Posts

MESSAGE #1501 HOW TO BE A CHAMPION

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Muhammad Ali once said, “To be a great champion, you have to believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.”

Most people wait until they “feel” something to act that way.

The most successful people in the world know that it actually works in the opposite way.

If you want to be confident, PRETEND that you are confident.

If you want to be energetic, PRETEND that you are energetic.

If you want to be motivated, PRETEND that you are motivated.

Not convinced? Then just remember these eight words…

ACT AS IF IT WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO FAIL.

Thanks for reading.

Here is my recent interview with award-winning tennis writer, Ann LoPrinzi: http://www.nj.com/times-sports/index.ssf/2011/09/post_66.html

Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077

MESSAGE #1013 ANGER

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

Today’s message is especially dedicated to all the players out there who have anger management issues.

I once had a student who would often get angry at himself after losing a point. And by once, I mean, I “often” have students who get angry and negative during competition.

Negativity and anger are common challenges for competitive players, but here’s the good news…

This can be overcome with training (just like fixing your backhand).

What do you say to yourself after you lose a point?

“I can’t believe you missed that shot!”

“You stink!”

“What’s wrong with you?!?”

Let’s analyze this voice for a second…

Does this “inner coach” help you perform better?

Of course not. What if a real coach spoke like this to their player? Wouldn’t you find a new coach?

If this is an issue for you, you need to find a new “inner coach.”

This inner coach should say something like…

“No problem. How can I make an adjustment? Good, now let’s focus on the next point.”

“That point is in the past, let’s focus on the next one.”

“You’re still in control. Let’s go!”

What you say to yourself between points will determine how you play and what kind of results you get.

How do YOU want to play and what kind of results do YOU want to get?

Remember this secret formula: S + A = R (Situation plus Attitude equals Result).

MESSAGE #1010 I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU!

/0 Comments/in /by

I had an amazing day yesterday (despite no sleep the night before) at the Human Performance Institute with Lorenzo Beltrame, who has worked with Pete Sampras and Jim Courier. Mark Dickson (US Open Quarter Finalist in Singles and Doubles and founder of the Mark Dickson Tennis Academy) and mental training coach, Rob Polishook (Inside the Zone)were there as well.

We had a great day talking about the keys to mental toughness and sharing stories.

As I was looking through my notes last night, I found a great quote by Horace Mann…

If an idiot were to tell you the same story everyday for a year, you would end by believing it.

So create the story of the player/person you WANT to be…write it down (by hand) and tell it to yourself over and over again.

And now for Day 2. Time for some breakfast and get picked up by the Mark Dickson Tennis Wagon…stay tuned.

MESSAGE #938 LISTEN TO THE RADIO

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Eugene Harper in Hong Kong.

Whether you’re in sports, sales or school, you have to know what radio station your clients, teammates and classmates are listening to.

I’ll save you some time. I know what station they’re listening to…

MMFG AM Radio

Make Me Feel Good About Myself Radio

1. Catch people doing something right.

2. Compliment them.

3. Have a genuine interest in them.

4. Repeat.

Most people focus on themselves.

The great ones focus on others.

Be a great one.

MESSAGE #619 ZENNIS…

/0 Comments/in /by

Much of sports psychology originated from Eastern philosophy and spirituality. Below is a saying I recently came up with, which was inspired by Chinese Zen Master, Yunmen.

If you walk, just walk.
If you play tennis, just play tennis.
If you work, just work.
If you study, just study.
If you sit, just sit.
But don’t wobble.

What does this saying mean?

It means, do one thing, and do one thing well. Stay in the present moment, and stay focused. Don’t worry about what you’re doing later, what you’re going to have for dinner, or what movie you might want to see.

Stay in the moment, that’s all you need.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #544 A MOVIE STAR?!#

/1 Comment/in /by

Today’s message is especially dedicated to Amy Morse.

Do you know what mental cross-training is?

