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The Art and Science of Peak Performance
"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision."
-- Muhammad Ali.
"The great ones will lift you above and beyond."
-Pat Riley, legendary NBA head coach.
"Growing up, even though breaststroke was my worst stroke, I wanted to swim it. I wanted to race in it. I didn't care. I like challenges."
--Michael Phelps, record-breaking U.S. Olympic swimmer, discussing his drive for improvement and challenge.
"I love winning. I just love getting out there and mixing it up with the guys here; they're trying to beat me and I'm trying to beat them. That's fun."
--Tiger Woods, responding to the question about his drive and motivation.
"I want to be the last one standing with a plate over my head. That's my goal every time."
--Venus Williams, 2007, 2008 Wimbledon champion and 2000, 2001 women's U.S. Open champion, discussing her approach to tennis.
"Never underestimate the heart of a champion."
--Rudy Tomjanovich, former Houston Rockets head coach and two-time NBA champion.
"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital."
--Joe Paterno, Penn State University football coach.
"The most important attribute a player must have is mental toughness."
-- Mia Hamm, championship soccer player."
"Talent is never enough. With few exceptions the best players are the hardest workers."
-- Magic Johnson, NBA Hall of Fame point guard.
"Reaching peak performance in business or life requires a mind that elevates you. But true success also requires a place to go. That's where purpose comes in. With purpose, you're able to maintain your peak performance for a long time."
--Zig Ziglar discussing business success in a 2006 issue of Success magazine.
Do you want to be at your peak in life, in business, or in sports? The Peak Performance Pulse is the lens into the world of peak performance. This lens provides the view of what it takes to be a peak performer, identifies the resources and assists you to develop the skills, the behaviors and the mind-set to perform at the highest level possible.
The foundation for peak performance lies in the science and discipline of Performance Psychology. Performance Psychology is the study of the psychological skills and knowledge necessary to facilitate and develop peak performance guidelines into best practice for sport, business, fitness and the performing arts.
Peak Performance is defined as the ability of an individual, group, team, or organization to perform at a consistently high level for a sustained period of time.
-- Muhammad Ali.
"The great ones will lift you above and beyond."
-Pat Riley, legendary NBA head coach.
"Growing up, even though breaststroke was my worst stroke, I wanted to swim it. I wanted to race in it. I didn't care. I like challenges."
--Michael Phelps, record-breaking U.S. Olympic swimmer, discussing his drive for improvement and challenge.
"I love winning. I just love getting out there and mixing it up with the guys here; they're trying to beat me and I'm trying to beat them. That's fun."
--Tiger Woods, responding to the question about his drive and motivation.
"I want to be the last one standing with a plate over my head. That's my goal every time."
--Venus Williams, 2007, 2008 Wimbledon champion and 2000, 2001 women's U.S. Open champion, discussing her approach to tennis.
"Never underestimate the heart of a champion."
--Rudy Tomjanovich, former Houston Rockets head coach and two-time NBA champion.
"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital."
--Joe Paterno, Penn State University football coach.
"The most important attribute a player must have is mental toughness."
-- Mia Hamm, championship soccer player."
"Talent is never enough. With few exceptions the best players are the hardest workers."
-- Magic Johnson, NBA Hall of Fame point guard.
"Reaching peak performance in business or life requires a mind that elevates you. But true success also requires a place to go. That's where purpose comes in. With purpose, you're able to maintain your peak performance for a long time."
--Zig Ziglar discussing business success in a 2006 issue of Success magazine.
Do you want to be at your peak in life, in business, or in sports? The Peak Performance Pulse is the lens into the world of peak performance. This lens provides the view of what it takes to be a peak performer, identifies the resources and assists you to develop the skills, the behaviors and the mind-set to perform at the highest level possible.
The foundation for peak performance lies in the science and discipline of Performance Psychology. Performance Psychology is the study of the psychological skills and knowledge necessary to facilitate and develop peak performance guidelines into best practice for sport, business, fitness and the performing arts.
Peak Performance is defined as the ability of an individual, group, team, or organization to perform at a consistently high level for a sustained period of time.
Michael Jordan
Peak Performance Case Study
"Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it, and that usually got me going again."
