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MESSAGE #564 LEARN FROM THE YANKEE CAPTAIN…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Dan Moster, President of the USPTA Midwest Division.

I know something about you. You’re on a team.

It may be a sports team, an orchestra team, a family team, a business team, or a relationship team.

If you’ve read my book or have been following my blog, you know what TEAM stands for…

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

The focus should be on the team, not the individual. Instead of “me” it should be “we.”

I am a die-hard Yankees fan and regardless of whether you like them or not, you cannot deny that between 1996 and 2000 they had a dynasty. But they didn’t have any superstars. They played as a team. And now they have Alex Rodriguez and haven’t won a world series in eight years!

In Joe Torre’s new book, “The Yankee Years” with Tom Verducci, Derek Jeter talks about those winning years…

“I think everyone had the right mentality,” Jeter said. “The right frame of mind. Yeah, you have to be talented in order to win, but you have to have the right mindset. And that mindset is, do whatever it takes to win a game. It sounds simple, but we really didn’t have anyone that cared more about putting up statistics, you know what I mean? I mean, if somebody had to hit a groundball to second base, they hit a groundball to second base. You don’t get a stat for that. You actually get a negative stat for that. But that’s how you win games.”

Jeter said the key…”do whatever it takes.”

Don’t try your best because you can always do better than your best. Do whatever it takes to help your team win.

Be a leader and leave a legacy.

There are no menial jobs, only menial people.



Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #537 THERE IS NO “I” IN TEAM…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Coach Mitch Kajzer and all his tennis players at Memorial High School in Elkhart, Indiana.

When I coached the Robbinsville High School girls tennis team, their record increased from one win all season to seven wins. I was nominated for Coach of the Year and everyone asked me how I managed to accomplish this. It was really quite easy. You see, as a high school tennis coach, you only have about two weeks to conduct tryouts and prepare for your season, so it is difficult to physically make a difference in players’ games…I worked on the mental side. We focused on the process instead of the product.

Listed below are some of the team rules we had…

1. No homework during matches-on most of the teams that I have seen, the players that were awaiting their turn to play were either doing homework, listening to music, or eating. My rule was for my players to pick a teammate to cheer for and sometimes even chart errors and winners. When you are at a practice or match, you are not a brother, sister, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc, for those couple hours, you are a teammate and you will energize those players that you are supporting. Focus on the task at hand, stay in the present.

2. Focus on your attitude and effort, not your strokes-A match is not the time to practice your form. Instead, you should focus giving all out effort and your strategy. If your strategy isn’t working, try another one. I always say, winning or losing, you should always strive for the highest energy level possible.

3. Thank the other team’s coaches and players after every match-It’s surprising to me how many teams don’t thank their opponents. Character is a big part of success…and it goes a long way, so make sure you show it.

Now I know that not all of you are high school tennis players, but I do know that you are part of a team. A work team, a family team, a relationship team, an orchestra team…these rules apply there too.

The best players help others to be best players.

Thank you to all that came out to the Independent Author event yesterday at the Princeton Public Library and…Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #499 ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE…

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Do you think one person can make a difference?

Tonight I went to see Kate Ceberano and the Sydney Symphony at the Opera House. It was a great show with over 75 people performing on stage. If one person was off, the whole concert would have been ruined.

Can one person make a difference?

Absolutely.

If one person on your sports team doesn’t perform, the team will suffer. If one person on your team at work doesn’t perform, the team will suffer.

Help do your part and give your all in everything you do.

TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More…

as long as there is a

Total Effort from All Members.

Tomorrow’s message from aboard the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship…


Thanks for reading.