MESSAGE #882 THE TIME IS NOW...

Today's message is especially dedicated to the great Sue Elkind and Naime Jezzeny.

In 1920, Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs in his first year with the Yankees.

But that's not the amazing part.

In that era, players weren't hitting home runs, in fact, Ruth's 54 homers were more than the TOTAL number of home runs hit by the rest of the TEAMS in baseball, except for the Philadelphia Phillies.

He wasn't just the best, he was in a whole different league!

Babe did something that had never been done. He acted like the person he wanted to become. He didn't do what everyone else was doing.

Most people wait until they become successful to act successful, but the great ones in history acted great before they became great.

You don't have to be confident to act confident.

You can be confident now.

You don't have to wait until you open your gifts to be happy.

You can be happy now.

You don't have to wait until January 1st to make a resolution in your life.

You can make that resolution now.

K + A = R

Knowledge plus Action equals Results.

Stop being comfortable and start being great.



Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays to all.

MESSAGE #881 THE FOCUS DRILL...

Ed Tseng demonstrates his favorite FOCUS drill with basketball coach, Geneva Livingston. Don't miss the bloopers at the end where Geneva is SUPPOSED to miss, but can't.... http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #880 MUHAMMAD ALI STORY

In Message #880, Ed Tseng talks about why Muhammad Ali was so great. http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #879 PAGE 22...

Today's message is especially dedicated to the great Lauren Perrine.

From page 22 of "Game. Set. Life. - Peak Performance for Sports and Life"...


You can perform at your best, even if you're feeling your worst.

A champion is someone who can win even when things aren't going so well. Champions push themselves when most people become impatient, frustrated, or fatigued and give up. External conditions will rarely be perfect, so you need to look within during tough situations.

MESSAGE #878 HOW TO THROW THE PERFECT SNOWBALL...

Ed Tseng shows how to throw the perfect snowball, after the NorthEast blizzard. http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #877 ONE OF MY SHE-ROES, RAYNA DUBOSE...

Ed Tseng interviews one of his she-roes, Rayna Dubose, basketball phenom turned amputee turned motivational speaker, at the Sports Legend Museum in Baltimore. Don't miss this inspiring video! http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #876 WORLD'S TALLEST GIRL...

Ed Tseng interviews Marvadene Anderson, aka "Bubbles," the world's tallest teenage girl, age 16, 6'10" and a half and still growing, after her first ever basketball game. http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #875 I HAVE TO ASK YOU SOMETHING...

Today's message is especially dedicated to the great Ian Westermann in Washington, DC.

Today's post is not a message, but a list of questions. Here they are...

1. Where are you? (In your sport, career or relationships)

2. Where do you want to go? (Be specific)

3. How can you get there? (Who can you talk to that has already done it?)

4. When will you start? (Why not today?)

5. Will you do your best? (Or will you do whatever it takes??)

The great philosopher, Yogi Berra once said...

"If you don't know where you're going, you could wind up someplace else."

Thanks for reading.

Tonight: Tune in to the Essential Tennis podcast at 8:30pm EST for a chance to win a signed copy of Game. Set. Life. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/essentialtennis

MESSAGE #874 FOCUS...

Ed Tseng talks to Gia Bocra Liwski, golf pro and television host about focus. http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #873 ED TSENG ON DEREK JETER...

Ed Tseng talks about Derek Jeter being named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, from Joe Guido's barber chair. http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #872 SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

MESSAGE #871 HERE'S TO A GREAT, SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON...

Make a Smilebox photobook

MESSAGE #870 HOW TO USE YOUR STRENGTH...

"There are two ways of exerting one's strength:
one is pushing down,
the other is pulling up."
-BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

I've seen a countless number of athletes in my life, and I've observed many of them putting others down to make themselves look good.

This usually results from insecurity, or large ego.

The great athletes don't push others down, they pull them up.

These are the leaders.

They compliment and encourage. They help others play better.

If you are a builder-upper instead of a breaker-downer, you will help your team (and world) become better.

MESSAGE #869 WHAT I LEARNED YESTERDAY...

Yesterday I called in to a teleseminar with marketing guru, Seth Godin.

Seth is one of my favorite authors and he has written about 14 books. His blog has well over 500,000 hits a month.

Here's what I got from Mr. Godin...

"Do something that other people think is stupid."

"Make a lot of mistakes."