--Michael Jordan, talking about his intense drive and determination, originating from early disappointment and adversity.
Early in his career, Michael Jordan played basketball at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. Instead of giving up after failing to make the team, Jordan used it to spur himself to greater achievements, practicing hour after hour on the court.
He eventually made the team and led it to the state championship.
After high school, Jordan attended the University of North Carolina, where he led the Tar Heels to a NCAA championship in 1982 as a freshman.
________________________________________
"There's Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us."
--Earvin "Magic" Johnson, in his own right an NBA legend.
Michael Jordan, who led the NBA in scoring ten times and steals three times, led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships. He was a member of the 1984 and 1992 gold medal-winning US Olympic basketball teams.
There's no question that Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever play the game, he has single-handedly redefined basketball. No player in NBA history has achieved so much. He is a five-time league MVP, a six-time Finals MVP. He finished his career with 32,292 points, and a career average 30.12 points per game, the best in NBA history.
I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
--Michael Jordan, still considered to be the greatest basketball player in history.
Michael Jordan was elected to the Class of 2009 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with David Robinson, John Stockton, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer.
The announcement was made in Detroit, site of the men's 2009 Final Four. Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Jordan's Hall of Fame selection was no surprise after he retired as perhaps the greatest player in basketball history.
Phil Jackson on Michael Jordan
Foundations of Peak Performance
"The thing that strikes you about a person of that ilk is the amazing amount of energy and personal pride that they take in their performance. They have a sense of confidence that goes beyond a sense of failure -- somehow, the fear of failure can't inhibit their ability to perform. Michael befits that as great as any athlete I've ever seen. He met every level of expectation."--Phil Jackson, head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and former head of the Chicago Bull, discussing his former player, Michael Jordan.
Taken from Esquire magazine, February 2008.
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The New and Improved Kobe Bryant: Team Player
Kobe has reported that he has recently been exchanging text messages regularly with NBA Legend, Michael Jordan."Michael has told me before, 'You have all the tools. The mental part of how to elevate your teammates is the last piece you have to master,''' Bryant said. "I find [getting players involved] requires me to be more focused than usual."
"When I'm scoring, I have a narrow, laser focus. I get totally lost in the rhythm of shooting. But when I'm facilitating, I have to take a step back and look at a much broader picture. I have to wait for things to develop, or make them develop. It takes patience.''
Kobe Bryant: In the Zone
Peak Performer at his Peak
"I've shared with my teammates how I prepare for games. My hope is that my mentality rubs off on them. I want them to see what I see, think about what I think about: Why did you turn the ball over? What was the defense doing? What were your options? If this guy cuts here and the defense does this, who does that free up?
"We've got guys who are gym rats, who want to work hard, who want to win. The trick is to get everybody playing together, trying to accomplish the same goal. If you have the talent and the sacrifice on top of that, you have a championship-caliber team. One player can do only so much. If you haven't gotten to that next level, you haven't figured out how to get everybody on the same page."
--Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Laker and 2008 NBA MVP, discussing his thoughts prior to the 2008 NBA finals against the Boston Celtics.
This link follows Kobe Bryant as he strives for basketball greatness.
"We've got guys who are gym rats, who want to work hard, who want to win. The trick is to get everybody playing together, trying to accomplish the same goal. If you have the talent and the sacrifice on top of that, you have a championship-caliber team. One player can do only so much. If you haven't gotten to that next level, you haven't figured out how to get everybody on the same page."
--Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Laker and 2008 NBA MVP, discussing his thoughts prior to the 2008 NBA finals against the Boston Celtics.
This link follows Kobe Bryant as he strives for basketball greatness.
- The Legacy of Kobe Bryant
- This ESPN.com story from 6/5/2008, prior to the 2008 NBA finals against the Boston Celtics, takes us through the evolution and maturation of the player and the man, Kobe Bryant.
- Letting Go Of The Past
- This article on ESPN.com by Stephen Smith looks at Kobe Bryant and his ability to stay in the present and let go of the past.
- Kobe Hits Over 50 For the Fourth Time in a Row
- The Associated Press story describes Kobe Bryant's fourth straight 50-point plus game putting him at a level with only the great Wilt Chamberlain.
