Posts

MESSAGE #764 HOW GOLF CAN HELP YOU…

/0 Comments/in /by

Know what you want
Believe in what you want
See it happen

Recently, I took a yoga class with one of the top yoga instructors in the country, the great Naime Jezzeny in New Hope, PA. He walked into the class and said “I have a book for you.” So he let me borrow a book called, “The Seven Principles of Golf – Mastering the Mental Game On and Off the Course” by Darrin Gee.

I’m not a golfer, but that doesn’t matter…

The Third Principle in his book is VISUALIZE THE SHOT. Gee breaks visualization down into three steps:

1. Knowing what you want
2. Picturing or visualizing what you want (the path of the ball) in your mind’s eye
3. Trusting and committing to that visualization 100 percent

When I teach tennis, after a student misses a shot, I always first ask them, “Did you have a target?”

99 percent of the time they say no.

When I ask them if they had a target, that’s code for “I know you didn’t have a target.”

Even if you hit a great shot, it’s luck if you didn’t plan to do it. At any level, you need to have a target. In any area of life, you need to have a purpose.

Next, visualize the path of the ball. When you are playing your sport, you should visualize the ball going where you want, the trajectory, spin, etc. And if you are a student, musician or business professional, you should visualize the steps you will take to reach your goal.

Finally, trust and commit to your visualization. You need to be confident in your plan. Expect it to happen. The truth is, sometimes it may not happen, but if you focused on the right process, that’s all that matters. Perhaps you need to make an adjustment. And that’s okay.

Sports and life are not about doing something one hundred times. Sports and life are about making one hundred adjustments. If you focus on the things you can control, you will have more fun, continue to improve and win more.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #763 ANDRE THE GIANT…

/0 Comments/in /by

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Michael Sachs, PhD at Temple University.

“I miss the relationships. I miss my peers. I miss the fans being up close and personal and being able to impact their day for a couple hours. But I’ve also chosen to look at my life as a canvas to impact people for a lot longer than that. You don’t get the immediate feedback, but your life’s work truly has a bigger relevance than just a break from their day when they come out to watch you. This is about real change and real impact.”
-ANDRE AGASSI

The quote above was from a recent New York Times article.

Andre Agassi was always my favorite tennis player. I remember when he first came up and had that long hair and wore those denim Nike shorts. All he had was that big forehand.

He’s come a long way since the 80s. He went from punk to professional. He turned into a class act. I really liked Andre as a player, but I like him even more now that he’s retired.

He has started a charter school in Las Vegas in a rough neighborhood so that underprivileged children could attend college and have a brighter future. He’s making a difference and seeing how the rewards are greater than all the money and trophies he won on the tour.

Very few of my students will go on and be as successful as Andre on the tennis court, but ALL of my students can go on and become as successful as Andre off the court. The lessons you learn and the challenges you face in sports will help you in all areas of life. And remember, it’s about others.

Beginning Sunday, I will be in New York City, speaking at the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference on Monday, August 31st at the Grand Hyatt and then I will be doing a book signing at the US Open on September 1st (I will be Billie Jean King’s opening act). Monday evening they will be honoring Andre Agassi and others for their philanthropic work after retiring. Hopefully I will get a chance to see him.

To read the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/sports/tennis/28agassi.html?emc=eta1

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #762 PICTURE THIS…

/0 Comments/in /by

“We are what and where we are because we have first imagined it.”
-DONALD CURTIS

Today’s message is especially dedicated to yoga masters, Sue Elkind and Naime Jezzeny in Bucks County, PA.

The thoughts that you have are the results that you get.

Tiger Woods visualizes every shot before he takes it.

Roger Federer visualizes every shot before he hits it.

Anthony Robbins visualizes every seminar he gives before he gives it.

Do you think that they visualize negative events?

No way.

We are what we continuously think about, so if we keep thinking that we are not good at golf, guess what?

