My friend, wrestling coach, and mentor Donn Ernst gave me two pieces of advice on decision making:CONSIDER THE SOURCE and LEARN FROM THE BEST. These are two tenants we all can live by.
That being said...How important is your mindset to your success? Please, don't take my word for it...Ask the best...
Arnold Schwarzenegger
“The Secret is to make your mind work for you, not against you.”
(Arnold’s approach to bodybuilding was more mental than physical)
http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_60/69_fitness_tip.html
Michael Jordan
Michael's biggest strength was his mental game. Jordan held a decisive mental edge over his opponents throughout his entire career. It was his mental toughness... Jeff Janssen, M.S.
http://www.teamarete.com/ificouldbe.html
Wayne Gretzky
…he (Gretzky) was not very strong physically, but he made up for that in the mental edge he held over opponents.
http://www.lycos.com/info/wayne-gretzky-hockey.html
Tiger Woods
Tiger's biggest club is his mental strength –USA Today
His mental game is every bit as good as his physical game. –Bob May
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2004-02-10-tiger-toughest_x.htm
there’s another quality even more important than skill. It’s his mind, and that very well could be his greatest weapon.
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/09/sports/sp-mindgame9
Michael Phelps
His strongest asset is relaxing & focusing in competition. He can take himself mentally to a place. That’s what separates him from his competitors. –Coach Bowman
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/bowman-on-phelps-mental-strength/3003143297
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali was a master of psychology…his mental toughness played a great factor in many of his fights. There was no one stronger mentally then Muhammad Ali.
http://greatestofalltime.homestead.com/muhammadali.html
Dan Gable
“Mental Toughness is the key of all keys…Mental Toughness is the foundation.”
http://www.briancain.com/articlesbybriancain/Dan%20Gable%20-%20Brian%20Cain%20CBN.pdf
Coach John Wooden
“I am constantly trying to make players realize the mental side.”
Coach Vince Lombardi
“Mental Toughness is essential for success.”
He was always working on both the minds and bodies of his players. The guy was a beautiful psychologist. – Jerry Kramer (former player)
Coach Bobby Knight
“Mental toughness to physical (toughness) is as 4 is to 1.”
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Mindset Monday 12/6/10- Starting from Scratch
If you were going to start from scratch, what would be different about you?
If you could shape yourself exactly into anything you want, with no past experiences, no past heartbreaks, no memory of setback, what information would you put into your mind? Very few people approach their mindset from a creator’s point of view. We tend to operate as slaves to our genetics and past experiences. Most people look at their mind as a fixed entity, a final product.
You do not need to continue down this path. One of the gifts that humans have is a conscious mind that, if used correctly, can correct itself. More and more, research is finding that our brain can in many ways rewire itself and manifest it’s vision on the outside world. Many scientists believe that we have barely scratched the surface into the power of the mind.
The point of all this is to empower you to become the creator of your new mind. Decide what you would put in your head if you could choose anything. For me this includes- never fearing rejection, absolute confidence in all my abilities, discipline that cannot be broken, unbelievable positive thinking about life, courage to face all of my fears, etc.
We must remember that we can always choose to approach our mind as a creator. There are tools available to help you attain this mindset, if you would just be willing to learn them and step out of your comfort zone and try them.Have the guts to create your own reality! Very few people will do this, but the ones who want to be champions will. Create a list on a piece of paper of exactly what you would be, if you could mold yourself into exactly what you would want (think along the lines of what traits you would need to accomplish your goals).
Make the list as specific as possible and read it daily and give it your full attention, don’t just blow through the list as you read it. Use a process cue after reading it every time so you will have a movement associated with the Ultimate You. Read the list while listening to music that captures the feelings you are trying to create inside you- empowerment, confidence, faith, and guts.
This is an investment of about 5 minutes every day, which is relatively small. Choosing to do this or not comes down to one crucial personal decision- How important is it to you that you make the most of yourself and your life? Framed other ways, How good do you really want to be? Do you really want it?
Also, get into meditating or just taking some quiet time on a regular basis thinking about the new reality you have created for yourself. As the image of your new reality grows stronger, you will begin to see results in the real world. Don’t be surprised when this happens, remember I told you this would happen.
Keep in mind that like any physical training, you must do this repeatedly for real results. Don’t quit on this process in the beginning if you do not see results immediately. Trust the process. And, when you do start achieving success, continue to do look at your list and meditate on your new reality. Life will do all it can to pull you from here, your center. Remember a body builder does not discontinue training when he starts to grow muscle. This should be lifelong mental training.
