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MESSAGE #1145 9/11 REMEMBERED

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Brandon Laird of the New York Yankees. Happy Birthday to a true peak performer.

Today is 9/11.

It will always be remembered.

But what does it mean?

How do we react?

We can complain about the long security lines at sporting events and the airport.

We can be angry at the terrorists.

We can just be sad.

To me, 9/11 is a sad day, but it is also a wonderful day because it shows how resilient our country is.

It shows how we take any situation and become tougher and stronger.

And although we cannot change the fact that many lives were lost, we CAN change our attitudes.

We CAN have gratitude for what we DO have.

And we CAN hit bottom and bounce back up.

MESSAGE #1129 THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT…

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PRACTICE AS IF YOU ARE THE WORST.

COMPETE AS IF YOU ARE THE BEST.

 

MESSAGE #1095 DO YOU HAVE IT BACKWARDS?

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I saw a sign today that read…

“First we will be the best, then we will be first.”

This is a great quote, but unfortunately most people have it backwards.

Most people think that they need to be first to be the best.

That’s the wrong focus.

When you focus on being first, you probably won’t become first.

But when you focus on being the best by giving the best effort/service/attitude, you will be first at whatever you do. And don’t worry if you don’t become first right away, stick with it because I’d like to see who’s going to beat you in the long-run. I guarantee there won’t be many still around.

MESSAGE #1083 ARE YOU JUST HOPING?

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What do you aspire to be?

What level is your effort?

If your effort is less than your aspirations, the space in between is just HOPE.

Recently, I had a female student who has been progressing nicely. Unfortunately, she goes to a school that has a strong tennis team, so she did not make the team last year.

But she’s not giving up. In fact, she’s working harder.

I recommended that she play some tournaments to get match-tough and experience some pressure situations.

She did. And played well. She lost, but she learned a lot and gained much confidence by just putting herself out there.

I have another student who, when he started playing tournaments, lost in the first two rounds for the first year. But he persisted, and then started winning. He now consistently gets to the finals of tournaments.

Most people don’t like to lose, so they don’t compete. But those are the people who don’t grow.

My students’ efforts are high.

I like that. And I’m proud of them. With a mindset like that, you can’t lose. The results come as a by-product.

Effort = Aspirations = Success

MESSAGE #1007 LET IT FLOW

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Have you ever been in the zone?

Didn’t the tennis ball look like a beach ball?

EXERCISE

Part One: Look around you and find a nearby object, like a pen or piece of paper. Now slowly reach for it tightening every muscle in your body. Move as slow as you can. Now slowly bring it to your chest and slowly place it down back where you found it.

Part Two: Now reach for the same object normally and bring it to your chest and back.

Didn’t it feel effortless the second time? When you’re in the zone (or as I like to say, “the state of ‘ON'”) you are just flowing; you are just doing.

When we think too much, especially about negative things, we mentally tighten up just like when you were physically reaching for that object a moment ago.

When you mentally tighten up, your mind is not clear and therefore your body won’t function at peak performance.

Your effort should be ALL-OUT…

But your attitude should be A LITTLE RELAXED.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend. -BRUCE LEE

MESSAGE #991 A PEAK PERFORMANCE PRINCIPLE: HOW TO CREATE GREATNESS

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to Manon Bollegraf in the Netherlands, Ash Kulkarni in New York City, Candice Carlin in Philadelphia and Kimberly Slater in Cherry Hill, NJ. Happy Birthday to you all!

 

Before you set foot onto the tennis court next time, ask yourself this question…

Am I going to let how I play determine my attitude, or am I going to let my attitude determine how I play?

Think about it – most people react to how they play, but the great ones CREATE how they want to play; it’s a choice.

Act as if it were impossible to fail.

 

For those of you going to the Caesars Tennis Classic in Atlantic City today, look for me in the press box. I will be taking photographs and shooting videos. Find me and you win a prize.

MESSAGE #986 THE WORD CAN’T CAN’T HELP YOU

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On a daily basis, in and out of the sports world, I hear people using the word “can’t.”

“I can’t hit a serve.”

“I can’t find a job.”

“I can’t get this math problem.”

But you’re lying to yourself. You CAN.

And if you think you can’t, then what if I offered you a million dollars to do it, could you? I’m sure you’d find a way.

I have had many students say the word “can’t” during lessons and I tell them that the only time you can say that word in a sentence is when you add the word “yet” at the end of it.

“I can’t hit a serve…yet.”

“I can’t find a job…yet.”

“I can’t get this math problem…yet.”

That’s a totally different mindset isn’t it? That’s what the winners think like. And it’s a choice.

Thanks for reading.