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MESSAGE #1142 WHO’S YOUR COACH?

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 #1073 TEAMWORK

Today’s message is especially dedicated to all the great business professionals of LEEEP.

Last night I gave a talk and team building session to LEEEP at Princeton University’s Football Stadium. We discussed success, motivation, adding value and making a difference.

I asked if anyone knew what TEAM stood for.

TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More

as long as there is a…

Total Effort from All Members.

We are all on a team. A sports team. A business team. A relationship team. An academic team.

If you focus on giving your all, no matter what, the team is better for it.

The goal is to have all members of your team go all-out. But if that is not reality, why don’t you take charge – lead by example? You may be pleasantly surprised.

Enthusiasm is contagious.

Start an epidemic.

MESSAGE #1036 TEAMWORK

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Rob Polishook, performance coach and founder of Inside the Zone.

Trust is key ingredient in any relationship, whether it’s on a sports team, a business team or a relationship team. I know when I coach tennis players and when I coach people in mental toughness, trust is the key. Nobody can do it on their own – and trust is essential to success. Let me tell you a story…

 

Once upon a time, Fire, Water and Trust were walking in the woods.

They started planning what they would do if they got separated.

Fire said, “Look for the smoke – that’s where I’ll be.”

Water said, “Look for the green grass and flowers – that’s where I’ll be.”

Trust said, “You’d better not lose me because if you do – you might never get me back again.”

 

MESSAGE #1001 HOW TO WIN MORE

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the boys tennis team at Bolsa Grande High School in California.

 

Many players and teams go into a match thinking, “that team is really good; we have no chance of winning.”

The problem with this mindset is that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way, you’re right.”

The best team doesn’t win.

The team that plays best wins.

The Davids beat the Goliaths all the time.

The fastest horse does not always win the race.

If you go all-out, you’re a winner. If you hold back, you’re not.

Any questions?

MESSAGE #988 A PEAK PERFORMANCE POEM

There are two types of teammates in the world: builder-uppers and breaker-downers.

The builder-uppers are the Derek Jeters who make the rest of their team better. Michael Jordan was the same way.

The breaker-downers focus on themselves and may even put their teammates down to make themselves look better. One bad apple ruins the bunch.

This applies to sports, work, school and relationships.

Here is my favorite poem to bring the point home…

One day as I was walking around my home town,
I saw a group of men tearing a building down.

With a heave and a ho and a mighty yell,
they swung a huge steel ball and a tall building fell.

Impressed, I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled?
Should I hire them if I ever want to build?”

“Oh no,” he laughed. “Oh no, indeed!
They’re unskilled laborers–that’s all I need.”

“These men can easily wreck in a day or two,
what it takes skilled builders many years to do.”

So I asked myself as I walked away,
which one of these roles do I want to play?

Do I want to be known as one who constantly tears down?
De-energizing others as I spread negativity around?

Or do I want to be known as one who skillfully builds up with care,
enthusiastically encouraging everyone whenever I’m there?

Which type of person will you be today?

MESSAGE #938 LISTEN TO THE RADIO

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 #934 MY FAVORITE VALENTINE’S DAY STORY

There once was a woman, she was the envy of all her friends-she had two boyfriends, Bob and Tom. Bob and Tom both knew about each other. This went on for a couple of years.

Well, one Friday evening, Bob picked her up as he normally did on Friday evenings. But Bob who is normally late, was right on time. And Bob who was normally dressed casually, wore a suit. And Bob who normally was pretty mellow, was a bit excited. So they went to dinner but instead of going to their normal restaurant/bar to eat, they went to a fancy restaurant. They had a wonderful meal and right before dessert, Bob takes out a jewelry box from his jacket pocket and proposes marriage. And the woman says the worst possible thing, aside from a flat-out no. She said, “I have to think about it.” So the Bob was upset and took the woman home.

The woman was sad…until the next night, when Tom picked her up.

So Tom who is normally right on time, was early. And Tom who is normally in a suit, wore a tuxedo. And Tom who normally was energetic, was extremely high energy. They went to dinner but instead of going to their normal fancy restaurant, this night was the country club. They had a wonderful meal and right before dessert, Tom takes out a jewelry box from his jacket pocket and proposes marriage. And the woman says the worst possible thing, aside from a flat-out no. She said, “I have to think about it.” Tom was upset and took the woman home.

The woman sat lying in bed feeling miserable, going from two boyfriends to no boyfriends. But fortunately, the only woman who could help her showed up-her fairy godmother. “You don’t look like your normal self, what’s wrong?” the fairy godmother asked.

“Bob took me out Friday night and we had a nice time, but then he proposed to me and I said I have to think about it. Then Tom took me out Saturday night and we had a great time, but then he proposed to me and I said I have to think about it. I don’t know who to choose!”

“That’s easy. All you have to do is take two pieces of paper and on the top of one write Bob and on the top of the other, write Tom. Take as long as you need and write down the one thing you love most about each of them and then your answer will instantly come to you.”

So the woman took the piece of paper with Bob on it and thought and thought and thought and three hours later she figured out what she loved most about Bob. Then, she took the sheet with Tom on it and it took her another three hours, but she figured out what she loved most about Tom…and her answer instantly came to her.

A little while later, her fairy godmother showed up and looked at her. “Oh, you look like your normal self. Have you come to a decision?”

“Oh yes, I choose Bob!” exclaimed the woman.

“Great, but just out of curiosity, what did you write on Tom’s piece of paper?”

“Well, when I’m with Tom, I feel that he’s the most wonderful person in the whole world!”