The Zone
Reaction to Stress
"It's a physical and mental phenomenon. A chemical cocktail floods through your body as glycogen, adrenaline and endorphins. And it's a feeling of a purposeful calm. When you have this feeling, you feel that nothing can go wrong. You feel in control. And you are completely immersed in the moment."
--Jim Fannin, sports psychologist, who has worked with professional athletes for more than 35 years.
The body reacts to stress by rushing blood to the brain, giving the individual a heightened sense of clarity. The blood also goes to the large muscles to improve quickness, strength and agility. Rational thought takes a backseat to the subconscious and intuition often takes over.
"I've coached singular athletes like golfers and tennis players who can get in that mind-set but when you're on a team, with many people in that mental and physical state, it's contagious. If you notice, most of the athletes that struggle with retirement are the ones that have not only had personal success, but they've also had team success," says Fannin.
"You're in a foxhole, you're in a zone state with somebody. You're still friends with that guy, if you both survived the thing, 50 years later. You have a common bond that you shared that you just can't replicate. And words can't decribe what you experienced. That's a mental dance that hard to replicate in business. It can be done in relationships. But those things take time."
Tiger Woods: Defining "The Art of Winning"
Learning How to Handle Pressure and Win
When asked what his best attribute as a golfer was, Tiger Woods quickly replied, "My mind.""I think it's a process of learning. A lot of junior and amateur events I played in, I didn't win that many. But you live and learn. You apply that knowledge. And over the years when I've put myself in position to win, I think I've done a better job of that as I've matured."
--Tiger Woods, discussing his development as a winner, after winning his 13th major title at the PGA Championship.
Tiger Woods has now won 79 of the 264 events he has entered as a pro, including 52 on the PGA Tour. He has lost only 6 of 52 events after holding or sharing the 54-hole lead.
"I believe in the way I play golf that you turn the switch on the first hole and you have it on the entire time. You don't try any harder on each and every shot. You have the same effort level, you give it everything you have on every shot."
"For some reason in my past, I've seemed to pull things off at the end, and I think that's just due to I feel comfortable being there. I've been there enough times."
--Tiger Woods, discussing keeping cool under pressure and how he handles closing out a match.
"I don't look at what the purse is or the prize money. You play. And when you play, you play to win, period. That's how my dad raised me, is you go out there and win. If you win, everything will take care of itself. You take great pride in what you do on the golf course, and when you're able to win events, that's when you can go home and be very proud of what you've done," says Tiger.
Along with earning $1.26 million in cash for winning the 2007 Tour Championship at the East Lake Country Club in Atlanta for his seventh PGA Tour title of the year, Woods was the winner of the FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize.
excerpts from the New York Times 8/13/2007 and ESPN.com 09/17/07
Tiger Woods: The Greatest Golfer of His Generation
A Balance of Humbleness and Confidence is the Difference
In December of 2007, Tiger Woods was asked about the potential of achieving the Grand Slam of golf, He felt that the Slam was "easily within reason."
As he was preparing for the 2008 Masters in April, he was asked if he had changed his opinion, and he quickly replied with a straight face, "Nope."
That intimidating and overwhelming confidence is what has set Tiger Woods apart from every other golfer of his generation.
In 1997 Woods became the youngest player, at 21 to win the Masters. He won his second Masters in 2001. That victory gave him a victory in four consecutive majors. When he won again in 2002, Woods became only the third player in tournament history to defend his title (besides Nick Faldo in 1989-90 and Jack Nicklaus in 1965-1966). Woods won his fourth green jacket in 2005.
Woods then added, "I mean the reason why I said that, you have to understand why I said that, because I've done it before; I've won all four in a row. The majority of my career, this is 12th or 13th season out here, and nine of those years I've won five or more tournaments. So just got to win the right four. That's what it boils down to."
Woods won the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship in 2000 after finishing fifth at the Masters, then followed with a Masters victory in 2001. A year later, he won the Masters and U.S. Open -- the first player since Jack Nicklaus in 1972 to do so. This streak fueled Grand Slam talk, which was ended suddenly when Woods shot 81 during the third round of the 2002 British Open.
