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Message # 135 This Message is Late…Sorry

Today’s message is dedicated to the great Ted Borsuk.

As you know, my normal routine is to meditate as the sun is rising and then write in my blog within an hour of sunrise. Today, my blog should have been written by 8:15 AM EST. It is now 10:38 AM EST. I am sorry. I took my puppy out at 7 AM, but then went back to bed or a bit. I DID meditate in bed, but no blog entry until now.

One thing that we need to do more of is admit our faults. I think many times we try to sugar-coat things to make ourselves feel better. Our focus is something on the outside, instead of something on the inside.

“It’s not your landscape, it’s your mindscape.”

We tend to blame others, blame conditions, or situations. We look towards something external to blame for our problems; why we are not successful, rich or happy.

“Oh, I didn’t get around to doing that report today, people just kept coming into my office.”

“Why does that always happen to ME?”

“How come I just can’t lose weight?”

It’s not your job.

It’s not your friends.

It’s not your family.

It’s not the media.

It’s not the economy.

It’s not the guy that cut you off on the highway this morning.

It’s not because you’re a Virgo.

It’s not because you live an a cardboard box.

It’s YOU! How you live on the inside affects how you live on the outside. If YOU want to live the life you want, then YOU must make it happen.

When something doesn’t go your way, ask…

“How did I make that happen? What can i do differently next time?”

Remember this formula: E+R=O…Event plus Response equals Outcome.

Be honest with yourself and others.

Take 100% responsibility for your life.

“The wind cannot move a mountain.”

“Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.”
-George Washington Carver

Thanks for reading.

Message # 134 Live from New York, it’s Ed’s Blog!

This message is dedicated to the amazing Cindi Holliday.

My morning meditation today was especially enjoyable today because I performed it 26 floors above 42nd Street in New York City. It’s amazing to take it all in, even before the sun comes up. You can see the tiny cars moving around below; you can hear their horns. You can look straight and see all the lights from the skyscrapers, then you look down at the flashing lights bringing you towards Times Square. I love it.

I was up again at 4am with some new ideas. I had to get up and write them down. I’m on the verge of something big. Let’s just call it Operation Nexus.

Many people think I’m crazy for getting up at 4am to write ideas down.

Many people think I’m crazy because I have so much energy.

Many people think I’m crazy because I am always so positive.

Many people think I’m crazy because I write in my blog every day.

You know what ? They’re right!

I’m crazy about life; I’m crazy about helping people; I’m crazy about making a difference and leaving a legacy.

If you look at anybody in the history books, at some point in their lives, people thought they were crazy…I think I’m on the right path.

Some people think that I was just born with this energy and zest. My friend Dan thinks it’s from the green tea I drink. You know what it really is?…

I have gratitude EVERY day of my life and appreciate all that I have, from my socks that keep my feet warm to the Internet that helps me spread my message to you on a daily basis. I know what my true purpose is in life, and I organize all my activities around it. I love learning and I love thinking of new ideas to make a difference. THAT gives me energy. Remember that letter I received yesterday from Coach Cohen in Boston? THAT gave me energy.

If anyone has a good success story, I’d love to hear it. It could be about you or someone that you know. I’d like to hear about how someone that hit bottom and bounced back up.

“The best way to motivate yourself is by motivating someone else.”
– Dr. Rob Gilbert, Success Hotline: 973 743 4690

Thanks for reading.

Message # 133 This is What It’s All About…

This message is especially dedicated to the great Kate Fehn.

Below is a letter I received yesterday…


To Whom It May Concern,

Ed Tseng came to the Jackson Mann School in October 2007 to address our boys basketball team. He shared many performance strategies during the hour-long meeting, and received enthusiastic and energetic responses from the team. Ed captured and held their attention not by lecture, but through a diverse array of techniques, such as: a magic trick, visual aids, a video, stories, quotes, and activities.

As the basketball coach of a Boston Public School, it was wonderful to see the team engaged and mesmerized by Ed’s presentation, especially when they realized that the strategies Ed suggested would translate to success in the classroom as well as on the court. In talking with some members of the team and hearing reports from their teachers, I see a sense of hope and optimism from them, as they have taken Ed’s messages to heart and applied his strategies to basketball, school, and life.

As a coach and teacher I am grateful for Ed’s visit. As one of my 7th grade players told me the other day when he saw that I was having a rough day, “Remember what Ed told us Mr. Cohen…you’ve gotta bounce back up when you’re feeling low! High energy!” This statement came from a student who, until recently, had been one of my biggest discipline problems. Thank you Ed.

Sincerely,


A. Cohen
Boys Basketball Coach
6th Grade ELA Teacher

“It’s not about what you expect to get, it’s all about what you expect to give. “

Thanks for reading.

