MESSAGE #1146 KEEP GOING…

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“Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it.” -TED WILLIAMS

If people knew how close to success they were when they quit, they would have kept going. Persistence is one of the keys to success.

On Friday, I was having lunch with Tom Jolly, sports editor of the New York Times and we were talking about how most people give up too early. They quit after initial failure.

The ones that succeed stick with it just a little longer.

When you feel frustrated, keep going because that is when most people quit. If you continue while everyone else is dropping like flies, guess who will be left?

You.

MESSAGE #1145 9/11 REMEMBERED

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Brandon Laird of the New York Yankees. Happy Birthday to a true peak performer.

Today is 9/11.

It will always be remembered.

But what does it mean?

How do we react?

We can complain about the long security lines at sporting events and the airport.

We can be angry at the terrorists.

We can just be sad.

To me, 9/11 is a sad day, but it is also a wonderful day because it shows how resilient our country is.

It shows how we take any situation and become tougher and stronger.

And although we cannot change the fact that many lives were lost, we CAN change our attitudes.

We CAN have gratitude for what we DO have.

And we CAN hit bottom and bounce back up.

MESSAGE #1144 A GREAT BASEBALL FAN!

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MESSAGE #1143 HOW TO DETERMINE WHO WINS…

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Last night was Game 1 of the Eastern League Playoffs for the Trenton Thunder. They were facing the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who were 16-7 against Trenton in the regular season. AND they were facing pitching ace, Kyle Drabek who was 4-0 against the Thunder this season with a 1.38 ERA.

It wasn’t looking good.

In fact, as soon as I took my regular seat in the front row, the guy next to me said, “Drabek is pitching GREAT.”

But I was optimistic.

I knew anything could happen.

And it did–the Thunder won by a score of 2-0.

So that shows you that the best team doesn’t win…the team that plays best wins.

Go all out today!

MESSAGE #1142 WHO’S YOUR COACH?

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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 #1141 THIS IS WHAT STOPS MOST PEOPLE…

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I know something about you.

You want to become successful at something.

Perhaps it’s in sports.

Perhaps it’s in business.

Perhaps it’s in school.

I know something else…

The reason why most people do not become successful.

They don’t take action.

Knowledge is only good if you use it.

It’s the start that stops most people.

You know what you need to do, so don’t think about it, just do it.

With all the great athletes I have encountered, I noticed a quality that they all share.

They all do what they need to do, when they need to do it, whether they feel like it or not.

If you’re a runner, just start running.

If you’re in sales, just start making those calls.

If you’re a student, just start studying.

It’s that simple.

MESSAGE #1140

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Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister, Grace in Austin, Texas!

“What you do may not seem important but it is very important that you do it.” -MAHATMA GANDHI

MESSAGE #1139 THE AMYGDALA

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Amygdala is a Latin word based on Greek that means “almond.” Named for its almond shape, your amygdala is a group of neurons in the brain that has tremendous power over your perceptions and actions. The amygdala senses potential and real stress and orders the release of neurotransmitters in response, causing you to feel doubt, fear, and anxiety.

When you are growing or moving to the next level of success in any area of your life, the doubt, fear, and anxiety are absolutely normal. They’re caused by the release of a chemical in your brain. When you understand why it’s happening, you can recognize it as normal and realize that your brain is doing what it’s supposed to do: sending you signals so you can make decisions, not trying to stop you in your tracks.

Highly successful people feel the same feelings of fear, doubt, and anxiety that everyone else feels. It’s what they do about them that makes them different. When they come up against failure or something that doesn’t work, they don’t take it personally. They try something different and they move on.

From “Having It All” by John Assaraf

MESSAGE #1138 I FORGOT TO BLOG!

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I just got into bed after a long day and thought, “I forgot to blog!”

I could have skipped it, but I got up and here I am. Here is a quote for you.

“Exceptions shatter dreams.”

I tell people, “Do what you need to do, whether you feel like it or not.”

Oh, and I walk the talk too.

Good night all.

MESSAGE #1137 ADAPTATION

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Recently, I attended the Tennis Industry Association Meeting at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. Many of the top names in the tennis industry were there to hear about the state of the industry and to see Billie Jean King get inducted into the TIA Hall of Fame.

While I was listening to Billie Jean King make her acceptance speech, something she said stuck with me.

“Champions adapt.”

I like that. Champions adapt to different opponents.

Champions adapt to different court surfaces.

Champions adapt to sun, wind and changes in equipment.

Champions even adapt to the economy, the job market and technology.

Are you a champion?