After a two-season period without a major win, Woods has won five of the past 12. Over the past nine months he has had nine victories in 11 worldwide starts going back to the British Open.
"You have to have a lot of things come together in order to win a championship and more so major championships," Woods said. "One break where you hit a tree and it goes out of play and didn't come back in or it happens to catch the right slope or catches the right gust of winds %u2026 all of these little factors that come in just one time is the difference between winning and losing. You ask the players and the caddies, they are the only ones who really understand the difference between winning and losing, how fine that is."
"That's what makes this game so great is that you have to find a way."
excerpts from espn.com (April 9, 2008)
As he was preparing for the 2008 Masters in April, he was asked if he had changed his opinion, and he quickly replied with a straight face, "Nope."
That intimidating and overwhelming confidence is what has set Tiger Woods apart from every other golfer of his generation.
In 1997 Woods became the youngest player, at 21 to win the Masters. He won his second Masters in 2001. That victory gave him a victory in four consecutive majors. When he won again in 2002, Woods became only the third player in tournament history to defend his title (besides Nick Faldo in 1989-90 and Jack Nicklaus in 1965-1966). Woods won his fourth green jacket in 2005.
Woods then added, "I mean the reason why I said that, you have to understand why I said that, because I've done it before; I've won all four in a row. The majority of my career, this is 12th or 13th season out here, and nine of those years I've won five or more tournaments. So just got to win the right four. That's what it boils down to."
Woods won the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship in 2000 after finishing fifth at the Masters, then followed with a Masters victory in 2001. A year later, he won the Masters and U.S. Open -- the first player since Jack Nicklaus in 1972 to do so. This streak fueled Grand Slam talk, which was ended suddenly when Woods shot 81 during the third round of the 2002 British Open.
After a two-season period without a major win, Woods has won five of the past 12. Over the past nine months he has had nine victories in 11 worldwide starts going back to the British Open.
"You have to have a lot of things come together in order to win a championship and more so major championships," Woods said. "One break where you hit a tree and it goes out of play and didn't come back in or it happens to catch the right slope or catches the right gust of winds %u2026 all of these little factors that come in just one time is the difference between winning and losing. You ask the players and the caddies, they are the only ones who really understand the difference between winning and losing, how fine that is."
"That's what makes this game so great is that you have to find a way."
excerpts from espn.com (April 9, 2008)
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Relaxin' with Tiger Woods
Advice from Earl Woods, Tiger's Father
"You know what? Just go to sleep. You know it's going to be the most important round of your life, but you can handle it. Just go out there and do what you do. Just get in your own little world and go out there and just thrash 'em."--Earl Woods, on the eve of the final round of the 1997 Masters, trying to get Tiger relaxed when he was having trouble sleeping.
Tiger was playing in his first major championship as a pro, and owned a nine-shot lead, but could not erase the thought of Greg Noorman blowing a six-shot lead in 1996.
Rafael Nadal: 2008 Wimbledon Men's Singles Champion
Nadal & Federer Stage a Classic
"It's the best victory of his career; mentally he's never been as strong, not even at the French Open."--Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal's uncle and coach.
"It is impossible to explain what I felt in that moment. Very happy to win this title, my favorite tournament. It's a dream to play in this court."
--Rafael Nadal, 2008 Wimbledon men's champion, after a 4-hour, 48-minute marathon.
Nadal won 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7, in the longest men's singles final on record at the All England Club, going back to 1877.
Nadal, the 21-year old Spaniard, won the first two sets, then lost back-to-back tiebreakers before winning the final set in extra time. Federer, who found himself in some horrific holes and kept managing to escape -- saving three match points -- finally hit the wall in the 16th game of the ultimate set. First, Nadal hit an unreturnable serve, then Federer hit a weak forehand into the net to end a spectacular era.
NBC broadcaster and three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe called it the greatest match he's ever seen. It certainly was one of the best. It included rain delays, which took the match into evening darkness.
Because of Nadal's determination and unrelenting tenacity, Federer failed to win his sixth consecutive title at Wimbledon. Federer will remain tied forever with Bjorn Borg at five in a row. Federer's 65-match winning streak on grass and a 40-match winning streak at Wimbledon also ended, one short of Borg's record.
