This text was sent to me by a Division 1 All-American golfer I’m humbled to work with. I’m posting it because, instead of feeling sorry for himself after a poor final round, he wanted to learn how to approach it, mentally. While most players would focus on “what if,” he wanted to know NOW WHAT?
I also posted my answer below.
MY REPLY TO HIM …
Are you sleeping in, or getting up early and separating from the pack? The moment I began waking up at 4:00 am, my life changed! Not only am I achieving more because I’m putting in more time, but I’m also modeling for my students. If I preach sacrifice to them, I better be living it!
Your body definitely needs rest, but there’s no doubt in my mind, if you want ridiculous success, you must be willing to sacrifice comfort. Most sleep in, not because their bodies are crying for rest, but because it FEELS GOOD. In order to separate from the 99%, you often must be willing to do what DOESN’T feel good – what isn’t comfortable.
Your mind is capable of doing the “impossible.” Last night, I drove myself to the Emergency Room because I was having massive pain in my lower right abdomen, and didn’t want to take any chances. It had been progressively getting worse over the course of the week, so I knew it wasn’t just going to go away.
When I entered the ER, my pain was at level 9 (on a scale of 1-10). They poked, prodded, took blood and urine samples, and gave me CT scan. I was getting mentally prepared for the worst case scenario, but as the night dragged on, and they began to be able to eliminate the extreme possibilities, an amazing thing happened to my body … I could feel it relaxing and the pain begin to lesson.
Almost four hours later, when all the tests were in, the doctor walked in my room, looking shocked. He surprisingly said all the labs, tests, and scan came back negative, and gave me the o.k. to go home. Again, my body shocked me … I instantly felt all the pain in my lower abdomen completely disappear! How is that possible? The entire day, my stomach had been increasingly worse, I came to the ER with level 9 pain, but the moment the doctor said, “Nothing major to worry about,” it all disappeared.
Your mind has the unlimited capacity of doing what you think is impossible. Let it work FOR you.
The hawk has no choice – he’s the predator! The field mouse didn’t ask for it – he’s the prey! These two wake up and live opposite lives – they had no choice.
YOU DO!
Make up your mind: Predator or Prey? Will you continue to run from your fears and doubts, or finally choose to stop and punch them in the face? The difference between the 1% and the 99% is this decision.
Choose wisely!
I posted this chat a couple months ago, but wanted to revisit it. Coach Godwin is the all-time leading scorer from the University of North Florida’s basketball team, and is now a leading skills coach. His Until philosophy aligned perfectly with my 1% Mindset.
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This was sent to me by a major Division 1 coach and one of her players. She had her team write one word that resonated with them, and explain why. This one word laser focuses your drive and specific intentions – it gives meaning to what you’re doing, eliminating the fog that can easily build up, mentally.
What’s YOUR one word?
In order to make history, you must compete as if THIS practice or game will be the one to make it!
If you’ve left anything on the floor, field, track, or court when it’s over … you’ve let yourself and teammates down.
If you’re not all-in, you’re all-out!
Yesterday was the practice round of the Jr. World Championships at Torrey Pines. I was there with a student, Alex Marsh, who qualified from the UK. As the hundreds of kids from all over the world packed the putting greens and driving range, it was obvious this wasn’t your normal local event. There were flags from every corner of the globe, reminding competitors it was time to embrace the challenge or get lost in it’s enormity.
Alex did an amazing job remaining aggressive and continuing to attacking fearlessly. He’s committed to playing regret-free, leaving nothing on the table, mentally or physically. While many of the competitors may try to protect and “hope not to play poorly,” Alex will play like an athlete, think like an athlete … BE an athlete.
Today’s the first round of the Championships, but to Alex, is simply an opportunity to challenge himself; to stretch his comfort zone. He’s driven by what the majority have told him couldn’t be accomplish. They said he wouldn’t make it to the Jr. Worlds … he proved them wrong. This is only the beginning!
From the book I’m currently reading, “Fail Up,” by Tavis Smiley.
One of my biggest challenges, growing up, was doing something before I could clearly see a mental picture, or knew I would succeed. What I’ve learned (and am still learning), is the unknown is often they key that opens the door to our next successful venture.
