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 #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 #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 #1334 BE LIKE A HALL OF FAMER
Willie Stargell was a left fielder and first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1962-1982. He is also in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Somebody once asked Stargell what the secret of his success was. Stargell said that all he did was follow the umpire’s advice after the National Anthem.
After the National Anthem, the umpire yells, “Play ball!”
Stargell said, “I don’t work ball. I play ball. I never go to the ball park to work; I always go to play.”
Now don’t get me wrong, you have to work hard, and you have to take it seriously, but you can’t be all work and no play. And you can’t be all play and no work.
When you have fun, you loosen up and play your best.
When you put too much pressure on yourself, you set yourself up for failure.
Do people sing to get to the end of the song? Of course not, they sing because they enjoy singing.
Don’t play the game to get to the end of the game. Enjoy the process.
MESSAGE #1331 PLAY THIS GAME…
What game are you playing?
Are you trying to beat your opponent? Do you have anger towards the other team? Do you want to crush the competition at work?
If so, stop it.
When you start with a negative intention, you are limiting yourself. Negative intentions create negative results. You may get some positive results with negative thoughts, but they are not lasting.
Instead, begin with positive intentions. Love—love the game, love the learning and constant improvement. Love everything about the game.
You see, it’s not about beating your opponent, it’s all about mastering yourself. Mastering the game.
This is a game that very few people are playing.
The ones that are playing this game, say things like, “I’d like to thank everyone for their support; I couldn’t have become world champion by myself.”
The ones that are not playing the self-mastery game say things like, “Would you like fries with that?”
MESSAGE #1329 HOW TO BE UNSTOPPABLE
Manny Banuelos, New York Yankees, Spring Training 2011
Have you ever been nervous before a big game?
Have you ever tightened up at a crucial point in a game?
Have you ever doubted yourself?
Of course you have, you’re human.
One thing I have unearthed by talking to some of the greatest athletes in the world is that the world champions and the weekend warriors feel the same feelings. They think the same thoughts. So what sets them apart?
Their perception of the situation.
The actions that they take.
Yankee pitcher, Manny Banuelos just turned 20 years old on Sunday. And on Monday, he was slated to pitch on ESPN versus the Boston Red Sox. The biggest game of his life.
What did he do?
He pitched 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits, 3 walks and striking out 2.
Pretty impressive for someone who was a teenager just two days before.
What’s more impressive is how Man-Ban reacted to the pressure.
His perception was excitement, not pressure.
Banuelos admits he gets nervous, but it doesn’t last long.
In the second inning, Banuelos got into a jam, having the bases loaded and only one out. He stepped it up and forced the next two hitters to ground out.
Then, on his last pitch, the pressure was on again with a 3-2 count. He threw a change-up to Kevin Youkllis and struck him out.
Wow.
The bottom line is that you can either let pressure hurt you or you can let it help you. It’s your choice how you react, and if you are able to do your best when it means the most.
It is then that you will be unstoppable.
Speaking of being unstoppable, I shared my new mental skills workbook, “How to be Unstoppable” with some of the Yankees players when I was down at Spring Training last week. You can pick up your own copy by clicking HERE.
MESSAGE #1317 FIFTY OUT OF SEVENTY-THREE
Greg Maddux was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
Maddux once left a game with a 2-1 lead, in the seventh inning. The reliever gave up a run to tie the game, which ruined Maddux’ chances of getting the win; frustration for any pitcher. But when Maddux was asked after the game, “How did it go out there tonight?” his reply was, “Fifty out of seventy-three.”
What does this mean?
It means he threw fifty strikes out of seventy-three pitches.
Maddux knows the secret. The key to being a successful is to focus on your execution, not the results. If you stick with your plan and execute properly, your job is done. The beauty of this is, you will get better results. On the other hand, if you focus on things out of your control, like results, the media, or the approval of others, you will decrease your chances of getting the results you want.
What was Maddux’ mantra?
“One at a time.”
How can you argue with someone who won 355 games in his career?
*BONUS FACT*
Greg Maddux faced 20,421 batters in his career and only 310 of them saw a 3-0 count (approximately one in every three starts).
MESSAGE #1311 HOW TO WIN
I have a feeling someone reading this wants to win more. Here’s how you do it…
Look at the letters of “WIN”…
What’s Important Now.
When you are competing, giving a presentation, or taking a test, focus on what is important. Focus on what will help you win. This is not the time to focus on the results. You can’t control results anyway.
So what’s important now?
Your effort, your attitude, and your reactions.
Give a full effort and trust your game.
That’s it.
MESSAGE #1310 FORGET IT
Suppose you are playing a tennis match and the score is tied. Your opponent hits you a weak shot and you…hit the ball into the bottom of the net.
How do you react?
If you’re like most people, you will either, let out a sigh of frustration, say something like, “How can you miss that?!?” or perhaps even hit your racquet on the ground.
Do these reactions help you or hurt you?
They hurt you, of course. Plus, you will give your opponent increased confidence to “finish you off.”
Here’s a better response for next time:
1. Transfer the racquet into your opposite hand.
2. Immediately turn away from the net.
3. Walk confidently.
4. Take a long, deep breath.
5. Think about how you can make an adjustment next time.
6. Say an affirmation to yourself like, “That shot is in the past—I can’t control the past. Let it go and focus on this point.”
7. Move your feet like a boxer, and get ready for the next point.
8. Think about your strategy for the next point.
9. Trust your game.
10. Just play.
The greatest athletes in history have something in common, and that is, they are able to let go of past. You can too, it’s a choice.
Thanks for reading.
JUST RELEASED! How to be Unstoppable—A Mental Skills Workbook by Ed Tseng. If you are an athlete, coach, parent or just someone who wants to be more mentally tough at work or in life, pick one up today! In a few weeks, Ed will be introducing the workbook to some Yankee players down in Spring Training. Email for team discounts, otherwise order above under PRODUCTS.
MESSAGE #1309 NEVER USE THESE THREE WORDS
If you want to become successful (which I know you do because you’re reading this blog), cut these three words out of your vocabulary.
CAN’T
NEVER
IMPOSSIBLE
You CAN’T win if you use the word CAN’T.
You will NEVER succeed if you use the word NEVER.
It will be IMPOSSIBLE to reach your goals if you use the word IMPOSSIBLE.
Homework: Today, use words and phrases that will motivate you, not words and phrases that will de-motivate you.