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143 (908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
If you could shape yourself exactly into anything you want, with no past experiences, no past heartbreaks, no memory of setback, what information would you put into your mind? Very few people approach their mindset from a creator’s point of view. We tend to operate as slaves to our genetics and past experiences. Most people look at their mind as a fixed entity, a final product.
You do not need to continue down this path. One of the gifts that humans have is a conscious mind that, if used correctly, can correct itself. More and more, research is finding that our brain can in many ways rewire itself and manifest it’s vision on the outside world. Many scientists believe that we have barely scratched the surface into the power of the mind.
The point of all this is to empower you to become the creator of your new mind. Decide what you would put in your head if you could choose anything. For me this includes- never fearing rejection, absolute confidence in all my abilities, discipline that cannot be broken, unbelievable positive thinking about life, courage to face all of my fears, etc.
We must remember that we can always choose to approach our mind as a creator. There are tools available to help you attain this mindset, if you would just be willing to learn them and step out of your comfort zone and try them.Have the guts to create your own reality! Very few people will do this, but the ones who want to be champions will. Create a list on a piece of paper of exactly what you would be, if you could mold yourself into exactly what you would want (think along the lines of what traits you would need to accomplish your goals).
Make the list as specific as possible and read it daily and give it your full attention, don’t just blow through the list as you read it. Use a process cue after reading it every time so you will have a movement associated with the Ultimate You. Read the list while listening to music that captures the feelings you are trying to create inside you- empowerment, confidence, faith, and guts.
This is an investment of about 5 minutes every day, which is relatively small. Choosing to do this or not comes down to one crucial personal decision- How important is it to you that you make the most of yourself and your life? Framed other ways, How good do you really want to be? Do you really want it?
Also, get into meditating or just taking some quiet time on a regular basis thinking about the new reality you have created for yourself. As the image of your new reality grows stronger, you will begin to see results in the real world. Don’t be surprised when this happens, remember I told you this would happen.
Keep in mind that like any physical training, you must do this repeatedly for real results. Don’t quit on this process in the beginning if you do not see results immediately. Trust the process. And, when you do start achieving success, continue to do look at your list and meditate on your new reality. Life will do all it can to pull you from here, your center. Remember a body builder does not discontinue training when he starts to grow muscle. This should be lifelong mental training.
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
Monday, November 29, 2010
Mindset Monday 11/29/10- The "Fan Mentality"
Stop approaching your sport as a spectator! Players play, coaches coach, administrators administrate, and there can be no overlap in between.
Identify your role first. You are a player, an athlete, a participant. This means you must think like a participant, not as a coach, not as an administrator, and certainly not as a fan.
Most athletes have never experienced being a coach or administrator. But pretty much everyone has experience as a fan. We watch ball games on television and followed our sport before we ever competed. This is why the “fan mentality” is so difficult for us athletes to shake.
Fans talk about the importance of the game, streaks, wins, losses, slumps, records, predictions, rankings, and war stories of individuals. They spend countless hours watching television, listening to radio, reading articles on the internet, participating in forums, debates, gambling, etc. etc.
We learn all about stats and what indicators to look for in teams and individuals so we can win bets. We know all the stories about guys on our favorite teams and past records. We figure out stories and streaks so we have things to talk about while watching these games with our friends.
We learn very quickly how to become a great fan.
What we do not learn is how to think like an athlete. We just kind of sit back and hope it happens to us. We should be proactive in this process.
Sport Psychology and common sense teach you to focus on things you can control and stop worrying about things you cannot. When you compete, you cannot think about stories, and records, and streaks, etc. You need to stop looking at the newspaper, predictions, forums, and seedings.
Many people say that these things do not affect them, so they can still be a competitor and fan at the same time. If that is the case, I challenge you to think of past poor performances. Think of at least 3 of them. What were you thinking before and during the competition? If anything had to do with how good or bad your opponent was, this is in part a result of getting involved in the hype. Walk away when friends and teammates start talking about the sport as spectators. Do not let that garbage into your mind.
The “fan mentality” is a difficult habit to break. This will take real work on your part, but the results are well worth it. Stop caring what other people think of you, how they will view your performance, what this all means, records, seedings, predictions, streaks, and stories. Read a book on technique or mindset instead of box scores and newspaper articles. Start thinking like a participant. Destroy your “fan mentality,” and live in your own reality!
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
Identify your role first. You are a player, an athlete, a participant. This means you must think like a participant, not as a coach, not as an administrator, and certainly not as a fan.
Most athletes have never experienced being a coach or administrator. But pretty much everyone has experience as a fan. We watch ball games on television and followed our sport before we ever competed. This is why the “fan mentality” is so difficult for us athletes to shake.
