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MESSAGE #478 CHOICES…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Sandy Zio…Happy Birthday to a rock star!

I like to think that I have some important messages on my blog, in my book, and when I give motivational talks. But those important messages are nothing if you don’t do anything about them – if you don’t take action.

K – A = O (Knowledge minus Action equals Nothing)

Let me explain in a story…

A violin virtuoso living in America truly believed that he could play so well that he could actually charm a savage beast. Despite the warnings and pleas of his friends, he decided he would go to the jungles of Africa, unarmed, with only his violin to protect him. He stood in a clearing in the dense jungle and began to play. An elephant picked up his scent, and came charging toward him; but when he came within hearing distance, he sat down to listen to the beautiful music.

A hungry cat sprang from a tree with fangs bared but it, too, succumbed to the music. Soon a lion appeared to join the others. Before long, many wild beasts were seated near the virtuoso. He played on, unharmed.

Just then a leopard leaped from a nearby tree onto the violinist, and devoured him! As he stood licking his chops, the other animals approached, and asked, “Why did you do that? The man was playing such lovely music!”

The leopard, cupping his ear, said, “Eh, what’d you say?”

So it doesn’t matter what I put on this blog, if you don’t start to apply it to your own life. Don’t think about it…just do it.

Thanks for reading.

Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer?

Order “Game. Set. Life.” today… http://www.amazon.com/Game-Set-Life-Performance-Sports/dp/1419654756

Register now for the sports psychology event of the year on February 21, 2009. John F. Murray, noted sports psychologist and Ed Tseng will be conducting a half-day seminar at CanDo Fitness – Princeton. Email for details.

MESSAGE #477 DON’T READ THIS MESSAGE IF YOU’RE MOTIVATED…

If you’re already motivated…DON’T READ TODAY’S MESSAGE!

I don’t know for sure how many people stopped reading, but I’m pretty sure that no one did.

Nobody ever says they’re too motivated. It’s 4:58AM and I am very motivated, but I’m not TOO motivated. Anyone can be motivated one day, but the key is to be motivated every day. I couldn’t wait to get up this morning, to me, that’s a good sign.

My friend, Rob Gurden is also motivated right now, but he’s in California and it’s 1:58AM there. He doesn’t want to go to sleep! Another good sign. Rob is getting ready to help open a new Gambill Tennis Academy in Orange County, CA.

It takes a lot to impress me, but I’m impressed by Rob and I’m impressed by people who take the time to email me to say that they are applying the principles that I teach and striving to become better. I’m not impressed by people who say they are going to do things. “I should have done this” or “I should have done that.” Don’t listen to the old prophet, Ishoulda. Take action!

I’m not impressed by big homes or fancy cars. You can keep your hip clothes and tiny cell phone.

I am impressed by people that are taking action to improve. People that are moving forward. People that help others. People who know that riches on the outside are nothing without riches on the inside.

You don’t have to be great at the start, but you need to start to be great.

So go ahead, impress me…at work…at school…at practice…at home.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #441 IMPROVEMENT…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Oscar Nawrot.

I watch what I eat and I exercise regularly. I meditate to stay mentally and emotionally balanced. I try to be a good person.

I call this preventive medicine. Too many people wait until they get sick or become overweight to take care of themselves. Too many people wait until they have a nervous breakdown before they work on being mentally tough.

I challenge you to constantly improve in all areas of your life…BEFORE you need to. DON’T be on automatic. We’re only on this planet a short period of time – make the most of it.

Most people are satisfied with mediocrity, but if you do what everyone else does, you’re going to get what everyone else gets.

The great Melissa Sapio, who edited my book, “Game. Set. Life.,” got a perfect 4.0 throughout all of college. She told me her secret…

Exceed expectations. Just do a little bit more. Just get a little bit better…every day: on the court, in the classroom, in the boardroom and at home.

“You don’t have to be sick to get better.”


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #434

The person who succeeds is not the one who holds back, fearing failure, nor the one who never fails…but rather the one who moves on in spite of failure. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat.”

-Theodore Roosevelt




Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #431 LIFE IS LIKE KARATE…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Noah Maxwell.

