MESSAGE #1056 JUST DO IT

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I’ve seen many amazing things in sports, but on May 26, 2010, I experienced the most amazing thing…well, almost.

I was selected to interview a player at the Mrs. G’s Very Important Blogger event at the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, Trenton Thunder game. Little did I know, it turned out to be one of the Yankees’ top prospects, Brandon Laird.

We had a great conversation before the game in the hallway, next to the clubhouse, underneath the stadium. To checkout highlights and a video, click HERE. Laird then proceeded to hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run), with a walk-off home run with two outs, to win the game. It was only the second time someone hit for the cycle in franchise history. The reason why it was “almost” the most amazing thing I have experienced in sports was because I left when the game was still tied, 5-5. (I know, shame on me).

Well, this past Saturday night, amidst a whirlwind Special Olympics Summer Games weekend, I headed back over to the stadium, on, ironically, Special Olympics night. I again spent some time with Laird before the game.

When we were talking back on 5/26, I asked him what his best home run he ever hit was, and he said it was in a playoff game in high school.

The first thing Brandon said to me this past Saturday night was, “Remember last time you asked me what my best home run was? It was the night we spoke, when I hit for the cycle.”

We had another great conversation about success and mental toughness. He talk about his new routine and I asked the million-dollar question…

“What do you do when you don’t feel like doing your routine?”

“I just suck it up and do it anyway.”

Great answer, Brandon. And notice he used the “J” word…just.

In any great performance, they “just do it.”

When I asked Laird how he hit for the cycle, he said, “I worked my way to a hitter’s count and just got a good pitch to hit.”

Laird went on to become Eastern League Player of the Week and then Eastern League Player of the Month. It is amazing to see such an amazing athlete, but the thing I like most about Brandon Laird is not his athletic ability. The thing I like most about him is that he is a great person who has great character. He’s already in the Major Leagues, if you ask me.

Watch the video below for part of our conversation…

MESSAGE #1055 SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER GAMES RECAP AND VIDEO

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It was a busy but great weekend at the Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games 2010 at The College of New Jersey.

All of the tennis players played hard, had fun and did their best. What else can you ask for?

There were thousands of athletes, fans and volunteers. It is truly the best weekend of the year for me. Congratulations to all that made the 2010 Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games a success. Enjoy the photos and video recap.

MESSAGE #1054 SPECIAL OLYMPICS DAY 2

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Today was Day 2 of the Special Olympics Summer Games and it was filled with more inspiration, all-out effort and great teamwork.

I am always in awe of the great athletes, volunteers, family and organizers.

Where else can you see an athlete happy as can be because they gave it their all, even though they finished in last place?

We can all learn from them.

Here is the Special Olympics motto:

Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

MESSAGE #1053 SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER GAMES DAY 1

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In this video blog, Ed interviews Special Athlete and gold medalist, Alex Armour. Get ready to be impressed with Alex’s special gift.

MESSAGE #1052 50 THINGS TO DO (ASAP)

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Want to reach peak performance?

Then do these 50 things ASAP:

1. Meditate
2. Be a builder-upper not breaker-downer
3. Eat vegetarian (as much as you can)
4. Drink more water
5. Write a gratitude letter
6. Write down 5 things you want to accomplish by the end of the year (then do whatever it takes)
7. Talk less, do more
8. Complain less
9. Compliment more
10. Make the important thing the important thing
11. Cultivate gratitude every day
12. Play with your dog
13. Catch someone doing something right
14. Switch from coffee to green tea
15. Buy someone special a gift…just because
16. Smile
17. Laugh
18. Just do it, whether you feel like it or not
19. Be a leader
20. Be a teacher
21. Be a student
22. Strive for constant improvement
23. Go all out, every day
24. Don’t get irritated, get intrigued
25. Give more than you get
26. Be yourself
27. Fail forward
28. Sleep less
29. Exercise first thing in the morning
30. Call Success Hotline 973.743.4690
31. Do something that scares you
32. Read more
33. Watch TV less
34. Learn in the car (audio books)
35. Practice yoga
36. Focus on the process not the product
37. Don’t be well-rounded; be sharp-edged
38. Listen, really listen
39. Be mindful
40. Slow down when you’re in a rush
41. Relax when the pressure’s on
42. Breathe deeply
43. Stay in the present moment
44. Do a little bit extra
45. Act as if it were impossible to fail
46. Dress to impress
47. Be the change you wish to see in the world
48. Get a mentor
49. Be a mentor
50. Leave a legacy

MESSAGE #1051 WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM A KID

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Last night was the major league debut of baseball phenom, Stephen Strasburg, age 21.

