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MESSAGE #1546 WHO’S IN CONTROL, YOU OR YOUR DAY?

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The other day, I overheard someone saying, “I wish I had more time in my day.”

Well, today, I’m going to show you how to do just that. It’s called time management, or being efficient. Instead of “seeing what today brings,” after today, you will be able to CREATE your day and get more done in the process. Not only will being efficient buy you more time in your day, you will be better at your job, your school work, your sport…everything. Ready? Here we go…

Ed’s Efficiency Exercise

1. Create a to-do list: Write down three to five things you want to accomplish today.

2. Prioritize your list: Rank your tasks in order of importance (A = most important, B = very important, C = Not very important).

3. Just do it: Begin with your most important task. Focus all your energy on it, and do it until completion, or until you choose to stop.

4. Repeat: Continue doing “A” tasks, then move to “B” and finally to “C.”

5. Break it up: Don’t forget to take breaks throughout your day so the quality of your work/practice/study time is not compromised.

6. Make it a game: At the end of the day, see how many tasks you checked off. Your goal should be to have all of them checked off. This is also a great way to build confidence. Don’t be afraid to reward yourself.

7. Remember: Spend more time on your important tasks and less time on unimportant ones. In other words…Make the important thing the important thing…that’s the important thing.

Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077

MESSAGE #1287 WHAT ARE YOU AIMING FOR?

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A critical element of mental toughness is goal-setting. Many people think they have goals, but in actuality, they are merely wishes.

Most people know what they need to do, but most people do not DO what they know they need to do.

Here are a couple quick tips on setting goals:

1.   Write them down.
2.   Make them specific.
3.   Make them measurable.
4.   Make them attainable.
5.   Make them realistic.
6.   Make them timely (give yourself a deadline)
7.   Find an accountability partner (to keep you on track)
8.   Begin now.
9.   Persist.
10. Celebrate (then set a new goal)

The above is not a new formula, it has been around forever. The reason why, is because it works. And the reason why most people don’t achieve their goals is because they don’t stick with it. Taking action is the key.

I once went to the shooting range with a police sergeant friend of mine. He showed me how the gun worked, how to load/unload it, and he gave me tips on shooting techniques. We chose our type of target, i.e., a traditional target with a bullseye or a silhouette of a person holding a gun (a “bad guy”), which we could control the distances of.

My first shot was right in the bullseye! Beginners luck or good technique? I vote for good technique.

So what’s the point here? If I had just taken the gun and shot around, I would not know what I was doing, I would, most likely, not hit any targets, and someone could have gotten hurt.

Police officers go to the shooting range so that they can practice hitting targets. And practicing hitting targets will help them perform when it matters the most.

This applies to sports and life as well.

Write down your goals today!

MESSAGE #1279 WHAT DIRECTION ARE YOU HEADED?

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“The distance one goes is not as important as the direction.”
-author unknown

How hard you work does not matter if you are doing the wrong things.

How are you practicing?

How are you studying?

How are you working?

There is a big difference between movement and progress.

If you know where you want to go, just keep doing the things that will help you get there.

Buddha said:

“If we are heading in the right direction, all we must do is keep walking.”

MESSAGE #1265 DO THIS TODAY, WIN TOMORROW

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Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but it is the lightning that does the work.
-MARK TWAIN

You might be able to talk the talk, but can you walk the talk?

Some people love to say that they are talented or skilled, but that doesn’t impress me.

Talk is cheap.

Here’s what I care about…

1. How hard are you working?

2. What actions are you taking to help you attain your goals?

3. Are you making the necessary adjustments if your current plan is not working?

I don’t care if you SAY you are going to start working out, or quit smoking or start practicing more.

I only care about what actions you are taking.

You get results by action, not by words.

So impress me, I dare you.

MESSAGE #1257 HOW TO KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

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Nothing changes on New Year’s Day.
-BONO, rock star

Does anything really change on New Year’s Day?

I suppose change is possible, but is it lasting change?

Doing something once is not impressive.

Doing something consistently is impressive.

Don’t make resolutions, set goals and make lifestyle changes.

I’ve working out in gyms for most of my life and it amazes me how so many people start the new year off with amazing INTENTIONS by joining a gym and deciding to work out like they never worked out before, but don’t stick with it.

Their good intentions usually last only a few weeks.

By the end of January, those “motivated” people fall by the wayside.

Why does this phenomenon occur?

Because most people don’t know how to set goals.

Here’s what most people are doing wrong:

1. They don’t set specific goals; they said “I want to get in shape” versus “I am going to lose 10 pounds by March 1, 2011 at 8am.”

2. They let their goals too low. Michelangelo said, “It’s not that we set our sights too high and we don’t reach them; it’s that we set our sights too low and we DO reach them.” Set your sights high!

3. They think they can do it on their own. Get a trainer. Get coach. Get an accountability partner. Tell everyone about your goals. THEN you will be more likely to stick with it.

4. They don’t make their goals important enough. If something is important enough, you will stick with it.

5. They try their best, instead of DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES. There will be days you don’t “feel like” sticking to your goals. But those are the days you HAVE TO. Winners and losers feel the same feelings, but winners take the right action.

