MESSAGE #449 GREETINGS FROM KEAN UNIVERSITY…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to all the great students at Kean University.

So here I am in the computer lab in the library at Kean University. I am very excited. Excited because I love libraries – I love learning. Just being around books makes me happy.

Do you love learning?

Learning about your sport?

Your major in college?

Your job?

Your musical instrument?

Carol Dweck at Stanford University talks about fixed and growth mindsets. She says that if you have a fixed mindset, you think that there is only so much you can learn and only so good you can get.

A growth mindset means that you feel that there is NO limit as to how much you can learn and that your potential is endless.

Guess what I believe in?

Most people just learn enough to get by. The great ones keep on learning.

So, do you want to just get by, or do you want to become great?

It’s up to you.

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”

-Pope John XXIII

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #448 FEELINGS…NOTHING MORE THAN FEELINGS

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I don’t really feel like blogging today – it’s cold this morning…I’m hungry, maybe nobody will read my blog today.

When the curtain goes up on Broadway, the actor can’t say, “Wait a second, stop. I don’t feel like the part yet.” They have to be in the part, whether they want to or not.

Blogging, tennis, school, work, and relationships are the same way. If you read my book, “Game. Set. Life.” you would know that most people act according to how they feel, but the real winners in life act how they should act, whether they want to or not.

Do you have ANY idea what you would be capable of, if you just took the right action, instead of negotiating with yourself to do otherwise?

ME NEITHER…

“No person in a thousand has any clue of what he/she is capable of doing if they just made up their mind to do it.”


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #447 A WINNER’S PHILOSOPHY

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Judd Levi Horowitz, the youngest peak performer at 12 days old…

Are you trying your best? If you lose in sports or life, but you tried your best, how can you do any better than that? It’s not about the result, it’s about the effort. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t win.

“I don’t have a philosophy of winning – I have a philosophy of trying. If you put forth an effort that encompasses your very best – all your intensity, all your enthusiasm – then you can stop worrying about the outcome, because you’ve done all you can do. By that definition, you’re already a winner.”

-Lee Roy Selmon


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MESSAGE #446 BREAK A MENTAL SWEAT…

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Athletes who improve faster than equally-prepared counterparts simply put in more mental practice time.

-Dan Millman

MESSAGE #445 HOW TO STOP PERFORMANCE KILLING THOUGHTS…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Robert Greene.

You can make or break a performance by the thoughts that arise in your mind. The winners and losers feel the same feelings but they take different action. Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter, and Roger Federer all get negative, so it’s alright if you do. But it’s what they do when those thoughts arise that make the difference.

Here’s a tip to stop those performance killing thoughts from the book, “Good to GREAT GOLF,” by Dr. Rob Gilbert and John Sikes, Jr…

The Rubber Band – Put an elastic band on your wrist, and every time you become aware of a negative thought, snap the band against your wrist. The sudden quick pain will “snap you out” of the negativity and remind you to get your focus back on track.

You’ll never totally get rid of negative feelings, just make sure you accept those feelings, and then “snap” out of it.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #444 AN IMPORTANT LESSON FROM CHILDREN…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to Bernie in the UK.

I have a feeling that someone reading this blog is wanting to accomplish something. REALLY wanting to accomplish something.

Perhaps it’s quitting smoking.

Perhaps it’s starting your own business.

Perhaps it’s performing in Carnegie Hall.

I can help…

Did you know that the average child falls down about 240 times when trying to walk? But that child doesn’t give up. It keeps falling down and trying again. And we encourage them to keep trying, don’t we?

Well, guess what? We, adults, should be the same way – we should have the same mindset, but DO WE?

If you want something badly enough, keep trying until you get there. I know you can do it.

Hold on until you catch on…


Thanks for reading.

“Game. Set. Life.” is now in the Princeton University Library!

MESSAGE #443 TALENT OR STRATEGY?

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I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAGIC. AND IF YOU’VE EVER HEARD ME GIVE A TALK, YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE A FEW TRICKS UP MY SLEEVE, BUT I USE THOSE TRICKS AS METAPHORS. I KNOW THAT ANYONE CAN LEARN TO DO THOSE TRICKS, YOU JUST HAVE TO LEARN THE “STRATEGY.” ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN LIFE…

IF YOU DISCOVER AND APPLY THE RIGHT STRATEGY…

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

MESSAGE #442 WHAT MAKES WINNERS WIN…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great West Nott, assistant women’s tennis coach at the University of Southern California.

“The U.S. golfers are like thoroughbred sheep. They are tremendously bred and trained, and they run correctly, but the problem is that they are still sheep, and sheep want to be part of the flock. We need guys who are willing to say, ‘The flock is fine and it is a nice place to be and it is comfortable, and we are all very rich and enjoying the bounties of the flock. But the hell with the flock; I want to be a wolf.’ “

-Johnny Miller
Winner of 23 PGA Tour championships and winner of the 1973 U.S. Open championship

Today’s lesson? Don’t be a sheep!


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MESSAGE #441 IMPROVEMENT…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Oscar Nawrot.

I watch what I eat and I exercise regularly. I meditate to stay mentally and emotionally balanced. I try to be a good person.

I call this preventive medicine. Too many people wait until they get sick or become overweight to take care of themselves. Too many people wait until they have a nervous breakdown before they work on being mentally tough.

I challenge you to constantly improve in all areas of your life…BEFORE you need to. DON’T be on automatic. We’re only on this planet a short period of time – make the most of it.

Most people are satisfied with mediocrity, but if you do what everyone else does, you’re going to get what everyone else gets.

The great Melissa Sapio, who edited my book, “Game. Set. Life.,” got a perfect 4.0 throughout all of college. She told me her secret…

Exceed expectations. Just do a little bit more. Just get a little bit better…every day: on the court, in the classroom, in the boardroom and at home.

“You don’t have to be sick to get better.”


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #440 YOU HAVE NO LIMITS…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Marty Burch.

“I realize that I don’t have limits. Limits are always influences that come from outside, from people who don’t believe in themselves and their abilities. I firmly believe in myself. I know that I can do whatever I want and that I’ll always reach my goals.”

-Madonna


This mindset helped Madonna become who she is today. Most people don’t set their sights high enough. And most people have low self-images.

Vince Lombardi said to strive for perfection and you’ll run into excellence.

If you strive for mediocrity, you will never achieve greatness.

YOU CAN DO IT.

You don’t have to be great at the start, but you need to start to be great.


Thanks for reading.