He is a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals, who selected him with the first pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. Strasburg signed for a record $15.1 million contract on August 17, 2009. ESPN called him the “most-hyped pick in draft history” and Sports Illustrated called him the “most hyped and closely watched pitching prospect in the history of baseball.”

Now, there are many top prospects, but many of them never make it.

I think, if Strasburg stays healthy, he will make it.

Why? Because he works hard. And he’s humble. He goes all-out in every start.

So what did Strasburg do last night in his major league debut?

He struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates (a Nationals single-game record) over seven innings in a 5-2 victory. Oh, and his last pitch was faster than his first – 99 miles per hour.

“They didn’t really talk to me about a game plan or how to attack certain hitters,” the 21-year-old Strasburg said. “They just told me to go out there and enjoy it.”

I will be certain to follow this young man’s career over the next few years and I have a good feeling about it.

In his post-game interview he said the 5 most powerful words…

“I definitely think anything’s possible.”

MESSAGE #1050 ONE EASY MENTAL TOUGHNESS TIP

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Here’s a an easy mental toughness tip that you can instantly start to use.

1. Stand or sit up straight.
2. Stick your chest out.
3. Bring your shoulders back.
4. Lift your chin up.

Now feel negative.

You can’t do it, can you?

I can tell you to try to feel confident, happy and positive, but you may not be able to.

But I can say smile, or act like the most confident person in the whole world and you can. The beauty of this is that even if you have to fake it at first, soon you will feel it.

Congratulations to Rafael Nadal and Francesca Schiavone and a special thank you to the great Angie Holmberg who snapped some great shots of Game. Set. Life. on her recent trip to London and the French Open. See below.



MESSAGE #1049 FLORIDA DAY 4

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Yesterday was another great day here in South Florida. We headed to Sawgrass Recreation Center and cruised through the Everglades searching for alligators. I then held a baby gator in my hands (above).

Talk about mental toughness!

After that we headed up to Delray Beach, but not before stopping at Match Point Tennis shop to say hello to master stringer, Chris Kennedy.

In Delray, we had one of the most amazing dinners at Cabana, Cuban restaurant. We then headed to DaDa for a private screening of the documentary, Delray Beach ITC 2010. It was great meeting the producer, Matt Prickett and seeing Marlena Hall and John Butler. Even Chris Evert’s sister was there!

Yesterday was a great day and today I will be meeting with Richard Ashby, National Coach for USTA Player Development in Boca, located at the Evert Academy.

As I sit here in Starbucks, I can’t help but think about John Wooden and how he re-defined success and helped create the person and coach I am. Do yourself a favor and watch the video below.

MESSAGE #1048 FLORIDA DAY 3

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Greetings from Florida, Day 3. I am having a great time and my talk yesterday in Key Largo was very well received. I sold many books and connected with some great Florida coaches.

Sarah and I then had a great lunch at the Conch House, which was featured on the Food Network.

Today we are in Dania Beach/Hollywood.

As I blog here at Starbucks, I can’t stop thinking about the late, great Coach John Wooden.

Much of my coaching and life philosophy came from John Wooden. And much of John Wooden’s coaching and life philosophy came from his father.

His father used to say:

“You should never try to be better than someone else.

Always learn from others.

Never cease trying to be the best that you can be – that’s under your control.”

Here are some other great quotes from Wooden…

“Never mention winning – you can lose when you outscore somebody in a game and you can win when you are outscored.”

“Give your best effort and your results will be what they should. The score of a game is a by-product and not the end itself.”

“The journey (practice) is better than the end (game). The game is to see if they did a decent job (in practice) during the week.”

Success is…“Peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.”

“Character is what you are, your reputation is what you are perceived to be.”

“We hope that things will turn out the way we want them to, but we don’t do the things that are necessary to make those things become reality.”

Wooden’s 3 Rules (From his father):

Never be late

Never use profanity

Never criticize a teammate

“Never mistake activity for achievement.”

“He just used sports as a means to teach us how to apply ourselves to any situation.” -KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

 

In the 1930s, a poem stuck with Wooden that helped shape his philosophy. Watch the vlog below to see me recite the poem.

MESSAGE #1047 RIP JOHN WOODEN

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The greatest basketball coach in history passed away last night. He was also one of my inspirations. Here’s his definition of success…

Success is…

“Peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.” -JOHN WOODEN