Master Okazaki is a 9th degree black belt in Shotokan karate. In his book, Perfection of Character, Guiding Principles for the Martial Arts & Everyday Life, he says…

Karate is just like hot water – if you do not give it continuous heat, it will become cold.

I don’t care if you are the world’s greatest tennis player…if you don’t continuously practice and compete, your game will deteriorate, or become cold.

As a peak performance expert and motivational speaker, I make sure that I practice as much as I can and strive for never-ending improvement, because I know that if I don’t, I will lose it, and others will surpass me. Carol Dweck, ph.D., author of Mindset, calls this a growth mindset.

Are you giving your piano playing continuous heat?

Are you giving your sales technique continuous heat?

Are you giving your nutritional plan continuous heat?

Remember…

Success is not doing something once – success is doing something consistently.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #427 INSANITY…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Richard Hall in the Marketing/Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University.

Well, it’s official…I’m insane.

I woke up at 3:30AM with an idea…so I went downstairs and fired up my laptop. I updated by Facebook page, my Myspace page, my Amazon page, my edtseng.com page, my blog on princetonlivingwell.com and linked them all together (thanks, Karin Hiebert), sent out some emails, and now it is 6:06AM.

Now wait a minute, I know what you’re thinking…”All authors are crazy!”

OK, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a bit crazy.

Crazy about life.

Crazy about my job.

Crazy about helping others.

Crazy about marketing my book.

Crazy about leaving a legacy.

If you look in the history books, every major figure was thought to be crazy at some point in their lives. Do I think that I can make a major difference in the world?…

In a weird way…yes.

Not because I’m smarter, better looking, or more talented than anyone else…

It’s because I WANT to make a difference.

I WANT to help others become better.

I WANT to make the most out of my life.

What do YOU want?

OK, time to start my day…again.

So do yourself a favor…

Go a little crazy today.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #425 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND YOUR RESULTS…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Kaleb Patrick.

It’s not enough to take action.

It’s not enough to set goals.

You must be specific!

Here are two quotes on getting things done…

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you could wind up someplace else.”

-Yogi Berra


“Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go
from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to
get to.”

-Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #424 THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO DO TODAY…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Julia Bukovinsky.

Do you ever think about what you’re doing with your life?

Do you ever ask yourself if your life has meaning?

Do you ever ask yourself if you are truly happy?

Well, I have one rule that if you follow it, you will become successful.

COMMIT TO CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT. PERIOD.

Yes, I know you like to stay in your comfort zone, but greatness lies just beyond that comfort zone. You have to stretch yourself.

Do you want to be comfortable or do you want to be GREAT?

Become a better athlete.

Become a better student.

Become a better employee.

Become a better romantic partner.

It doesn’t have to be Earth-shattering…just become a little bit better.


“The only true security in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself in some way.”

-Anthony Robbins



Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #423 FEAR IS OK…

“I have been terrified every day of my life, but that has never stopped me from doing everything I wanted to do.”

-Georgia O’Keeffe

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #419 DREAMS ARE REAL…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Josh Passchier in Corbondale, CO.

Have you ever had a dream so real that you woke up and thought that it actually happened? A friend of mine had such a vivid dream the other night that she was in her friend’s beautiful home. The next day, she thought to herself, “Wow, I would love to live in that house.” But then she remembered that it was just a dream and that house didn’t really exist. I’m sure you’ve had dreams where things seemed like they really happened.

See, your brain doesn’t know the difference between what you envision in your mind and what happens in real life.

Most of the successful athletes, businesspeople, performers and students use visualization or imagery to reach peak performance.

You can visualize what you want to accomplish, how you want to perform or who you want to become. When you do this, you increase the chances of it actually happening. Use all your senses and make it as realistic as possible.

So use the power of your mind to your advantage. Most successful people visualize who they want to be, before they actually become that person. You can do the same.

Don’t forget, book signing at Amalfi’s Restaurant in Lawrenceville, Monday, September 22nd, 7-9PM. Great food, music, Game. Set. Life. stickers, newspaper photographers and a special Game. Set. Life. drink…the tennis ball, created by the great Jennifer Downes. See you then!

Thanks for reading.