Message # 132 Don’t Try Your Best

This message is especially dedicated to the great Eric Kutner.

I don’t believe in trying your best.

I believe in…

Doing whatever it takes!

There was once a young boy. He was smart, but not exceptionally intelligent. Well, the day came when he had to decide where he wanted to go to college. He thought and thought and finally decided he wanted to go to Yale.

Everyone he told either laughed in his face or flat out said, “You will never get into Yale.”

So a little dejected, the boy, still truly wanting to go to Yale, began thinking…

The story ends with the boy actually getting into Yale.

How did he do it???

Simple, he wrote a book called, “How I Got Into Yale” and Yale thought is was so creative that they accepted him.

There are many lessons to be learned in this story.

1. Don’t try your best, do whatever it takes.

2. Don’t worry too much about what people say and think; what ultimately matters is what you say and think to yourself.

3. Think outside the box, and you will stand out from the crowd.

“All great successes begin in the mind.”

Thanks for reading.

Message # 131 What’s YOUR Handicap?

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Patricia Omoqui.

Butch Lumpkin was born gifted, but we were ALL born gifted.

Butch is a great golfer.

Butch is a great tennis player.

Butch has no arms.

Did I tell you that Butch also TEACHES tennis?

Watch the video below and you will never complain about your golf or tennis game again.

Thanks for reading.

No Arms Athlete – Butch Lumpkin

Message # 130 Connections are everything…ask any electrician

This message is especially dedicated to the great Kim Henchinski.

You can call it networking.

You can call it connecting.

You can TRY to achieve success on your own…

but you won’t be able to do it.

You see, if you ask all of the successful people in the world how they became successful, if they are honest with you, they will give you a list of people. They may talk about their team or mentors, perhaps their parents or friends. If you really think about it, EVERYTHING that you have came from others…your ipod, your house, your car, even your body.

Before I started Tennis Solutions, I didn’t network much; definitely not outside of the tennis industry. Then, once TS was formed, I began networking with anyone and everyone; networking became a way of life as I attended networking meetings and events, sought out experts…I even network at the grocery store now.

Had I not networked, I definitely would not be where I am today. I wouldn’t have a blog, I wouldn’t have make connections with some of the greatest experts in the world or attended the Princeton Sports Symposium yesterday at the University. I was basically networking, connecting with some of the most influential people in the sports industry; there were presidents and CEOs of major companies, sports writers, agents for professional athletes, and even a life coach. I spoke briefly to the key people (I did my homework) that I wanted to meet and even some attendees that were quite interesting. I told them about what I do and my ideas and many of them said that they would like to hear more. As I ALWAYS do after an event, I will be emailing all of them after I finish my blog entry. And then I will stand out even more…why? Because they gave out hundreds of business cards, but I will be one of the few that follows up the next day. All I do is tell them that it was a pleasure meeting with them and mention something we spoke about. From there, I try to arrange a meeting, face-to-face with them.

When you seek out the top people in the industry, and form a connection with them, then you have power. This works because all the top people know each other and if one of them likes you, you’re in. Then THEIR network becomes YOUR network. Regarding the people who are not as well known…you never know who THEY know, even if they cannot help you directly. You see, most people just try to connect with people they think can help them, but that mindset is limiting you from a sea of people.

The other thing about networking is that you should offer to help them out first, or give them a piece of advice, perhaps just a compliment will do. When you help others, they will be more willing to help you out in the future. You will stand out from all the other people who just connect when they need something.

So if you want to get to the next level, start connecting with people; tell them about what you do, your goals and type of people you’d like to meet. It’s called selective focus; when you start concentrating on a specific thing or topic, you start meeting the right people, the right books start coming into your life, you see articles in the newspaper, etc.

Nobody’s going to ring your doorbell and hand you success, you need to take the action yourself and start CREATING your future.

Thanks for reading.

Message # 129 Laughter Really IS the Best Medicine

This message is especially dedicated to the great Jennifer Downes.

When you smile, or when you laugh, your body doesn’t know whether you’re TRULY smiling or laughing. It doesn’t know if you are TRULY happy or not. So if you’re in a bad mood or something bothers you, just smile or laugh for one minute and you will instantly feel better. Better yet, start your day with some meditation or smiling/laughing and set the tone for the day, why wait until something bad happens, CREATE a great day.

But do yourself a favor…do this in private or people will think you are going insane.

Ready for a scary statistic?

The average 4 year old laughs 300 times a day.

AND…

The average adult laughs…

15 times a day.

Perhaps we need to work on this…

Watch the video below; it’s brilliant!

Thanks for reading.

Message # 128 It’s All Perception

This message is especially dedicated to the great Maria DiBattista.

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

There’s a lot of negativity out there…pretend that everyone and every thing is plotting to do you good, and there will be nothing you cannot achieve.


Thanks for reading.