you react when you miss a shot, or lose a match?
MESSAGE #1005 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNERS AND LOSERS
“If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don’t care what the scoreboard says. At the end of the game, in my book, we’re gonna be winners.”
-COACH NORMAN DALE, Hoosiers
MESSAGE #1004 WING IT
So today I went into the city to spend some time with my friend, the great Bob Ryland, the first black professional tennis player and Arthur Ashe’s hero. We had a great lunch with tennis pro Fred Weiland and then Bob and I walked over to the Central Park Tennis Courts and talked to some people, including Caroline, who runs the courts, about Bob and me giving a talk there.
On my way up to the city, I got a message on Facebook from Ben Sturner, CEO of Leverage Agency, one of the top sports and entertainment agencies in the world. Ben invited me to his gorgeous office, filled with sports memorabilia on Fifth Ave. My schedule allowed, so I stopped by.
Ben and I were sitting in his office talking about when I could talk to his team about goal-setting. And then he said, how about today?
“Let’s do it,” I said.
I didn’t have anything prepared, but I have spent my whole career preparing.
As a speaker, the last thing I want to do is rely on my notes. My goal is to speak from the heart and as a result, I know the material better and can give impromptu talks like today in New York City.
How can this help you?
1. Know your stuff.
2. Be brave (and flexible) enough to perform in a moments notice.
3. Give it your all, whether you feel like it or not.
4. Never turn down an opportunity to share your knowledge and improve your craft.
5. Help others.
Thanks for reading.
MESSAGE #1003 MIND GAMES
“After each of us got a drink, I made my way to the baseline. Panic started to expand inside me like poison gas. My legs felt wobbly and my breathing grew rapid. This was too big of an occasion to blow it because of prematch jitters.”
(“I Against I” by James Martin, Tennis Magazine, May 2010)
Does this scenario sound familiar?
These feelings started BEFORE the match even began, but it happens all the time.
These feelings are normal.
I get nervous before every talk I give, but I know that I do not have to act how I feel. I act confident and energetic and then something amazing happens, I start FEELING confident and energetic. Most people act how they feel and then they get results that they don’t like. It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s a choice. When the catcher in baseball gives the pitcher a sign for a fastball, curveball, changeup, etc, the pitcher has the choice to “shake the catcher off” and choose a different sign or pitch. You don’t have to live in your negative feelings. Accept them, and then act how you want to feel.
You can use this principle in any area of life.
And you can start today.
MESSAGE #1001 HOW TO WIN MORE
Today’s message is especially dedicated to the boys tennis team at Bolsa Grande High School in California.
Many players and teams go into a match thinking, “that team is really good; we have no chance of winning.”
The problem with this mindset is that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way, you’re right.”
The best team doesn’t win.
The team that plays best wins.
The Davids beat the Goliaths all the time.
The fastest horse does not always win the race.
If you go all-out, you’re a winner. If you hold back, you’re not.
Any questions?
MESSAGE #999 LEADERSHIP (and failure)
Today I’m going back to where I failed out twice, Rider University, while studying computers.
No, I’m not going back to get my degree (I have a degree from Ferris State University’s Marketing/Professional Tennis Management program).
I’m going back to Rider to be the opening speaker for their Team Leadership Challenge. This is my second time speaking at this great event and this year’s theme is “Navigating Your Way to Success.”
That’s funny to me.
When I started college it was as if I needed a map, but after failing out twice, I CHOSE to follow my passion (sports) and transferred to Ferris State. My grades skyrocketed. I graduated in 1997 and was named Pro of the Year for the USTA in 2005. After that, I started my own business, wrote a book and became a motivational speaker.
So what is leadership?
I think a big part of leadership is being brave enough to follow your passion. It’s about helping others. Leaders do things because it is the right thing to do, regardless of what others may think. That’s when people will follow. But it’s not about having followers…
The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. -RALPH NADER
If you look at all of the great leaders in history, they all made everyone else better, whether it is Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Martin Luther King or Henry Ford. Focusing on yourself is weak. Focusing on others is powerful.
So today I hope to motivate, energize, and inspire the students at Rider, but more importantly, I hope to produce more leaders.