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MESSAGE #1152 WHAT I DID THIS SUMMER

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This summer, I spent quite a bit of time at Waterfront Park, home of the Trenton Thunder, Double-A Yankees.

I interviewed players.

I took photos on the field.

I was in the clubhouse.

I was in the press box.

I became friends with season ticket holders.

I became friends with players.

I sat in the first row.

I went to the player picnic.

I saw Andy Pettitte make a rehab appearance.

I saw Brandon Laird hit for the cycle with a walk-off home run.

I saw Adam Warren break the single-game strikeout record.

I even threw out the first pitch and proposed to my girlfriend, Sarah.

I saw some amazing baseball in perfect weather, and I saw some terrible baseball in horrid weather.

It was a great season, however the Thunder came one game short of winning the championship. It was a shock and it was sad walking away from the ball park and ending the season like that.

But not as sad as the passing of a dear friend’s son.

Or as sad as people losing their jobs, or getting divorced.

Or a high school teacher taking his own life.

Things happen. We can’t control that.

We can only control our reactions to those situations.

That’s baseball.

And that’s life.

Thank you for the memories, Trenton Thunder players, fans and staff.

See you next summer.

MESSAGE #1151 A QUOTE

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Supposedly, I once said the following quote…

Excellence
is not
expected effort-
it is
extra effort.

I can’t remember saying it, or where and when, but my source is good, so I must have.

Either way, it’s true.

MESSAGE #1150 YOU ARE NOT WONDERFUL

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The quote below is from a recent article on school testing, specifically comparing China versus the United States, from the New York Times.

“What’s best for kids is frequent testing, where even if they do badly, they can get help and improve and have the satisfaction of doing better…Kids don’t get self-esteem by people just telling them they are wonderful.” -GREGORY CIZEK

That’s what they do in China–frequent testing.

On the other hand, many schools in the US have adopted a “No test” policy.

“Kids don’t get self-esteem by people just telling them they are wonderful.”

How does this relate to sports?

You have to compete to learn how to win. That’s where you get feedback. That’s where you grow the most. That’s where you get confidence.

Too many people don’t want to lose.

You know what?

Winners lose the most.

Think about that.

Thank you to my father, the great Vincent Tseng for sharing this article. Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/weekinreview/12rosenthal.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

MESSAGE #1148 TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE

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If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you know what TEAM stands for…

Together Everyone Achieves More…

As long as…there’s a…

Total Effort from All Members.

In sports, we can’t do it on our own. Even in individual sports like tennis, golf and gymnastics, we have a team of coaches and supporters.

A true champion helps the rest of the team become better.

There’s a hopi saying, “One finger can’t lift a pebble.”

Think about it. We need help. We need to work together.

Who is helping you?

Who can help you?

Who are you helping?

MESSAGE #1146 KEEP GOING…

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“Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it.” -TED WILLIAMS

If people knew how close to success they were when they quit, they would have kept going. Persistence is one of the keys to success.

On Friday, I was having lunch with Tom Jolly, sports editor of the New York Times and we were talking about how most people give up too early. They quit after initial failure.

The ones that succeed stick with it just a little longer.

When you feel frustrated, keep going because that is when most people quit. If you continue while everyone else is dropping like flies, guess who will be left?

You.

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 #1143 HOW TO DETERMINE WHO WINS…

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Last night was Game 1 of the Eastern League Playoffs for the Trenton Thunder. They were facing the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who were 16-7 against Trenton in the regular season. AND they were facing pitching ace, Kyle Drabek who was 4-0 against the Thunder this season with a 1.38 ERA.

It wasn’t looking good.

In fact, as soon as I took my regular seat in the front row, the guy next to me said, “Drabek is pitching GREAT.”

But I was optimistic.

I knew anything could happen.

And it did–the Thunder won by a score of 2-0.

So that shows you that the best team doesn’t win…the team that plays best wins.

Go all out today!

MESSAGE #1142 WHO’S YOUR COACH?

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I have spent a good part of my career studying successful people, in all walks of life. One thing that these successful people have in common is they all have coaches. Pitching coaches, life coaches, music coaches, business coaches, academic coaches, etc.

Nobody can do it on their own. A coach can see things the player/client/student cannot.

Learn from your coach’s experience.

And when your coach isn’t around, coach yourself. Pick yourself up instead of beating yourself down.

“You can do this!” is better than “That was a stupid thing to do!”

Fire that negative coach in your head.

MESSAGE #1141 THIS IS WHAT STOPS MOST PEOPLE…

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I know something about you.

You want to become successful at something.

Perhaps it’s in sports.

Perhaps it’s in business.

Perhaps it’s in school.

I know something else…

The reason why most people do not become successful.

They don’t take action.

Knowledge is only good if you use it.

It’s the start that stops most people.

You know what you need to do, so don’t think about it, just do it.

With all the great athletes I have encountered, I noticed a quality that they all share.

They all do what they need to do, when they need to do it, whether they feel like it or not.

If you’re a runner, just start running.

If you’re in sales, just start making those calls.

If you’re a student, just start studying.

It’s that simple.

MESSAGE #1137 ADAPTATION

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Recently, I attended the Tennis Industry Association Meeting at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. Many of the top names in the tennis industry were there to hear about the state of the industry and to see Billie Jean King get inducted into the TIA Hall of Fame.

While I was listening to Billie Jean King make her acceptance speech, something she said stuck with me.

“Champions adapt.”

I like that. Champions adapt to different opponents.

Champions adapt to different court surfaces.

Champions adapt to sun, wind and changes in equipment.

Champions even adapt to the economy, the job market and technology.

Are you a champion?