By beating Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal joined Borg as the first man to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same summer in 28 years.
So, how has Nadal become both mentally stronger and athletically stronger. Despite his past successes, his confidence and his abilities have changed and improved.
At the urging of Toni Nadal, the left-handed Nadal improved his serve, adding pace and variety to what was once considered a weakness. He also moved closer to the baseline, adjusting his technique in order to strike the ball earlier and deprive his opponent of precious time by lowering the trajectory of his wickedly spinning forehand.
His one-handed slice backhand also improved, and his standard two-handed backhand has remained an underrated strength.
Continuous improvement not only helps technically, but helps mentally, as proven by Nadal's Wimbledon triumph.
Excerpts from ESPN.com, 07/06/2008 and New York Times, 07/08/2008.
Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer: 2008 Wimbledon
A Grand Rivalry
See the YouTube highlights of a great championship match.
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Roger Federer: Keeping His Eye on the Prize
Singular Focus
"Each one is special, no doubt, and to hold the trophy is always the best thing."--Roger Federer, 2007 Wimbledon men's tennis champion, discussing the ultimate feeling of winning after his fifth straight Wimbledon title.
"Well, I feel I can, yes, count on many things in my game to work. If my serve doesn't work, I know my baseline game helps me out. So if one thing breaks down I'm still O.K.
"Mentally I'm always aware of my opponent. I never underestimate. I think that's one very important aspect. And usually I can play the moment very well, you know. So I think that's also one very important part of my game, is to understand the moment."
--Roger Federer, responding to Angre Agassi, former tennis great who is now doing occasional spot TV analysis, about his ability to be the best in the world at several aspects of the game.
Performance Vertical consulting LLC
Intelligent Talent Solutions
Performance Psychology
What's red hot in the field of psychology
"I think that for what Tiger's done all the players should be grateful to him because of what he's doing. It's a global sport; there are more tournaments and more prize money to play for. And he's set some standards for the other players to look at. You've got to work hard, you've got to do mental training and you've got to practice. It's a full package and he does that."--Jeev Milkha Singh, a PGA professional golfer from India.
Perhaps in part because of Tiger Woods, the past few years have seen an explosion in the field of performance psychology. This growth has been primarily in the study of performance excellence in sports as applied to the field of business. Important links have been made between world-class, championship individual and team sports performance and business results. In a similar vein, there has been an increase in the interest of coaching top performers and addressing their needs, not just providing remedial coaching for underachievers. During that time, more research has been devoted to understanding the characteristics of high achievers in sports as well as business.
In developing this weblens, I have focused primarily on an understanding of performance psychology and the application of these principles to sports and business. It is assumed that we can learn much from world-class athletes, coaches, and teams; particularly, those that have experienced consistent, sustained success in their particular field. We find that those characteristics are relevant to high-flyers whether in sports or business.
The field of performance psychology is in its infancy and there is still much to learn and study. I trust that in the future the journey into performance psychology will be very exciting indeed. Join me!!
What Do World Class Athletes Have To Contribute To The Business World?
The Sports/Business Connection
"I'm a quarterback, and I have my coaches. But really, on the field, the coaches can't be in the huddle and the quarterback is responsible for coaching and encouraging and trying to be the leader out there, so there are certainly a lot of connections you can make between the football field and the business world, especially during these tough economic times when leaders have to step forward, step-up their games and get the people around them to elevate their games."--Peyton Manning, NFL quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, 2007 Super Bowl winners, speaking at the headquarters of MasterCard to 3,000 employees live and world-wide via webcam, discussing leadership and what it takes to be a champion.
"We do have not earth-shattering secrets, but we do enjoy sharing our thoughts with people in the hope of motivating them to the point where they can go back to work and help their respective departments play their A-game.
"It's easy to be a leader when things are great. But when time are tough, when it's gut-check time, those are the times when real leaders need to step up."
--Peyton Manning discussing leadership in tough times and his championship formula consisting of finding men of good character, no matter their size or stature, who are willing to give 100 percent.
Excerpts from the New York Times, 6/24/2008.
Dara Torres, Olympian
Inspiration to All Athletes
"When you look at her passion and her preparation, I think all athletes could take something from that. After what she's done, how can you not look in the mirror and say, Are you doing enough?"--Brian Bruney, New York Yankees pitcher.
