MESSAGE #1096 LESS EFFORT

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The way to run faster is with four-fifths effort. Just take it nice and easy.

-BUD WINTERS

If I had a dollar for every time I saw an athlete try to perform by tightening every muscle in their body, I could retire. Most people think that they need to be tight to succeed. This is false.

It is a bad sign when I see the veins in athletes’ arms, or their faces turning red.

People perform at their best when they are loose and “just doing it.”

When you constrict your muscles, you cannot swing freely.

Instead, use only the muscles you need and trust your swing/stroke/shot. This will help you throw faster, hit farther, run faster and get the results you are looking for.

Everyone says, “Less is more.”

Why?

Because it’s true.

MESSAGE #1094 I WAS THINKING…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Justin Shackil.

I thought of this blog entry while I was out running this morning. My ideal start to the day is a visualization/gratitude/meditation run, then some weights and ending with yoga.

As I was doing my interval running (walk/jog/sprint), I found myself wanting to stop when I couldn’t go any further. And in the first round, I did stop. But then I thought, I am going to just go a little longer next time. I did. It wasn’t so bad. Then I did it again. I pushed myself.

The problem with stopping when you “feel like” stopping is that you are training yourself to ease up.

The key is to do a little bit more. Whenever I’m training someone in the gym, I say, do as many repetitions as you can, then do two more.

When you push yourself through the initial uncomfortable state, you end up in a whole new world.

And you get whole new results.

Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish that your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round — remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped.
-JAMES CORBETT, heavyweight boxing champion

MESSAGE #1092 BE PRESENT

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Kevin Roveda, who is tearing it up at tennis camp this week!

Much of peak performance is staying in the present moment.

Everyone says that we should not focus on the past or the future, but nobody tells us HOW to stay in the present moment.

Here’s a little exercise that can help you stay in the here and now, have laser-focus and get the results you want.

Pick something that you do every day, like walking or eating. Every time you do this activity, give it your total attention. Do it at half-speed. Observe and enjoy every movement, sound, smell, and sight. Be mindful. Focus on taking deep breaths while you are performing this task. At first, you may have to consciously slow down, but after a while you will get used to it. Then, “just do it.”

Great athletes slow the game down to their speed.

Great people slow life down to their speed.

Be present today.

MESSAGE #1088 TRAINING

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How you do anything is how you do everything.

I have seen many athletes (and non-athletes) focus on speed.

They think everything is a race. When they are warming up for a practice, they want to come in first. When they are writing a paper, they want to compete it first. When they are working on a project…well, you get the idea.

Here’s the problem…

When you rush, you are training yourself to be sloppy. You are focusing on quantity, not quality.

When you train yourself in the wrong way, you have to go back and do it over again (re-training your body, re-writing that paper or re-doing that project).

The great Dan Millman once told me, the key is to focus on excellence in the moment. Be mindful. Be great.

Try it, just for today.

MESSAGE #1086 POWER

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The less tension and effort, the faster and more powerful you will be.

-BRUCE LEE

If you’re an athlete, go back to a time when you were performing at your peak. Notice how you weren’t exerting that much energy? Weren’t you “just” doing it?

Be loose, clear your mind. But be focused.

When you are practicing, you should think about your technique.

When you are competing, you should be more automatic.

Take a deep breath and trust your game.

MESSAGE #1085 RISKY BUSINESS

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You have only one job today.

Take a risk.

Now, don’t take this the wrong way…I’m not saying you should quit your job and sell coconuts on the beach, but you should get out of your comfort zone — in your sport, in your job and in school.

Eleanor Roosevelt said that you should do one thing a day that scares you. She knew that you have to take risks to get results.

One of the biggest risks I took was starting my own business. I was scared to death, but I did it. And I’m glad.

If I had stayed in my comfort zone, I would still just be a tennis pro.

But now, not only am my own boss, I am a speaker, author and authority on mental toughness.

With big risk comes big reward.

One of my biggest risks became one of the best decisions I ever made.

Someone once said, “Go out on a limb, because that’s where the fruit is.”

MESSAGE #1083 ARE YOU JUST HOPING?

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What do you aspire to be?

What level is your effort?

If your effort is less than your aspirations, the space in between is just HOPE.

Recently, I had a female student who has been progressing nicely. Unfortunately, she goes to a school that has a strong tennis team, so she did not make the team last year.

But she’s not giving up. In fact, she’s working harder.

I recommended that she play some tournaments to get match-tough and experience some pressure situations.

She did. And played well. She lost, but she learned a lot and gained much confidence by just putting herself out there.

I have another student who, when he started playing tournaments, lost in the first two rounds for the first year. But he persisted, and then started winning. He now consistently gets to the finals of tournaments.

Most people don’t like to lose, so they don’t compete. But those are the people who don’t grow.

My students’ efforts are high.

I like that. And I’m proud of them. With a mindset like that, you can’t lose. The results come as a by-product.

Effort = Aspirations = Success

MESSAGE #1082 EMOTIONS

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You cannot control your emotions. They go up and down, like a roller coaster.

That’s normal.

However, most people’s actions are congruent with their emotions.

But that’s not what the peak performers do.

The peak performers maintain a high level in their actions, regardless of how they feel.

You can feel tired, negative, or not into it, but it is your choice what kind of attitude you have and what kind of effort you give.

The greatest athletes in the world can do their best when they feel their worst.

And so can you.

*BOOK SIGNING TODAY AT EVERYONE’S RACQUET IN PHILADELPHIA. 3PM. http://www.everyonesracquet.com

MESSAGE #1079 ANGER MANAGEMENT

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A common challenge in athletes is showing anger when performing poorly.

Does getting angry help?

Usually not. When you get angry, your muscles tighten up and your swing is no longer smooth and effortless. Think about some of your best performances. Weren’t you “just” doing it?

When you get angry, you take yourself out of the present moment.

Past Focus = Poor Performance

Future Focus = Poor Performance

Present Focus = Peak Performance

Take a few deep breaths and zoom in on excellence in the moment. This shot. This pitch. This phone call. This test. This conversation.

Nothing else matters right now. Be here. Be great.

A special Happy Birthday to tennis great, Debbie Schaeffer, owner of Mrs. G’s TV and Appliances in Lawrenceville.

MESSAGE #1077 I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU…

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Today’s message is especially dedicated to my grandmother, Fung Shee Pan. Happy Belated 104th Birthday!

Whenever I speak to someone trying to reach peak performance at sports, work or school, I always ask them one question.

That question will determine whether they make the big leagues, become CEO or honor student.

And that question also applies to you. Here it is…

Are you going to go all-out or are you going to hold back?

Who do you want to be like?

Are you doing what they’re doing?

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you’re a professional baseball player, it’s a long season. But the secret is, go all out when you are practicing/competing and go all-out when you are resting.

If you want to make the major leagues, you can’t have a minor league approach.

Go all-out today!

Thanks for reading.