Fans talk about the importance of the game, streaks, wins, losses, slumps, records, predictions, rankings, and war stories of individuals. They spend countless hours watching television, listening to radio, reading articles on the internet, participating in forums, debates, gambling, etc. etc.
We learn all about stats and what indicators to look for in teams and individuals so we can win bets. We know all the stories about guys on our favorite teams and past records. We figure out stories and streaks so we have things to talk about while watching these games with our friends.
We learn very quickly how to become a great fan.
What we do not learn is how to think like an athlete. We just kind of sit back and hope it happens to us. We should be proactive in this process.
Sport Psychology and common sense teach you to focus on things you can control and stop worrying about things you cannot. When you compete, you cannot think about stories, and records, and streaks, etc. You need to stop looking at the newspaper, predictions, forums, and seedings.
Many people say that these things do not affect them, so they can still be a competitor and fan at the same time. If that is the case, I challenge you to think of past poor performances. Think of at least 3 of them. What were you thinking before and during the competition? If anything had to do with how good or bad your opponent was, this is in part a result of getting involved in the hype. Walk away when friends and teammates start talking about the sport as spectators. Do not let that garbage into your mind.
The “fan mentality” is a difficult habit to break. This will take real work on your part, but the results are well worth it. Stop caring what other people think of you, how they will view your performance, what this all means, records, seedings, predictions, streaks, and stories. Read a book on technique or mindset instead of box scores and newspaper articles. Start thinking like a participant. Destroy your “fan mentality,” and live in your own reality!
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
Monday, November 22, 2010
Mindset Monday 11/22/10- Wins and Losses
If you want to be successful you are going to have to stop thinking like everyone else!
Everyone else judges performance based on wins and losses. 10% of the people in the world have 90% of the money. The same is true with success. If 9 out of 10 people judge performance based on wins and losses, then you need to be the 1 in 10 that does not.
What do successful people focus on? Evolution! Constant improvement. Have you ever seen an athlete in the Olympics or Championships a little dissatisfied after winning? Think hard. I am sure you can think of a few examples. And I can almost guarantee you said to yourself while watching, "I would be happy if I were that guy." Well, that is why you are you and he is him!
Failure is feedback, failure is never final (unless of course you quit or give up hope). The very best know the only way to succeed is to be positive, go all out, and learn from your mistakes. Failure is a part of the process. Rejection is a part of the process. Successful people have failed A LOT more than average ordinary people.
What hitter in baseball struck out the most times in baseball?
Answer: Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson "Mr. October"
What baseball hitter made the most outs?
Answer: All time hit leader Pete Rose
What baseball pitcher has the most career losses?
Answer: All time wins leader and Hall of Famer Cy Young
Thomas Edison did not fail 1,000 times, he found 1,000 ways not to invent the light bulb. -his words
Abraham Lincoln lost over 6 elections and a nervous breakdown.
All these things would make a normal person quit. But these people are not normal. And that is the key. You have to be uncommon to be great. Be the 1 in 10 people who do not think about wins and losses.
It is a liberating feeling to let go of wins and losses in your mind. It will free your mind to open up, go all out, take more chances, and as a result, succeed far more than you ever thought possible!
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit my blog- genezannetti.blogspot.com
Everyone else judges performance based on wins and losses. 10% of the people in the world have 90% of the money. The same is true with success. If 9 out of 10 people judge performance based on wins and losses, then you need to be the 1 in 10 that does not.
What do successful people focus on? Evolution! Constant improvement. Have you ever seen an athlete in the Olympics or Championships a little dissatisfied after winning? Think hard. I am sure you can think of a few examples. And I can almost guarantee you said to yourself while watching, "I would be happy if I were that guy." Well, that is why you are you and he is him!
Failure is feedback, failure is never final (unless of course you quit or give up hope). The very best know the only way to succeed is to be positive, go all out, and learn from your mistakes. Failure is a part of the process. Rejection is a part of the process. Successful people have failed A LOT more than average ordinary people.
What hitter in baseball struck out the most times in baseball?
Answer: Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson "Mr. October"
What baseball hitter made the most outs?
Answer: All time hit leader Pete Rose
What baseball pitcher has the most career losses?
Answer: All time wins leader and Hall of Famer Cy Young
Thomas Edison did not fail 1,000 times, he found 1,000 ways not to invent the light bulb. -his words
Abraham Lincoln lost over 6 elections and a nervous breakdown.
All these things would make a normal person quit. But these people are not normal. And that is the key. You have to be uncommon to be great. Be the 1 in 10 people who do not think about wins and losses.