Carly Simon had stage fright, but she went up and performed anyway.

And my favorite was...

"How much can you make an influence on the world?"

Read the above ideas again and then let them marinate today.

And if you want to get an A+, start taking action.

MESSAGE #868 MAKE A SANDWICH...

"3 out of 4 kids stop playing sports by age 13 because of the pressure from parents and coaches."
-RICK WOLFF, sports psychologist and host of Sports Edge on WFAN

Last night I attended a lecture at the Princeton Academy given by Rick Wolff.

His talk focused mainly on parenting young athletes, but I figured, if I could learn one thing from his talk, it would be worth it.

Not only did I learn something, but I had a nice chat with him afterwards and gave him a copy of my book.

During his lecture, Wolff talked about the Sandwich Praise Principle when dealing with young athletes.

What you do is wait until a quiet time, just before bed, for instance.

You start with a slice of praise (I really liked your effort today).

Then you add a slice of constructive criticism (If you add more spin to your serve, you will be more consistent).

Then you add another slice of praise (You really are coming together nicely as a player).

That's the Sandwich Principle. Pretty simple, but effective.

And the beauty is, you can make this type of sandwich in all areas of your life.

MESSAGE #867 JUST ASK...

"If you are not moving closer to what you want in sales (or in life), you probably aren't doing enough asking."
-JACK CANFIELD

Are you getting the results you want?

One thing I like about myself is that I ask a lot of questions.

My favorite thing to do is ask someone who is doing what I WANT to do, "What would you do if you were in my shoes?"

That way you save yourself a lot of time.

Ask your coach how you can improve your game.

Ask your teacher how you can improve your grades.

Ask your boss how you can improve your performance.

Ask your significant other, how you can improve your relationship.

Ask your twitter followers how you can improve your business.

Ask, listen, take action. That's it.

Have a great day, everyone.

Oh, and I almost forgot...

How can I improve this blog?

MESSAGE #866 A QUOTE FROM CHURCHILL...AND DANIELLE

Here's great advice from Winston Churchill...and Danielle. http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #865 INTERVIEW WITH TOM JOLLY

Ed Tseng talks about the recent Sports Networker Summit in New York City and shares an exclusive interview with the great Tom Jolly, sports editor, New York Times. http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #864 BELIEFS...

"You can have anything you want if you will give up the belief that you can't have it."
-Dr. Robert Anthony

I once taught a very nice, young man, who was an average tennis player. He progressed, but slowly.

If he got to the courts after a bad day at school, it showed in his tennis.

One day, I sat him down and talked to him for a couple minutes on the principle of "Act as If."

Act how you want to feel, not how you feel.

Act as if it were impossible to fail.

I said that it's okay to feel tired, or in a bad mood, but just don't look it.

You don't have to act how you feel.

It was almost like a light went off in his head. He started dancing around like a boxer, smiling and hitting the fuzz off of the ball.

What changed?

His belief in himself.

I later found out that he was getting bullied in school also.

Not anymore...

MESSAGE #863 HUNGRY???

Determination. Everyone wants to be successful, but those who achieve success are steeled by an unwavering resolve. They are self-motivated - the kind of motivation that fueled and sustained Jack Nicklaus early in his pro career as he beat golf balls for an hour, then another, on the practice range until it was almost dark.

"Let's go, Jack," his new wife, Barbara, called out impatiently. "I'm hungry." With callused hands, Nicklaus hit another ball, then another, then another into the dying light. "So am I," Jack replied.

(From Mind Gym by Gary Mack with David Casstevens, p. 95)


Are YOU hungry???

MESSAGE #862 A BASEBALL TREASURE...

Ed Tseng interviews a baseball treasure, Roland Hemond at the Princeton Sports Symposium. http://www.edtseng.com

MESSAGE #861 CREATE YOUR FUTURE...

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."
-ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Well, today is the Princeton Sports Symposium at the university. There will be 59 speakers and 11 panels with experts in all areas of the sports world discussing various topics.

This is a HUGE networking event for me. I'll be sure to get and give business cards, and will be giving away a signed copy of my book.

What's the lesson today?

Nobody's going to ring your (or my) doorbell and hand you success. You have to go out and get it. You have to take action.

K-A=O

Knowledge minus Action equals Zero.

The best ideas and the best skills are nothing if nobody knows about them.

Go create your future today...