We’re not going to be good at golf.

Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The great athletes, students, business professionals and performers imagined themselves great before they became great.

Today I will be taping a segment for the “Let’s Talk with Gary Gellman” television show. Zig Ziglar has been on the show. Eli Manning (NY Giants), Nadia Comeneci (Olympic Gold Medalist), Dorothy Hammill (Olympic Gold Medalist), and Thomas Kinkade (International Artist), have as well.

I’m excited.

And I’m nervous.

Before I give a talk, I’m always nervous. But I don’t act nervous. I always visualize myself being successful and confident before I begin.

Today, while I’m driving to the studio, I will visualize myself on the show, in front of the cameras and being confident. I will mentally rehearse the main points of what I want to say. I will make the visualization as real as possible, imagining sounds and smells, as well as the surroundings. I will take deep diaphragmatic breaths to stay relaxed.

Anyone can use this technique.

Use it before a match.

Use it before asking someone out on a date.

Use it before taking a big exam.

But the key is, you have to USE IT.


Thanks for reading. Wish me luck today…

MESSAGE #761 I’M BAAAAACK….

/0 Comments/in /by

“Game. Set. Life. is a very motivating and inspiring book. Ed does a great job of teaching how to be positive and flip the thought process on the court or in life when negativity enters the mind. My friends and I recently attended one of his seminars and we were very impressed with his ability to capture his audience! We truly enjoyed his tips for peak performance.”
-DENISE CAPRIATI, mother of Jennifer Capriati, former world #1 tennis player

So I’m back from a successful trip to Florida. I spoke to tennis players, coaches, business professionals and even a family from Brazil that didn’t know much English. Denise Capriati showed up and brought her tennis friends.

I also had a great meeting with the great Tracy Hanlon and she, along with Chris Kennedy, the top racquet stringer in Palm Beach County, and Sandy Bell, tennis teaching pro at RiverWalk, are helping me line up some more speaking engagements for November. I already have one talk lined up at Ballenisles, home of Venus and Serena Williams, and am working on The Breakers, SeaView and other locations.

So I’m back home in Princeton, NJ and getting back in the groove as I prepare for the US Open. Sunday I will be heading into the city for the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference; Monday I will be speaking to tennis teachers, coaches and administrators from all over the world at the Grand Hyatt. After my talk I will be doing a book signing for the conference attendees. Then, on Tuesday, September 1, I will be doing a book signing at the US Open bookstore (near Court 10) during the day session.

I know what you’re thinking, “What’s the message of the day?”

The message of the day is this…

If I can fail out of college, twice and then become Pro of the Year and start my own business, then write a book and present it at the US Open, you can do whatever it is you want.

Anything is possible. There is a decent buzz going around about my book and speaking engagements, but guess what? I spent the past year promoting it, full-time. And now I’m reaping the benefits.

You get out what you put in.

I don’t think that my book is the best book out there, but I certainly put in the time to market it.

If you put in the time in your sport, in your job, in your relationships, you will get better results, so long as you’re doing the right things.

Talk is cheap. Take action today.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #759 BE LIKE JIMMY…

/0 Comments/in /by

When Jimmy Connors was playing, he used to practice with the same intensity that he used when playing matches.

In fact, he practiced for less time than his competitors, but with higher intensity.

Whenever I don’t feel like working out, I work out for less time, but increase the intensity. It works. I get the same result – sometimes better.

Try this technique and let me know your thoughts.

Well, it’s time to hit some tennis balls and observe some lessons at River Walk with the great Sandy Bell, go to a lunch meeting and then play some more at Trump’s club, Mar-a-lago with Trump family friend, David Moya.

Have a great day everyone…

MESSAGE #758 LIVE FROM WEST PALM BEACH – IT’S ED’S BLOG!

/0 Comments/in /by

“What I want out of tennis is not necessarily just winning.”
-JENNIFER CAPRIATI, former world #1 tennis player

If you have been reading this blog, you know that life is not about winning. It’s not about making a lot of money. It’s not about fame.

