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MESSAGE #1092 BE PRESENT

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Kevin Roveda, who is tearing it up at tennis camp this week!

Much of peak performance is staying in the present moment.

Everyone says that we should not focus on the past or the future, but nobody tells us HOW to stay in the present moment.

Here’s a little exercise that can help you stay in the here and now, have laser-focus and get the results you want.

Pick something that you do every day, like walking or eating. Every time you do this activity, give it your total attention. Do it at half-speed. Observe and enjoy every movement, sound, smell, and sight. Be mindful. Focus on taking deep breaths while you are performing this task. At first, you may have to consciously slow down, but after a while you will get used to it. Then, “just do it.”

Great athletes slow the game down to their speed.

Great people slow life down to their speed.

Be present today.

MESSAGE #1086 POWER

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The less tension and effort, the faster and more powerful you will be.

-BRUCE LEE

If you’re an athlete, go back to a time when you were performing at your peak. Notice how you weren’t exerting that much energy? Weren’t you “just” doing it?

Be loose, clear your mind. But be focused.

When you are practicing, you should think about your technique.

When you are competing, you should be more automatic.

Take a deep breath and trust your game.

MESSAGE #1028 TALKING WITH A LIFE COACH

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I recently spent some time with life coach,  Dolores DeGiacomo.

I asked Dolores what some common challenges were for her clients. She said that many times people have unrealistic expectations for themselves and others. They focus on external things that are out of their control and then get upset or angry.

When we focus our energy on things we cannot control, we are wasting energy. It’s a losing battle.

Instead, DeGiacomo says, “We should focus on things we can control, like our perspective on situations and people, being kind to ourselves and never give up.”

“How can we do it differently next time?” is better than “What’s wrong with me/them?” DeGiacomo added.

One of her clients was complaining that her mother-in-law was not treating her the way she wanted to be treated.

DeGiacomo asked, “Does she know how you would like to be treated?”

“No,” here client responded.

That’s like if I’m a tennis coach and I expect my students to practice between lessons, work on their fitness, have proper nutrition and work on their mental toughness…but I don’t tell them to, and then get angry at them when they don’t. That’s just silly.

Dolores also recommends that we stay in “learning mode.” When we strive for constant improvement instead of results, we actually start getting better results, as a by-product.

I like that.

For a free 10-minute consultation with Coach Dolores DeGiacomo, email:

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.