MESSAGE #1187 A TIP FROM JOHN MCENROE
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 #1183 HOW SOFT IS YOUR PILLOW?
“The softest pillow is a clear conscience.”
-JOHN WOODEN
I want to give you a test. It’s called the pillow test.
Tonight, when you put your head on the pillow, see which of the following you say to yourself…
“I’m glad I did.”
OR
“I wish I had.”
See, one of the mental toughness secrets of the greatest athletes in history is this…
THEY GO ALL OUT.
Or, as I always say, “It’s better to go all-out and lose than it is to hold back and win. Because when you hold back, you are training yourself to hold back.”
As you go through your day, you will have many decisions to make, and the only thing you should consider is this…
“Am I going to go all-out or am I going to hold back?”
Let me know how you do on the test.
Leave your comments below and thanks for reading.
MESSAGE #1182 THE BEST PITCHER DOESN’T WIN
So tonight I’m heading up to the Bronx for Game 3 of the ALCS, Yankees versus the Rangers.
Andy Pettitte versus Cliff Lee.
Cliff Lee is a great pitcher. He is 6-0 in postseason play. Everyone is expecting the Yankees to lose.
One thing that I know, is that NOTHING is a guarantee in sports (and life).
The best pitcher (or team for that matter) doesn’t win.
The pitcher (or team) that PLAYS best wins.
Records don’t matter. Reputations don’t matter.
As a matter of fact, Derek Jeter said, “Reputation doesn’t win games. You still have to go out there and pitch.”
It’s all about who performs better on that day.
It all starts at 8:07pm tonight.
MESSAGE #1181 DON’T DO THIS!
Every day I see athletes playing it safe.
This is the wrong strategy.
Now, don’t get me wrong because there is a time to be safe, but for the most part it is better to go all-out than it is to hold back.
Jimmy Johnson once said, “Really it comes down to your philosophy. Do you want to play it safe and be good or do you want to take a chance and be great?”
MESSAGE #1175 MINOR THOUGHTS
I know a minor league baseball player that pretends to get angry at the pitcher when he steps up to the plate.
In my eyes, that this is a minor league mindset.
Here’s what I think…
When you “hate” your opponent, it creates muscle tension and you don’t perform at your peak.
When sprinters train for competition, they run at about 80 percent.
Why?
Because when they run at 100 percent, their muscles constrict and they actually run slower.
Instead of “hating” your opponent, think of them as your teacher–someone who is pushing you to get better.
Have gratitude for your teacher and you will stay loose.
When you stay loose, you perform at a higher level.
Hating your opponent is a minor league attitude, and you can’t make the major leagues with a minor league attitude.
MESSAGE #1171 WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE PRESSURE’S ON?
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 #1168 WHEN TO GET SERIOUS
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
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 #1143 HOW TO DETERMINE WHO WINS…
Last night was Game 1 of the Eastern League Playoffs for the Trenton Thunder. They were facing the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who were 16-7 against Trenton in the regular season. AND they were facing pitching ace, Kyle Drabek who was 4-0 against the Thunder this season with a 1.38 ERA.
It wasn’t looking good.
In fact, as soon as I took my regular seat in the front row, the guy next to me said, “Drabek is pitching GREAT.”
But I was optimistic.
I knew anything could happen.
And it did–the Thunder won by a score of 2-0.
So that shows you that the best team doesn’t win…the team that plays best wins.
Go all out today!
MESSAGE #1141 THIS IS WHAT STOPS MOST PEOPLE…
I know something about you.
You want to become successful at something.
Perhaps it’s in sports.
Perhaps it’s in business.
Perhaps it’s in school.
I know something else…
The reason why most people do not become successful.
They don’t take action.
Knowledge is only good if you use it.
It’s the start that stops most people.
You know what you need to do, so don’t think about it, just do it.
With all the great athletes I have encountered, I noticed a quality that they all share.
They all do what they need to do, when they need to do it, whether they feel like it or not.
If you’re a runner, just start running.
If you’re in sales, just start making those calls.
If you’re a student, just start studying.
It’s that simple.