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MESSAGE #1388 PRACTICE THIS
Diogenes was an early Greek philosopher.
When asked why he begged money from a statue, Diogenes said that he was practicing disappointment.
At first this seems like a negative attitude, but I think it is brilliant.
In sports and life, there will always be disappointment.
There will always be challenges.
But we never practice what we will do when those situations arise.
Most of us react emotionally.
The key is to react intelligently.
Take some time today to think about a potential challenge that may come up, and think about what your ideal reaction would be.
If it happens, you will be prepared.
You might even enjoy the challenge.
MESSAGE #1387 HAPPINESS IN SPORTS AND LIFE
“Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them”
-JACKSON BROWN
Happiness in sports is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.
Anyone can deal with playing well, but most athletes cannot deal with playing poorly. But most people don’t get it—it’s not about getting rid of problems/challenges, but how we react.
How we make adjustments.
The next time you are in a tough situation, think NOT of the situation, but HOW you are going to react.
Then just do it.
MESSAGE #1385 TWO WORDS
Over the winter, I envisioned the image above in my mind. Last week, I took that image at the Trenton Thunder game of top Yankee prospects, Manny Banuelos and Austin Romine. And tonight, I stopped by the ball park to show it to them. They were impressed with the image and were kind enough to sign it for me.
I spoke with Austin several times last season on baseball and mental toughness (see our video interview HERE), but last night was the first time I spoke to Manny. I asked him if he had anything to say to my blog readers. He said two words:
WORK HARD.
Simple, yet powerful. See, most people want to be successful, but they don’t want to put in the work. People want to be more fit but don’t want to eat healthy. People want to make more sales but they don’t want to make phone calls.
Everybody knows what to do, but nobody does what they know.
How hard are YOU working today?
MESSAGE #1383 WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY MOTHER
My mother, the late, great Mary Tseng was, and is, one of my she-roes.
As an immigrant from Shanghai, China, my mother arrived in the United States without a great command of the English language, or a lot of money. In fact, she started out working at White Castle in the Bronx. Then, after my sisters and I got older, she worked an entry level job performing data entry. Even though she didn’t make a lot of money, she was able to save more than most people. Her goal was to raise a family to the best of her abilities. And I feel she did just that with my two sisters and myself. Unfortunately my mother passed away a few years ago after fighting cancer for nine years.
My mother was and is one of my she-roes.
She knew the secret.
It’s about OTHERS.
My mother was very generous to her family, friends, and co-workers. And during those nine difficult years, I never once heard her complain about anything. Even when she had people come to her house to take care of her or perform music therapy, my mother would always ask people, “Did you eat?”
It’s about OTHERS.
I think when we shift our focus from “what can you do for me?” to “what can I do for you?” our world changes. As a by-product, our results change—in relationships, in sports, in sales, and in school.
Everything mothers do comes from a place of love. But sometimes the message is lost because children hear that they need to get better grades, clean their room or can’t get that new cell phone. But there is always a good reason for that.
And that reason is to help make their child the best that they can possibly be.
As children, we need to realize this, be grateful and try to make our mothers proud, every day.
I know I try to.
Happy Mother’s Day.
MESSAGE #1382 A MESSAGE FROM LANCE ARMSTRONG
Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.
—LANCE ARMSTRONG
MESSAGE #1381 YOUR FUTURE
I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field.
-WALTER PAYTON
What do YOU want to be remembered as?
MESSAGE #1380 YOU CAN DO IT
In 2004, Jan Mela, at age 15, became the youngest person to reach the North Pole. And then eight months later, reached the South Pole. This was a great feat by the Polish explorer, but that is not the amazing part.
Jan Mela did this as a double amputee.
At age 13, Mela was electrocuted in an accident and lost one arm and one leg.
But he did not give up on life.
William Arthur Ward once said, “Adversity causes some men to break, others to break records.”
We don’t choose what happens to us in life, but we certainly choose how we respond.
If Jan Mela can be the youngest person to reach the North and South Poles as a double amputee…
IMAGINE WHAT YOU CAN DO.