“Really?” said the fairy godmother, puzzled. “Then why did you choose Bob?!”

“Because when I’m with Bob, I feel that I’M the most wonderful person in the whole world.”

 

So that’s the whole thing – it’s about others.

The best partners make the relationship better.

The best athletes make the team better.

The best business owners make the employees better.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY…and Happy Birthday to the great Kory Kahler and my friend, Valentine Barnaby, former Rutgers, NFL and Arena football player.

MESSAGE #832 YANKEES WIN!…THEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!

“I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee.”
-JOE DIMAGGIO

Well, the Bronx Bombers did it – they won their 27th World Championship.

You have to admit, the Yankees get a bad rap for having the highest payroll, but obviously that’s not a guarantee for success because this is their first World Championship since 2000.

And Andy Pettite, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera have all been (for the most part) part of the team since 1995. How many teams can say that, nowadays?

You know what I like about the Yankees?

Not that they have the most championships, but because they are a team.

When you watch the news today or read the papers (and by read the papers, I mean click on Yahoo! News)…listen to the interviews with the Yankees. It’s all about a team effort.

We can all learn from the new World Champions.

And remember what team stands for…

TEAM…Together Everyone Achieves More…as long as there’s a Total Effort from All Members.

Have a great day everyone!

The Tseng Performance Academy opens this weekend at the brand new Monroe Sports Center. Come check it out! http://monroesportscenter.com

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #682 TEAMWORK…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the special guests on my radio show last night – Bob Ryland (the first black professional tennis player), Carling Bassett-Seguso (former world #8 player), Linda Courier (mother of Jim Courier, former world #1 player), and Denise Capriati (mother of Jennifer Capriati, former world #1 player).

We had a great radio show last night on how sports help you in life. As you can see, I had a powerful line-up of guests talking about their experiences in the game of tennis and their own lives.

In my book, “Game. Set. Life.” I share some of the mental secrets of the greatest athletes and successful people in history. I want to create a paradigm shift in how people teach, play and view sports. But I can’t accomplish my goals on my own. Last night, my guests helped support the message. We talked about teamwork and how nobody can do it on their own. They need help from others.

What are your goals?
Who is helping you reach those goals?
Are you making a difference?

Right after you read this blog message, think about what you want to accomplish in life. REALLY think about it. Combine what you love with what you’re good at. Help others. And have others help you.


Thanks for reading.

If you missed last night’s radio show, you can listen to the recording here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Game-Set-Life/2009/06/11/Sport-is-Life

MESSAGE #612 SACRIFICES…

“There are plenty of teams in every sport that have great players and never win titles. Most of the time, those players aren’t willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team. The funny thing is, in the end, their unwillingness to sacrifice only makes individual goals more difficult to achieve. One thing I believe to the fullest is that if you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

-MICHAEL JORDAN

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Alissa Goldsmith and Chris Wu.

Many people know me as a die-hard Yankees fan. I bleed pinstripes. I used to go to every first and last home game at “the stadium” and I cried at Joe DiMaggio Day. I know where to get the best hot dogs near the stadium (in front of the bowling alley) and I was at David Cone’s Perfect Game. Every time I walk out the tunnel and look at the Kentucky Bluegrass, it feels like the first time.

Why am I telling you this? Because last night the Yankees flew up from Tampa, their Spring Training home, to test out their new ballpark for three days before the start of the season. Today is their first official practice and it is open to the public. I was offered a ticket by a great friend. I TURNED IT DOWN.

I know what you are saying, “Ed, are you crazy?!#%”

I had already made a prior commitment, and I was sticking to it. Could I have changed it? Probably, but that’s not the point. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to stick to every commitment you make, but you do have to respect all parties and make the best objective decision. I made a sacrifice, and I don’t regret it.

So for those of you lucky fans going to the first practice today – enjoy. And to the Yankees – welcome home. Read below for some interesting information about the new stadium. I took the above photo last summer of the new stadium, before they even completed the letters on the 1923 inspired Gate 3 entrance.

Workers scurry about the new Yankee Stadium on an around-the-clock basis these days, preparing it to welcome the Yankees back from seven weeks in the Florida sun. For the first time since Warren G. Harding’s administration, the Bronx Bombers have a new permanent home.

When the Yankees unpack their bags and settle in to the new cathedral for a three-day test drive, they will encounter a facility unlike most anything in the sports world. Visitors can’t help but be bathed in homages to the old Stadium, even as they try to take in a brand new facility.

“We think this is a living museum with all the history that is here,” Trost said (Yankee COO). “What we tried to do was make it look like Yankee Stadium.”

Gate 4, the main entrance behind home plate, was created with the 1923 original in mind. The Yankees bullpen has been restored to right field. Monument Park has been completely moved and relocated to its original center field position (albeit behind the fence), keeping all plaques and monuments on display for fans.

The dimensions of the previous playing field were maintained, and the manner in which the field is angled toward the sun is also the same. The gap between the bleachers and stands in right field again allows the elevated No. 4 train to rumble by as it passes over River Avenue.

And on the main level near Gate 6, the New York Yankees Museum tells the story of baseball and the franchise through various displays and artifacts, including Thurman Munson’s locker from the original Yankee Stadium.

“It’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Teixeira said. “You can have Opening Day in any other place, and it’s fun, it’s great. There’s a lot of energy and excitement. But there’s only going to be one Opening Day at the new Yankee Stadium, and to be a part of it is going to be unbelievable.”

(From Yankees.com)
Thanks for reading and “Play Ball!”
And remember, nobody ever said, “Work Ball!” – enjoy your sport!