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MESSAGE #1641 TOP 5 WAYS TO PLAY IN THE ZONE ALMOST INSTANTLY

In the Yankee Stadium bleachers with Jeff Nelson, a 4-time World Series Champion

I recently spent some time with the former Yankee great, Jeff Nelson at Yankee Stadium. We were at an event for Cystic Fibrosis and participated in the famous roll call with bleacher creature, Bald Vinny, Yankee writer, Jon Lane, and my friend Fred Weiland, among others.

What did I learn from “Nellie”?

1. He was always confident.
2. He was always nervous.
3. He treated both feelings the same way.

Nelson said that he was always confident, but there are so many factors in sports so you never know what’s going to happen. He also said that being nervous is normal. And he didn’t think too much about either one. That leads me to my Top 5 Ways to Play in the Zone Almost Instantly.

1. Understand that feelings (both positive and negative) are random.
2. Understand that feelings (both positive and negative) are neutral.
3. Understand that feelings come and go.
4. Understand that feelings come from your own thoughts.
5. Understand that if you don’t take your thoughts and feelings so seriously, you will play in the zone more consistently.

Notice my Top 5 has no technique, routine or ritual? There’s no how-to. All you need is UNDERSTANDING. The reason why is because when you are in a slump and you look to a technique, it will not work. It will just begin to make you think more. And when you think more, you perform less. The zone is a state of no thought (at least you don’t realize you are thinking), so why would you do the opposite when things are not going your way?

I don’t know either.

Let me end with a quote from another famous Yankee…

“You can’t think and hit at the same time. A full mind is an empty bat.”
—Yogi Berra

MESSAGE #1503 THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Fred Weiland in Westchester, New York.

If you are like many of my blog readers, you are searching for the road to success. Here it is…

Take a look at the figure above. Imagine driving up the road to success and coming to a fork. It is your decision whether you take the road to Nowhere or you take the road to Success. Forget your GPS and choose to bear right and take the road to Success.

How do you do it?

When you don’t feel like practicing…do it anyway.

When you don’t feel like studying…do it anyway.

When you don’t feel like eating a healthy meal…do it anyway.

Winners do what losers don’t feel like doing.

The power is in your hands.

Ed Tseng
Director of Mental Conditioning
Monroe Sports Center
609.558.1077

MESSAGE #1004 WING IT

So today I went into the city to spend some time with my friend, the great Bob Ryland, the first black professional tennis player and Arthur Ashe’s hero. We had a great lunch with tennis pro Fred Weiland and then Bob and I walked over to the Central Park Tennis Courts and talked to some people, including Caroline, who runs the courts, about Bob and me giving a talk there.

On my way up to the city, I got a message on Facebook from Ben Sturner, CEO of Leverage Agency, one of the top sports and entertainment agencies in the world. Ben invited me to his gorgeous office, filled with sports memorabilia on Fifth Ave. My schedule allowed, so I stopped by.

Ben and I were sitting in his office talking about when I could talk to his team about goal-setting. And then he said, how about today?

“Let’s do it,” I said.

I didn’t have anything prepared, but I have spent my whole career preparing.

As a speaker, the last thing I want to do is rely on my notes. My goal is to speak from the heart and as a result, I know the material better and can give impromptu talks like today in New York City.

How can this help you?

1. Know your stuff.
2. Be brave (and flexible) enough to perform in a moments notice.
3. Give it your all, whether you feel like it or not.
4. Never turn down an opportunity to share your knowledge and improve your craft.
5. Help others.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #521 DON’T WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Fred Weiland.

Don’t worry about what others think of you.

Instead, focus on what is right for you. If you feel in your heart that it is the right thing to do, it is in line with your purpose, and it does not hurt others or yourself, then do it! Too many people worry about what others think…

BE YOURSELF! DO WHAT’S RIGHT!

“You wouldn’t care what people thought of you if you knew how seldom they did.”-author unknown

“When you’re 20, you care what everyone thinks. When you’re 40, you don’t care what anyone thinks. When you’re 60, you realize that no one’s been thinking about you at all.”-author unknown


Thanks for reading.