The quote from Jennifer Capriati is a great one. If winning were everything, we would only play people we knew we could beat. That would be boring.

You need to enjoy the process of improving, push yourself and be a good person.

Today I am in Palm Beach, Florida getting ready to give a talk to some tennis players and coaches on the mental side of sports and life. Denise Capriati (Jennifer’s mother) and her tennis team will be among the attendees.

I’ll probably be nervous. (I usually am before I give a talk).

But I won’t act nervous.

One of the mental secrets of the pros is that they focus only on the things they can control. It is then, that they win more. NOT when they are trying to win. You can’t control whether you win or not and I can’t control if the attendees will like me, or not.

Billie Jean King said, “When you stay in the process is when you win. Not when you get into the end results.”

I’m going to enjoy the fact that I am trying to help others and hopefully will help players and coaches think differently. If one person walks away more motivated or with more hope, my job is complete. But regardless, I will be focusing on giving my all and having fun.

After all, what else is there?


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #757

/0 Comments/in /by

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Chris Kennedy in West Palm Beach, FL.

Motivation is not a feeling – motivation is an action.

Like Nike says, “Just do it.”

MESSAGE #756 A MESSAGE FROM ANTHONY ROBBINS…

/0 Comments/in /by

If you’re going to have a rule for happiness, make it this: “Nothing has to happen for me to feel good! I feel good because I’m alive! Life is a gift, and I revel in it.” Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most people are as happy as they decide to be.” The story of his life and the stories of other people who have triumphed over tragedies are important reminders that we are in control.

Adopt this rule and decide to raise you standards for the one thing over which you have complete control – yourself. It means you’ve committed to being intelligent, flexible, and creative enough to consistently find a way to look at your life in a fashion that makes any experience enriching.
(Lesson #260 from Giant Steps by Anthony Robbins)

Ed Tseng failed out of college – twice!
Bob Ryland lived through segregation.
Rayna Dubose had all four limbs amputated.
Jennie Murphy is legally blind.

These people are all optimistic. You can turn any negative situation into a positive one. But unfortunately, it works both ways.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #755 A MISSING LEGEND…

/0 Comments/in /by

“Everyone faces mental challenges on the court. The key to overcoming them is to zero in on what is within your ability and ignore the rest.”
-NICK SAVIANO, author of “Maximum Tennis”

Back on June 10th, I did a radio show, entitled “Sport is Life” with Bob Ryland (the first black professional tennis player), Carling Bassett-Seguso (former world #8 WTA tour), Denise Capriati (mother of Jennifer Capriati), and Linda Courier (mother of Jim Courier).

During that show, Linda and Denise talked about a sports psychologist that helped Jim win four grand slams and also worked with Jennifer. This sports psychologist worked with Joe Montana, Whitey Ford and all the greatest athletes of the past century.

I was intrigued and asked Linda who this was. It turns out this sports psychologist was the late Father Joe DiSpenza. So I did some research and couldn’t find anything about this supposed mental toughness pioneer. No books. Very little trace. But then I saw that the great Nick Saviano, one of the top tennis coaches in the world, wrote about Father Joe DiSpenza in the acknowledgements of his book, “Maximum Tennis.”

So I called Nick.

Nick and I had a great conversation and he told me about Father DiSpenza. Supposedly, the deal was that Father DiSpenza would work with you, so long as you didn’t tell anyone. He didn’t want any publicity. And he didn’t accept payment. Travelling all over the world, Father DiSpenza was a sought-after speaker making a lot of money, most of which went to the charities that he founded. He lived a modest life. He just wanted to help others.

But here’s the sad part. When Father DiSpenza became sick and eventually passed away in 1992, he had all of his information destroyed.

