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MESSAGE #537 THERE IS NO “I” IN TEAM…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Coach Mitch Kajzer and all his tennis players at Memorial High School in Elkhart, Indiana.

When I coached the Robbinsville High School girls tennis team, their record increased from one win all season to seven wins. I was nominated for Coach of the Year and everyone asked me how I managed to accomplish this. It was really quite easy. You see, as a high school tennis coach, you only have about two weeks to conduct tryouts and prepare for your season, so it is difficult to physically make a difference in players’ games…I worked on the mental side. We focused on the process instead of the product.

Listed below are some of the team rules we had…

1. No homework during matches-on most of the teams that I have seen, the players that were awaiting their turn to play were either doing homework, listening to music, or eating. My rule was for my players to pick a teammate to cheer for and sometimes even chart errors and winners. When you are at a practice or match, you are not a brother, sister, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc, for those couple hours, you are a teammate and you will energize those players that you are supporting. Focus on the task at hand, stay in the present.

2. Focus on your attitude and effort, not your strokes-A match is not the time to practice your form. Instead, you should focus giving all out effort and your strategy. If your strategy isn’t working, try another one. I always say, winning or losing, you should always strive for the highest energy level possible.

3. Thank the other team’s coaches and players after every match-It’s surprising to me how many teams don’t thank their opponents. Character is a big part of success…and it goes a long way, so make sure you show it.

Now I know that not all of you are high school tennis players, but I do know that you are part of a team. A work team, a family team, a relationship team, an orchestra team…these rules apply there too.

The best players help others to be best players.

Thank you to all that came out to the Independent Author event yesterday at the Princeton Public Library and…Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #499 ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE…

Do you think one person can make a difference?

Tonight I went to see Kate Ceberano and the Sydney Symphony at the Opera House. It was a great show with over 75 people performing on stage. If one person was off, the whole concert would have been ruined.

Can one person make a difference?

Absolutely.

If one person on your sports team doesn’t perform, the team will suffer. If one person on your team at work doesn’t perform, the team will suffer.

Help do your part and give your all in everything you do.

TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More…

as long as there is a

Total Effort from All Members.

Tomorrow’s message from aboard the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship…


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #440 YOU HAVE NO LIMITS…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Marty Burch.

“I realize that I don’t have limits. Limits are always influences that come from outside, from people who don’t believe in themselves and their abilities. I firmly believe in myself. I know that I can do whatever I want and that I’ll always reach my goals.”

-Madonna


This mindset helped Madonna become who she is today. Most people don’t set their sights high enough. And most people have low self-images.

Vince Lombardi said to strive for perfection and you’ll run into excellence.

If you strive for mediocrity, you will never achieve greatness.

YOU CAN DO IT.

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


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #428 DISNEY BOOK CLUB…

So my friend was recently at Disney and look what she found…

WHAT IS PLUTO READING?
LILO LIKES “GAME”

STITCH CAN’T PUT IT DOWN…

Peak performance for Disney characters…I like it.

Thanks for checking in.

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 #406 JAMAICAN TENNIS TIPS…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Zuki in Jamaica.

I spent some time today with Zuki, the local tennis pro at Sandals, Montego Bay. Zuki used to play on the pro tour and has been the resident pro for seven years. I asked Zuki what he felt were the top keys to peak performance as a tennis pro at Sandals. Here’s what he had to say…

1. Patience
2. Be a motivator
3. Creativity

If you are any type of teacher, follow these three principles and you will stand out from the crowd.

Tomorrow’s message from NJ…


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #404 IT ONLY TAKES ONE…

A very special birthday greeting to the great Grace Ho in Austin, Texas.

Although I haven’t had a terribly large number of students here in Jamaica, I still give them my all. It doesn’t matter whether I have one student or 100, they will still get my all-out effort. My thinking is that if I can help one person get better or one person enjoy their vacation that much more, my job is done. I could easily not care so much if I only have one student, but I do. It’s not quantity, it’s quality. Being a waiter is the same way. Remember, it’s the little things that get you…

Richardo is a server at Sandals Montego Bay who gives exceptional customer service. I asked Richardo what the top three keys to success in the restaurant industry were. Here’s what he had to say…

1. Keep learning
2. Stay focused
3. Stay positive and confident

There you have it from Jamaica on Day 6.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #403 OUCH!!!

Day 5 in Jamaica was another good one – some snorkeling, sailing, beach and pool. It was all good, but while I was in the ocean, I got stung by a jellyfish.

It wasn’t even a jellyfish, it was a jellyfish tentacle. I didn’t know what it was – it just wrapped itself around my wrist but then it began to sting. I was fine.

Did I get bitten by a great white shark today?

No, it was just a jellyfish tentacle, so what does that mean?

It’s not the big things in life that get you…it’s the little things.

Your life, sport or job is the same way.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #396 DO THIS AND YOU’LL BE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE…

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Amy Pertetua.

How are you doing?

Wait, let me explain – I don’t want to know how you’re feeling…

I want to know how you are doing…

in your sport

in your job

in your musical instrument

in your relationships.

You see, if you don’t know where you are, you can’t get to where you want to be. Most people in the world just go through the motions and see what life brings them. The successful people in the world create the life they want.

So how are you doing? Let me explain what I mean by way of a story.

There was once a little boy in a small town. One day the boy walked into the local grocery store and asked to use the phone. The manager let him, so he dialed a number and then spoke into the phone, “Hello, may I speak to Dr. Smith?”

“This is Dr. Smith,” the person on the other line responded.

“Dr. Smith, do you have someone to cut your lawn and tend to your flower bed?”

“Oh, yes, I already have someone doing those things for me.”

The boy said, “May I ask what kind of job that person is doing?”

“An excellent job, thank you,” was the reply.

“Okay, thank you for your time.”

So the little boy hung up the phone and began walking out the door when the manager of the store approached him.

“Young man, I like how you presented yourself on the phone and am impressed by your attitude. Let me offer you a job.”

“Thank you so very much, but I already have a job. I’m Dr. Smith’s boy – I was just checking in to see how I was doing.”

When was the last time you asked how you were doing?

Ask your coach.

Ask your boss.

Ask your romantic partner.

Don’t refrain from asking just because you might get an undesirable response. That’s the whole point! Getting feedback so you can get to the next level.

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

Thanks for reading.