It is a liberating feeling to let go of wins and losses in your mind. It will free your mind to open up, go all out, take more chances, and as a result, succeed far more than you ever thought possible!
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit my blog- genezannetti.blogspot.com
Monday, November 15, 2010
Mindset Monday 11/15/10- No Mind
You have no doubt heard most of your life, "stop and think" or "look before you leap." We are taught to always think. This is usually a good rule of thumb except when it's not. Allow me to explain...
At almost every speaking engagement I offer the same pop quiz to attendees. All things being equal, which performer will do the best: (a)the positive thinker (b) the negative thinker (c) the person who is not thinking. (Dr. Rob Gilbert)
The answer of course is C, because they will have no distracting thoughts in either direction. Their mind will be using all of it's power to handle the task at hand. No time will be wasted on thoughts or expectations.
If you chose A you are in the majority. But don't worry, as almost everyone fails the pop quiz almost all the time.
Most people have been raised to believe that the positive thinker will be the greatest success, and this is not a false statement. Most of the time you must be the positive thinker if you want to succeed. But, when you compete or perform, you do not want to have much in your mind at all. You do not want any distracton from the task at hand.
If you must have any thought, it should be a word or short sentence at the very most. This should only be a CUE or ANCHOR to remind you of where your focus should be at the moment or to snap you back into a more productive mindset. These cues or anchors should be decided long before you perform.
The primary cause of most people's fears, anxieties, worry, doubt, and human disturbace in general is from being trapped in the jail of your own mind (Dr. Brad Blanton). We play unbelievable mental gymnastics with ourselves on a regular basis, contemplating what if's, that in all probability will never happen. We think and think and think about something we want to do and never get around to doing it- we get paralysis from our own analysis!
It is important to think sometimes and it is important to turn your mind off at other times. This will take ongoing practice to master when to turn your mind on and off. For best results, do some reading on the topic or consult an expert. I will continue to post great information on how to make your mind work for you, not against you!
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit my blog: http://genezannetti.blogspot.com
At almost every speaking engagement I offer the same pop quiz to attendees. All things being equal, which performer will do the best: (a)the positive thinker (b) the negative thinker (c) the person who is not thinking. (Dr. Rob Gilbert)
The answer of course is C, because they will have no distracting thoughts in either direction. Their mind will be using all of it's power to handle the task at hand. No time will be wasted on thoughts or expectations.
If you chose A you are in the majority. But don't worry, as almost everyone fails the pop quiz almost all the time.
Most people have been raised to believe that the positive thinker will be the greatest success, and this is not a false statement. Most of the time you must be the positive thinker if you want to succeed. But, when you compete or perform, you do not want to have much in your mind at all. You do not want any distracton from the task at hand.
If you must have any thought, it should be a word or short sentence at the very most. This should only be a CUE or ANCHOR to remind you of where your focus should be at the moment or to snap you back into a more productive mindset. These cues or anchors should be decided long before you perform.
The primary cause of most people's fears, anxieties, worry, doubt, and human disturbace in general is from being trapped in the jail of your own mind (Dr. Brad Blanton). We play unbelievable mental gymnastics with ourselves on a regular basis, contemplating what if's, that in all probability will never happen. We think and think and think about something we want to do and never get around to doing it- we get paralysis from our own analysis!
It is important to think sometimes and it is important to turn your mind off at other times. This will take ongoing practice to master when to turn your mind on and off. For best results, do some reading on the topic or consult an expert. I will continue to post great information on how to make your mind work for you, not against you!
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit my blog: http://genezannetti.blogspot.com
Monday, November 8, 2010
Mindset Monday 11/8/10- Control Your Destiny
No matter what field you are in, it is crucial that you understand Control. You must make this concept of Control work FOR YOU, not against you.
Studies repeatedly show that people who believe that they control their destiny have greater success than those who believe that their success is determined by outside factors, like luck or circumstance. The scientific name for this concept is Locus of Control (you can type this word into Google Scholar to see the studies for yourself). If you want to be successful, then you better believe that YOU control your destiny.
We do not control outcomes directly! We cannot control success, wins, etc. directly. There are many extenuating circumstances that play a role in outcomes. BUT, we can ALWAYS control 2 things: (1) our individual effort (2) our Attitude (approaching your activity with positivity, willingness to improve, and belief that you can succeed). IF you control these 2 factors, you can feel confident that you control your destiny. We control our outcomes INDIRECTLY by focusing on Effort and Attitude. You cannot guarantee success, but you can increase your chances.
