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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 #1085 RISKY BUSINESS

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You have only one job today.

Take a risk.

Now, don’t take this the wrong way…I’m not saying you should quit your job and sell coconuts on the beach, but you should get out of your comfort zone — in your sport, in your job and in school.

Eleanor Roosevelt said that you should do one thing a day that scares you. She knew that you have to take risks to get results.

One of the biggest risks I took was starting my own business. I was scared to death, but I did it. And I’m glad.

If I had stayed in my comfort zone, I would still just be a tennis pro.

But now, not only am my own boss, I am a speaker, author and authority on mental toughness.

With big risk comes big reward.

One of my biggest risks became one of the best decisions I ever made.

Someone once said, “Go out on a limb, because that’s where the fruit is.”

MESSAGE #1082 EMOTIONS

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You cannot control your emotions. They go up and down, like a roller coaster.

That’s normal.

However, most people’s actions are congruent with their emotions.

But that’s not what the peak performers do.

The peak performers maintain a high level in their actions, regardless of how they feel.

You can feel tired, negative, or not into it, but it is your choice what kind of attitude you have and what kind of effort you give.

The greatest athletes in the world can do their best when they feel their worst.

And so can you.

*BOOK SIGNING TODAY AT EVERYONE’S RACQUET IN PHILADELPHIA. 3PM. http://www.everyonesracquet.com

MESSAGE #1079 ANGER MANAGEMENT

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A common challenge in athletes is showing anger when performing poorly.

Does getting angry help?

Usually not. When you get angry, your muscles tighten up and your swing is no longer smooth and effortless. Think about some of your best performances. Weren’t you “just” doing it?

When you get angry, you take yourself out of the present moment.

Past Focus = Poor Performance

Future Focus = Poor Performance

Present Focus = Peak Performance

Take a few deep breaths and zoom in on excellence in the moment. This shot. This pitch. This phone call. This test. This conversation.

Nothing else matters right now. Be here. Be great.

A special Happy Birthday to tennis great, Debbie Schaeffer, owner of Mrs. G’s TV and Appliances in Lawrenceville.

MESSAGE #1078 GOALS…

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Do you have goals?

Do you have specific goals?

Do you have specific, written goals?

Do you have specific, written goals with you right now?

Do you take action every day to ensure that those specific, written goals will be met?

Do you have an accountability partner to help keep you on track?

Just wondering…

MESSAGE #1077 I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to my grandmother, Fung Shee Pan. Happy Belated 104th Birthday!

Whenever I speak to someone trying to reach peak performance at sports, work or school, I always ask them one question.

That question will determine whether they make the big leagues, become CEO or honor student.

And that question also applies to you. Here it is…

Are you going to go all-out or are you going to hold back?

Who do you want to be like?

Are you doing what they’re doing?

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you’re a professional baseball player, it’s a long season. But the secret is, go all out when you are practicing/competing and go all-out when you are resting.

If you want to make the major leagues, you can’t have a minor league approach.

Go all-out today!

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #1075 YOUR ABC’S…

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Always remember your ABCs…

Ability, Breaks and Courage

and…

Always Behave Confidently.

Have a great Saturday, everyone!

MESSAGE #1074 AAIIWITF

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I have recently worked with an elite athlete who was in a slump. They were not performing at their peak.

Most slumps are in athletes’ heads. They try to change their technique, but that doesn’t help.

They need to change their minds.

When you are in a slump, you go into the competition expecting to fail.

When you are on a streak, you go into the competition expecting to succeed.

So how do you get out of a slump?

AAIIWITF

Act As If It Were Impossible To Fail

Go into the competition (or school, or work, etc) and act like the person you want to be.

Then tell me what happens.

MESSAGE #1068 TALKIN’ BASEBALL

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Brandon Laird, 3B for the Trenton Thunder (Double-A, New York Yankees).

 

Brandon Laird currently leads all of professional baseball with 77 Runs Batted In in 72 games.

He was named Eastern League Player of the Week and Player of the Month.

He was only the second Thunder player to hit for the cycle on May 26, including a walk-off home run.

Two nights ago, he hit a grand slam and a three-run home run (for the second time this season).

Did I forget any impressive stats? Probably.

I have been fortunate to spend some time with Laird over the past month. His numbers are amazing and his attitude is even better. He is truly a class-act and is mentally tough beyond his years.

After last night’s game, I spoke with Laird and he was telling me how he was in a bit of a “funk” last week.

I asked him how he got out of it and he said, “At first I thought, ‘What am I doing?’ then I thought about what I was doing well before and tried to focus on that. I just trusted that it would come around because failure is part of baseball.”

Laird was persistent in his approach and stayed optimistic. As most great athletes do, he focused on his effort, not his results.

I had to ask Laird about his streak and having the most RBIs in professional baseball.

“You know, I’m just taking it one day at a time. I have a plan, I try to hit the ball hard and have a good at bat,” commented Laird.

Tonight is exactly one month since I first spoke to Laird, which was the same night he hit for the cycle with a walk-off home run.

I will be talking to #29 again before the game and we’ll see if he can continue to stay hot with his bat. I have a strange feeling he will.

Play ball!