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MESSAGE #1496 HUNGRY?

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Jay Colella in Kensington, Maryland.

The purpose of this blog is not to give you something to eat.

The purpose of this blog is to make you hungry.

Hungry to get to the next level.

Hungry to go all-out.

Hungry to do your best when it means the most.

Recently, I received a nice message from Jay Colella in Kensington, Maryland, wanting to purchase my book. I could tell that he was hungry for knowledge. Even though we didn’t speak in person, I could feel his enthusiasm through his words. Having that desire is such a big part of success…in sports and life.

To reach peak performance, you need to be hungry to be the best you can be. And if you think that is difficult, imagine how difficult it would be to compete against someone who is hungry and you are not.

When I was speaking to some top college and NBA coaches at the University of Florida recently, I told them that I did not want them to be well-rounded, I wanted them to be sharp-edged, i.e., be really, really good at one thing versus average at many things.

So how hungry are you to get to the next level? And what steps are you taking to make sure that happens? Only you can answer those questions. And only you can take the action necessary to create the person you want to be.

Leave your comments below.

Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077

MESSAGE #1270 BE LIKE WALTER

I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field.
-WALTER PAYTON, football player

Can you have the same attitude as Walter Payton in what you do?

Sports, sales or school?

Of course you can.

But the real question is, WILL YOU?

MESSAGE #1110 SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

Most successful people are not especially talented, educated, charming or good-looking.

They become successful because they WANT to be successful.

How badly do you want to be a great athlete, musician, student, parent or artist?

MESSAGE #1067 HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
-VINCE LOMBARDI

I know something about you.

You don’t always get what you want.

Why?

Because you don’t make things important enough.

If something is important, you make time for it.

If you want to quit smoking and you say, “I should quit smoking,” you probably won’t.

What if you smoked a cigarette today and knew you would get lung cancer tomorrow, would you do it?

Of course not.

What if you were a smoker and were diagnosed with lung cancer, could you quit?

Of course.

How great do you want to be?

Success is often determined by desire.

How important is it for you to practice?

How important is it for you to eat healthy?

How important is it to spend time with loved ones?

Choose wisely.

MESSAGE #920 FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY II…

PART II

The other scene I really liked in “Fetch Clay, Make Man” was when Stepin Fetchit was teaching Muhammad Ali the secret anchor punch of the great Jack Johnson.

Fetchit said it started from the stomach and goes through your whole body. You reach back and use all the years of slavery and hardship and you put it all into that punch.

Don’t get me wrong, by no means am I promoting violence. It doesn’t matter if you’re boxing, playing tennis, making sales calls or taking a test.

You have to go all out. You have to make it important.

I remember a story about a grandmother that picked up a car by herself when her grandson was stuck under it. She had never lifted a weight in her life.

That’s desire. And desire wins.

“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.”
-WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

We are like ten-speed bikes…we have gears we have never even used.

MESSAGE #779 WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN…

From Arthur Ashe on Tennis

“It is not just the more talented player who wins. Some players may try a little harder. Some players may be a little smarter with strategy and tactics. Some players may be in better shape. Some players may have a better temperament for the game. All of those things, added up, can negate a talent advantage. For instance, if you ask who was more talented in his prime, John McEnroe or Jimmy Connors, it’s no contest: McEnroe. But if you look at the number of pro tournaments each has won, there is no comparison: Connors has one hundred and nine, McEnroe has seventy-seven. (Connors also leads in Grand Slam singles titles, eight to seven.) To be a winner, you must be a fierce competitor as well as a shot maker.”

Desire wins. Want it more than you’re afraid of it….

It doesn’t matter if it’s on the field, in the classroom or in the boardroom.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #532 BE LIKE MIKE…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Michael Jordan.

We all know that Michael Jordan was cut from his basketball team in the 10th grade. He then went home and cried for the rest of the night. Many people would have given up and tried a different sport, but Michael went to work. The next school year, Michael arrived at school every morning at 6am to worked out with the coach.

Size-wise, many people had the same physical build as Jordan, some more so. So how then did Michael Jordan become MICHAEL JORDAN?

He certainly worked hard. VERY hard. But Jordan also had something inside. DESIRE. He says he was “hungry.” He also had the mindset of a champion BEFORE he became the Michael Jordan that we all know.

Jordan once said that if he ever woke up and thought that he couldn’t get any better than the day before, he would give up basketball. He had a growth mindset.

He was never satisfied. He never said, “I’ve made it.” In his eyes, he never got to the top of the mountain, he was always climbing.

I try to be like Mike. I try to get better every day in all areas of my life. It’s a process, and I’m enjoying the process. Someone once said that there are no limits, just plateaus and we need to continue to go higher and higher.

I agree.

Homework: Be like Mike…today.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #421 I’M THE PAGE 7 GUY IN THE TRENTONIAN TODAY…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Wendy Landree.

Last night I had my first book signing at Amalfi’s Restaurant in Lawrenceville. I think it was a success.

The Trentonian (page 7 of today’s paper) and Trenton Times newspapers sent photographers.

Tennis players, business professionals, students and professors were there.

A Special Olympics gold medalist was there.

A Broadway and film agent was there.

The Mystery Man from the Sopranos was there.

Let me tell you something about me…

I’ve had photography exhibitions at local restaurants (edphotos.com), but I’m not a great photographer.

I was named Pro of the Year, USTA/NJD in 2005, but I’m not a great tennis pro.

I just published my first book, but I didn’t like reading until a couple years ago.

So why do I succeed?

I’ll tell you…

Determination = Success

You don’t have to be the most skilled, best looking, or be the most talented person, but you DO need…

Determination, Desire, and Drive.

You can have anything you desire in life…if you want it badly enough.

I know, because if I can do it, YOU can do it.


Thanks for reading.

Come by the 27th annual Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Trade Fair and Culinary Showcase tomorrow, September 24th between 10 AM and 4 PM. I’ll be at booth #17.