You must realize we cannot control circumstances outside our control: referees bad calls, coaches decisions, weather, other people’s opinions of us, luck of the draw, etc. etc. etc. Trying to control these factors are at the root of clinically diagnosable Anxiety and Depression. You must become effective at discerning what you can control versus what you cannot. Life will be unnecessarily painful if you do not grasp this concept.
Think about people you know who try to control things outside their control. Chances are, they are a mess mentally. Sales Instructor Jeffrey Gitomer said it best when he said to resign your position as leader of the world, and start thinking about yourself (not in a selfish way). We all know people who constantly give others advice on how to change, and then when they are given advice they say they cannot control that. They say, “that’s just the way I am.” This is very annoying and inaccurate. The only person you can control is yourself.
Now think of people you know who focus their energy on Self-Control: controlling their (1) effort (2) attitude. Did you ever notice how very little stands in their way? These people bounce back from mistakes and persist diligently toward their goals. AND, THEY ARE HAPPIER PEOPLE! Because they don’t waste time and energy on things outside of their control!
Understand Control and make it work to your advantage. Studies show you will be more successful and happier. Have your cake and eat It too!
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
Studies repeatedly show that people who believe that they control their destiny have greater success than those who believe that their success is determined by outside factors, like luck or circumstance. The scientific name for this concept is Locus of Control (you can type this word into Google Scholar to see the studies for yourself). If you want to be successful, then you better believe that YOU control your destiny.
We do not control outcomes directly! We cannot control success, wins, etc. directly. There are many extenuating circumstances that play a role in outcomes. BUT, we can ALWAYS control 2 things: (1) our individual effort (2) our Attitude (approaching your activity with positivity, willingness to improve, and belief that you can succeed). IF you control these 2 factors, you can feel confident that you control your destiny. We control our outcomes INDIRECTLY by focusing on Effort and Attitude. You cannot guarantee success, but you can increase your chances.
You must realize we cannot control circumstances outside our control: referees bad calls, coaches decisions, weather, other people’s opinions of us, luck of the draw, etc. etc. etc. Trying to control these factors are at the root of clinically diagnosable Anxiety and Depression. You must become effective at discerning what you can control versus what you cannot. Life will be unnecessarily painful if you do not grasp this concept.
Think about people you know who try to control things outside their control. Chances are, they are a mess mentally. Sales Instructor Jeffrey Gitomer said it best when he said to resign your position as leader of the world, and start thinking about yourself (not in a selfish way). We all know people who constantly give others advice on how to change, and then when they are given advice they say they cannot control that. They say, “that’s just the way I am.” This is very annoying and inaccurate. The only person you can control is yourself.
Now think of people you know who focus their energy on Self-Control: controlling their (1) effort (2) attitude. Did you ever notice how very little stands in their way? These people bounce back from mistakes and persist diligently toward their goals. AND, THEY ARE HAPPIER PEOPLE! Because they don’t waste time and energy on things outside of their control!
Understand Control and make it work to your advantage. Studies show you will be more successful and happier. Have your cake and eat It too!
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
Monday, November 1, 2010
Mindset Monday 11/1/10- 11 Ways to Guarantee a Performance Failure
Eleven Ways to Guarantee a Performance Failure
1. Make this performance special- believe it is different than all other performances.
2. Use phrases like “It’s now or never,” “this is it,” and “do or die!”
3. Get involved in the hype: read the newspapers, forums, rankings, predictions, and seedings.
4. As often as possible, think about both the short-term and long-term implications about this performance.
5. As often as possible, think about past poor performances and mistakes as well as all your current imperfections.
6. Make sure to try especially hard in this performance.
7. Take this performance very seriously, have no sense of humor, and never smile.
8. Care deeply how other people will view your performance.
9. Be negative, even when it is difficult to do so.
10. Be Realistic: Who are you to succeed?
11. Only train yourself physically, performance has nothing to do with your mindset.
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
1. Make this performance special- believe it is different than all other performances.
2. Use phrases like “It’s now or never,” “this is it,” and “do or die!”
3. Get involved in the hype: read the newspapers, forums, rankings, predictions, and seedings.
4. As often as possible, think about both the short-term and long-term implications about this performance.
5. As often as possible, think about past poor performances and mistakes as well as all your current imperfections.
6. Make sure to try especially hard in this performance.
7. Take this performance very seriously, have no sense of humor, and never smile.
8. Care deeply how other people will view your performance.
9. Be negative, even when it is difficult to do so.
10. Be Realistic: Who are you to succeed?
11. Only train yourself physically, performance has nothing to do with your mindset.
Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
Visit My Blog- http://genezannetti.blogspot.com/
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