What are YOUR New Year’s Goals?

Leave your comments below.

Want a jump-start to a new you? Email to schedule a free 10-minute mental toughness consultation, or to request information on one-on-one mental toughness coaching via telephone/skype.

MESSAGE #1228 WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

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Are you looking for a certain level of success in sports, sales or school?

Is there somewhere you want to get to?

Let me tell you a secret.

It’s not out there.

Success is already inside you.

If you have the right mindset (all-out effort/constant improvement) and have passion for what you do, you are successful.

Set goals, but enjoy the process.

Success is a journey, not a destination.

Success is a marathon, not a sprint.

I recently spoke to a minor league baseball player and asked how his off-season was going, how his workouts were going. He said they were going fine. There wasn’t excitement in his voice. It didn’t sound like he was pushing himself to get to the next level. It almost sounded like he was giving up or that the major leagues was a near impossibility.

All of the successful people in the world have one thing in common–They act successful BEFORE they become successful. That comes from inside. And this is trainable.

There are no limits, you can always improve. Don’t be content. Create your vision. Start taking action.

With this mindset, ANYTHING is possible.

MESSAGE #1052 50 THINGS TO DO (ASAP)

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Want to reach peak performance?

Then do these 50 things ASAP:

1. Meditate
2. Be a builder-upper not breaker-downer
3. Eat vegetarian (as much as you can)
4. Drink more water
5. Write a gratitude letter
6. Write down 5 things you want to accomplish by the end of the year (then do whatever it takes)
7. Talk less, do more
8. Complain less
9. Compliment more
10. Make the important thing the important thing
11. Cultivate gratitude every day
12. Play with your dog
13. Catch someone doing something right
14. Switch from coffee to green tea
15. Buy someone special a gift…just because
16. Smile
17. Laugh
18. Just do it, whether you feel like it or not
19. Be a leader
20. Be a teacher
21. Be a student
22. Strive for constant improvement
23. Go all out, every day
24. Don’t get irritated, get intrigued
25. Give more than you get
26. Be yourself
27. Fail forward
28. Sleep less
29. Exercise first thing in the morning
30. Call Success Hotline 973.743.4690
31. Do something that scares you
32. Read more
33. Watch TV less
34. Learn in the car (audio books)
35. Practice yoga
36. Focus on the process not the product
37. Don’t be well-rounded; be sharp-edged
38. Listen, really listen
39. Be mindful
40. Slow down when you’re in a rush
41. Relax when the pressure’s on
42. Breathe deeply
43. Stay in the present moment
44. Do a little bit extra
45. Act as if it were impossible to fail
46. Dress to impress
47. Be the change you wish to see in the world
48. Get a mentor
49. Be a mentor
50. Leave a legacy

MESSAGE #1004 WING IT

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So today I went into the city to spend some time with my friend, the great Bob Ryland, the first black professional tennis player and Arthur Ashe’s hero. We had a great lunch with tennis pro Fred Weiland and then Bob and I walked over to the Central Park Tennis Courts and talked to some people, including Caroline, who runs the courts, about Bob and me giving a talk there.

On my way up to the city, I got a message on Facebook from Ben Sturner, CEO of Leverage Agency, one of the top sports and entertainment agencies in the world. Ben invited me to his gorgeous office, filled with sports memorabilia on Fifth Ave. My schedule allowed, so I stopped by.

Ben and I were sitting in his office talking about when I could talk to his team about goal-setting. And then he said, how about today?

“Let’s do it,” I said.

I didn’t have anything prepared, but I have spent my whole career preparing.

As a speaker, the last thing I want to do is rely on my notes. My goal is to speak from the heart and as a result, I know the material better and can give impromptu talks like today in New York City.

How can this help you?

1. Know your stuff.
2. Be brave (and flexible) enough to perform in a moments notice.
3. Give it your all, whether you feel like it or not.
4. Never turn down an opportunity to share your knowledge and improve your craft.
5. Help others.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #983

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to all who came out for the first ever Princeton Peak Performance Meetup Group.

For those of you who sent me hate mail and comments yesterday, I hope you had a good APRIL FOOL’S DAY.

S0 yesterday concluded my 21-Day Fitness Challenge. They say it takes twenty-one days to make something a habit and even though I stay active, I wanted to jump-start my fitness regimen. It certainly did that. And many of you joined me from all over the world, which made it even more fun.

Some days I merely performed an ab workout. Other days I went for a run, did jump rope, used my favorite piece of exercise equipment (not on the market yet but I have a prototype…stay tuned), worked out on the basketball court, soccer field or baseball field. If you missed the videos, click these links and watch me bend it like Beckham, shoot it  like Jordan and hit it like Jeter.

I feel like I’m stronger, leaner and have more energy. I actually surprised myself with sports I have never really played, like soccer and basketball, but with some tips from my coach friends, I performed quite well. Any skill is learn-able.

Did I ever not feel like working out? Of course, but I did it anyway. It also helped that I put it into cyberspace.

1. Set a goal

2. Make it public

3. Get to work

What do you want to kick-start in your life?