MESSAGE #1206 WORRY

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Many times I work with an athlete on strategy. For example, I will tell a tennis player to come to net so he/she can finish off the point.

As a response, they often say, “But they might lob over my head!”

I tell them not to worry about it until it happens.

I know many business owners that don’t take risks because of the dreaded, “What if?”

Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t prepare for these situations. You should.

The bottom line is that you need to get out of your comfort zone.

You need to take risks.

You need to what you’ve never done so you can get the results that you’ve never gotten.

Preparation…YES.

Worry…NO.

MESSAGE #1205 ADVERSITY

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Adversity cause some men to break; others to break records.
-WILLIAM A. WARD

It’s all perception and reaction.

Go all-out today!

MESSAGE #1204 THIS WILL HELP YOU

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Tonight I spoke to the NJ Unemployed group at Mrs. G’s in Lawrenceville.

I did it for free.

Why?

Because I know that helping others and making a difference is more important than financial rewards.

You see, we can’t take our money when we leave this world, but we can take the satisfaction that the world is a better place because we lived.

Money comes and goes, but what we do and how we impact our world stays forever.

You know what the funny thing is?

The more you help others, the more money you will make (and the better your results will be).

Try it just for one day…

Be a great teammate.

Be a great romantic partner.

Be a great employee.

Focus on adding value, being the best unselfish you you can be.

And then leave your comments below.

MESSAGE #1203 THE BEST PLACE TO COACH

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Someone once told me that the best place to coach is in an orphanage.

No parents.

There is a lot of truth in this joke.

I have seen many parents OVER involved in their child’s sport.

I have even had to kick parents out of a tournament site for coaching during a tennis match.

I understand that a parent wants their child to succeed, but by being overly involved and putting a tremendous amount of pressure on their child is not the way.

The main role of the parent is to provide LOVE and SUPPORT.

Period.

MESSAGE #1202 THEY DID IT!

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Well, Justin Gimelstob won his bet with Andy Roddick, as he finished the New York City Marathon in 4:09:58, well under the 4:45 that Roddick predicted he wouldn’t finish within.

I’m sure Laura Skladzinski, his running mate had a large part to do with it.

And my new hero, Edison Pena, Miner #12 finished in 5:40:51. Pena was having trouble with his knees and had to stop between mile 19 and 20 to ice. He could have quit, but he didn’t. His goal was to finish the marathon in 6 hours and he was determined to do whatever it took.

Congrats to Justin, Edison and everyone else who ran today in the New York City Marathon.

What an inspiring day!

MESSAGE #1201 ACCOUNTABILITY

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Tomorrow is the New York City Marathon.

Guess who is running?

Ex-pro tennis player, and tennis analyst, Justin Gimelstob. See my interview with him at the 2010 US Open here.

Andy Roddick bet Gimelstob that he couldn’t finish the marathon in 4:45. Justin took the bet and the loser gives $10,000 to the other persons charity.

I remember recently when Justin was downloading motivational videos onto his iPod for the race. He was getting ready.

Well, he also got a little bit of luck. Laura Skladzinski, the youngest female to run a marathon in all 50 states volunteered to help Gimelstob out.

She will be running alongside Justin to make sure he finishes and wins the bet.

Brilliant.

That’s accountability.

We all need that.

I have a feeling Justin Gimelstob is going to win this bet.

MESSAGE #1200 MINER #12

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I have a new hero.

His name is Edison Pena.

Edison Pena was one of the 33 men trapped underground in the Chilean mines for 69 days.

And this Sunday, he will be running in the New York City Marathon.

While trapped, Pena, known as miner No. 12, ran up to 6 miles a day in underground black tunnels with a flashlight and often dragging a wooden pallet behind him. He ran in work boots. He ran in 86 degrees.

Before the miners got trapped, Pena’s daily commute was nearly two hours each way…on bicycle.

And then he became trapped underground. During this time, Pena fought with his own mind.

“I became two people: the weak person who wanted simply to give up, and the person who chose to be strong – to run and to survive,” he said. “Eventually, I chose to live.”

“I ran to forget that I was trapped.”

And even though he has never run more than 10 miles, he will be giving his all this Sunday in the marathon.

“I know it will be very hard, but I have no fear,” Pena said.

Edison Pena said he is an athlete, “not a grand champion.”

He’s wrong.

As for the rest of you reading, the next time you don’t feel like running, going to work, or studying…

THINK OF EDISON PENA.

MESSAGE #1199 A QUOTE FROM VINCE LOMBARDI

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“There’s only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything. I do, and I demand that my players do.”
-VINCE LOMBARDI

MESSAGE #1198 ARE YOU AN ACTOR?

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Today I was tired.

But I didn’t ACT tired.

In fact, I think I taught some of the best lessons I have ever taught.

You see, a true professional is someone who can do their best when they feel their worst.

Think of it this way, if you are a waitress and you are having a bad day, should you LOOK like you’re having a bad day?

Of course not, you won’t get any tips.

So you have to act differently than you feel. Sports and life are the same way.

Some days you will feel “off” but you can still perform like you’re “on.”

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #1197 ARE YOU RUSHIN’?

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Someone asked me recently how to stay in the present moment.

I said that great athletes tend to slow the game down–they stay in the present moment.

They focus on one point at a time.

One shot at a time.

Deep breaths help.

Focus on what you can do get the result you want.

Do not focus on the result.

Someone once said, to do two things at once is to do nothing.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you might miss it.”
-FERRIS BUELLER