Yesterday I had an audition for the new Pixar movie, Avatar: The Last Airbender. My friend and agent, Eileen DeNoble signed me up for the part. My schedule allowed it, and I thought it might be interesting to pursue, so off I went to Philadelphia.

As I was sitting there among all the professional actors and actresses, many of whom knew each other, I felt in another world. What was I doing here? How does this all work? I didn’t have my headshot and resume in hand. And even though it is an animated film, I was still nervous. Very nervous.

I went in, read my two lines and I was done. The casting director said, “Good.” What exactly does that mean? I guess we will see.

Whether I get the part or not does not matter. At the very least, it was mental cross-training. Many athletes play different sports or workout at the gym as cross-training because it helps hone their skills in their sport and forces them to use different muscles.

You have never heard of mental cross-training? That’s because most people don’t do it. If you tend to be nervous before a tennis match, go give a talk in front of your class or co-workers. If you can overcome nervousness in one situation, you can overcome nervousness in the other. That’s mental cross-training. It may not be comfortable, but do you want to be comfortable, or do you want to be great?

To improve physically, you have to stretch your muscles and put them under stress.

To improve mentally, you have to stretch your mental muscles and put them under stress.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #470 A LOTTA PEOPLE DO THIS…

/0 Comments/in /by

Today’s message is especially dedicated to Ms. Kontos’ wonderful students.

Do you do a little a lot or a lot a little?

Let me explain…

If you do a little a lot, you are doing a small amount often, or frequently.

If you do a lot a little, you are doing a large amount not very often, or infrequently.

Situation #1: You practice tennis one hour a day, six days a week.

Situation #2: You practice tennis six hours a day, one day a week.

Who will perform better?

Situation #1: You study for one hour a day, six days a week.

Situation #2: You study for six hours a day, one day a week.

Who will perform better?

If you cram for an exam, you may get decent results short-term…at best.

But if you do a little bit every day, you will get great results, long-term.

Don’t cram the most important exam you’ll ever take – LIFE.

Do a little bit every day. Get a little better every day.


See, the purpose of this blog is not to give you something to eat…it’s to make you hungry. Hungry to become better and hungry to become great.

Who’s hungry?

Okay, I need to go eat…see you tomorrow.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #460 DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!

/0 Comments/in /by

Nobody knows you better than you. So don’t worry about those people who don’t believe in you – they don’t know you! I know anything is possible and that if you want anything badly enough, you can achieve it…

“Doctors and scientists said that breaking the four-minute mile was impossible, that one would die in the attempt. Thus, when I got up from the track after collapsing at the finish line, I figured I was dead.”

–Roger Bannister (After becoming the first person to break the four-minute mile, 1952)

And guess what? After Bannister broke the four-minute mile, 37 others did so as well within the following year.

Impossible?

Never.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #447 A WINNER’S PHILOSOPHY

/0 Comments/in /by

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Judd Levi Horowitz, the youngest peak performer at 12 days old…

Are you trying your best? If you lose in sports or life, but you tried your best, how can you do any better than that? It’s not about the result, it’s about the effort. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t win.

“I don’t have a philosophy of winning – I have a philosophy of trying. If you put forth an effort that encompasses your very best – all your intensity, all your enthusiasm – then you can stop worrying about the outcome, because you’ve done all you can do. By that definition, you’re already a winner.”

-Lee Roy Selmon


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #442 WHAT MAKES WINNERS WIN…

/1 Comment/in /by

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great West Nott, assistant women’s tennis coach at the University of Southern California.

“The U.S. golfers are like thoroughbred sheep. They are tremendously bred and trained, and they run correctly, but the problem is that they are still sheep, and sheep want to be part of the flock. We need guys who are willing to say, ‘The flock is fine and it is a nice place to be and it is comfortable, and we are all very rich and enjoying the bounties of the flock. But the hell with the flock; I want to be a wolf.’ “

-Johnny Miller
Winner of 23 PGA Tour championships and winner of the 1973 U.S. Open championship

Today’s lesson? Don’t be a sheep!


Thanks for reading.