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MESSAGE #787 A GOOD WEEKEND…

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“A true champion is someone who does their best when they feel their worst.”

Today’s message is especially dedicated to Patricia Koznick.

This weekend I was coaching and speaking to some of the top 10-year old tennis players in the country at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the USTA Northeast Cross-Sectional Training Camp.

Here’s what I noticed on Day 1…

1. They all have great strokes.
2. They all need work on their mental game.

At the end of Day 1, I gave a seminar to the players, coaches and parents on the mental side of sports and life. I talked about effort and attitude and how it’s less about being the best and more about giving your best.

Well guess what?

Here’s what I noticed on Day 2…

1. They all had better attitudes.
2. They were using the techniques that I talk about the day before.

I saw increased energy levels.

I saw positive body language, even when the score was not in their favor.

I saw players taking action and improving.

See, many people learn techniques, but then the go and do what they normally do.

Knowledge is nothing without action.

You can’t just take a class and then assume that it will help you.

You can’t just take a piano lesson and assume that you will become good.

You have to take action. Use what you know.

What are you going to do today?

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #786 OOPS!!

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“Adversity causes some men to break, others to break records.”
-author unknown

I had a very important talk yesterday.

I forgot my notes.

Yesterday was Day 1 of the USTA Northeast X-Sectional Training Camp at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. There were sixteen of the top 10 and under players from the Middle States, Eastern and New England sections of the USTA.

I was one of the coaches for the singles and doubles play. At the end of the day, I gave a talk to the players, parents and coaches, but I had a little bit of a challenge.

As I was being introduced, I was getting organized and looking for my notes, and then I heard, “…and here’s Ed Tseng.”

I had to go on; no time to find my notes.

So I had to make a decision.

Was I going to freeze up, or trust my instincts and do what I’ve done over thirty times in the past year?

I went with my instincts.

I think it went well. Very well.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. You can’t control that. You can only control your reaction. Sometimes you have to improvise.

If I relied on my notes during my talks, I probably would have been in big trouble. But I try to be more mindful and speak from the heart. That is why I was able to confidently go on and give my talk.

What do you do? What potential challenges might you face?

But more importantly…

How will you react?

Thanks for reading.