I totally respect the fact that Father DiSpenza did not want any publicity or payment for his work. But why burn all of the research in your life’s work? Why not write a book and share it with others? I don’t know, perhaps he wanted others to figure it out on their own. I’m sure he had a good reason.

The principles in Chapter 7 of Nick Saviano’s “Maximum Tennis” is a direct influence of the late, great Father Joe DiSpenza.

13 Psychological Secrets of the Champions

1. Focus only on those things that you can control and disregard the rest.
2. Winning is not the number-one goal when you are competing.
3. Emphasize performance goals to achieve outcome goals.
4. Cultivate intrinsic motivation and de-emphasize extrinsic motivation.
5. Stay in the present.
6. Project a powerful, positive presence.
7. Engage in positive self-talk.
8. Breathe.
9. If you can’t visualize it, chances are it will not become a reality.
10. Maintain your routines.
11. Don’t make it personal.
12. It’s okay to be nervous; just don’t be afraid.
13. Practice under pressure.

The greatest athletes in history used some or all of the principles above. Your physical skills will take a while to develop, but you can instantly become better by using the same mental secrets that the champions use.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #753 A STORY…

/0 Comments/in /by

“Basketball is an endurance sport, and you have to learn to control your breath; that’s the essence of yoga, too. So, I consciously began using yoga techniques in my practice and playing. I think yoga helped reduce the number and severity of injuries I suffered. As preventative medicine, it’s unequaled.” ~KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, highest scorer in NBA history

As you know, I have been really into yoga lately.

But it’s not just a trend. It’s here to stay.

Yoga has helped me:
Get leaner
Get stronger
Have greater mental clarity/focus
Have better posture
Prevent injuries
Relax at will
Make better nutritional choices
Become happier
Become more mindful
Play better tennis
Feel younger
Feel more confident

Read the quote above from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar again. This applies to tennis too. If yoga can help the highest scorer in NBA history, imagine what it can do for you?

I have been fortunate to talk to and become friends with some of my yoga instructors. They all have great knowledge and I have learned from each of them.

Recently, I met with the great Senthil Kumar.

Senthil has only been in the US for three years. He is from India, the birthplace of yoga. When Senthil was young, his schooling stopped at the 10th grade. He went to work for his relative’s company as a goldsmith. He worked from 6am-1am every day. This went on for a while. With several workers under him, and making decent money, Senthil seemed to be doing well. But he wasn’t satisfied. He was constantly under stress and growing tired.

One day, Senthil left home without telling anyone. He told his workers to leave and never come back. He decided to go to the mountains and become a monk. So he lived in the mountains with the monks and all food and sleeping arrangements were taken care of, as they volunteered during the day. This was a nice change, but soon became boring to Senthil. There must be more to life than this, he thought. He realized his mistake of leaving all of his problems.

So Senthil went back home. Soon after he arrived, his father passed away. This was a great shock to him. His whole world came crashing down. After things settled, Senthil decided to study yoga. He quickly found that this was life-changing and wanted to share it with others. So he began conducting yoga classes for free. He would even give private sessions to those interested, as long as money was never mentioned.

Senthil met his current wife in India. They moved to the United States three years ago. In his classes, Senthil doesn’t use the words, “downward-facing dog” or “namaste.” He uses the traditional names for the asanas – I like that. The music he uses is meditation-like and his style of teaching focuses on the inner as much as the outer.

Yoga helps shift the focus of the external search for happiness to where it lies, within. Yoga helps build strength, prevent injuries, create balance and give you focus. This combination of body, mind and spirit can benefit everyone. And the breathing – oh, the breathing. That’s the best part. The quality of your breath is in direct relation to the quality of your life. It is a natural anchor and brings you instantly to the present moment.

I have attended several 7am yoga classes with Senthil and the turn-out has not been great. I can’t think of a better way to start the day. I guess people are too busy for yoga.

If you’re too busy to become healthier, stronger, and happier…you’re too busy.


Thanks for reading.