Torres, 41, collected five medals at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, winning bronze in three individual events and has won 12 Olympic medals over all.
In the 50-meter freestyle, her only individual event in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Dara Torres missed the gold by a hundredth of a second, touched out by Britta Steffen of Germany.
Torres's time, 24.07 seconds, was an American record and only a tenth of a second off the world record, held by Libby Trickett of Australia.
Thirty-five minutes later, she recorded the fastest 100 freestyle split ever while anchoring the 4x100 medley relay that finished second to Australia.
Excerpts from the New York Times, 9/23/2008.
Decision Making
Is Doing Something Better Than Doing Nothing?
The process of decision-making can be studied in the sport of soccer. In a real-life situations rather than a sterile laboratory, talented goalies have to make spilt-second responses to opponents' penalty kicks. Professional soccer players have multiple opportunities to solve problems and make decisions during a game.Ofer H. Azar, a lecturer at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel has been researching decision-making. He is particularly interested in why people sometimes make irrational decisions.
In classic economics, the typical wisdom is that people make irrational decisions in time of financial stress due to the feeling that to do something is definitely better than doing nothing.
In other words, if things turn out badly, at least they feel they will be able to say that they tried to do something, whereas if they choose not to change anything and the situation stays poor or worsens, they will not be held to blame in the same way that they would have received if they did not act.
This thinking can affect whether managers stick to the game-plan or the company's current stategy, or change course.
The soccer field has become a popular laboratory for economic theory and economic research. In soccer, the penalty kick is awarded after certain kinds of fouls or to decide a championship match. Penalty kicks pit one player against the goalkeeper (goalie). The kicker stands 36 feet awsay and kicks the ball toward the goal at 60 to 80 MPH. The goalkeeper has just 0.2 to 0.3 seconds to react. Given the speed of the ball, the goalie has to decide what to do even before observing the direction of the kick. Stopping a penalty kick is considered one of the most diffcult challenges in all of sport. Only 20 percent of penalty kicks are defended successfully; so, 80 percent of all penalty kicks score.
According to recent research, the best opportunity (33%) to successfully defend against the penalty kick is to stay in the center of the goal. Going to the left yields a 14.2 percent rate, while going to the right was successful 12.6 percent. However, in reality goalkeepers stay in in the center only 6.3 percent of the time.
Thus, goalkeepers' standard response is to feel worse if not acting (standing still) resulted in a goal scored, than if they moved left or right on a penalty kick. Doing something was better than doing nothing even if the result was the same, a goal was scored against them. There is an unconscious bias toward action.
Thirty-two goalkeepers in the Israeli Premier League were asked to rate how badly they fels after missing penalty kicks (i.e., the opponent scored). Over fifty percent (17) said they felt bad no matter where they stood. Of the remaining 15, 11 felt worse when they remained in the center instead of jumping to the left or right. Again, inaction is worse than action, even if the outcome were the same.
In the financial arena, an "action bias" such as that found in soccer, can influence not just goalkeepers, but can also affect investors as they decide to sell their stocks (action) or leave their portfolio alone (inaction) during a downturn in the market and whether a worker chooses to look for a better job or stay put.
A bias toward action or iniaction may often depend on whether the previous results was good or bad. After a big loss, a team may have the expectation that the coach should replace people in the starting lineup, whereas, winning would suggest leaving a lineup unchanged (the "normal response").
Ultimately, feelings of incompetence, shame, humilation, and embarrassment may be more important than monetary reward or realities. These subjective feelings seem to play a large role in decision making.
In soccer, if you stay put because you think a ball is coming staight up the middle and miss, "you look like a fool. Definitely it's more acceptable to pick a side and just go.
"You rarely see a goalkeeper stand in the middle and make a save," says Danny Cepero, a New York Red Bulls goalkeeper.
To him, staying in the center makes the most sense for a goalkeeper, even if the empirical data suggests that movement is not as good as standing still. At least until, your opponents are on to you.
Excerpts taken from the New York Times 3/1/2008.
Nadia Comaneci, 1976 Olympic Gymnast
The Perfect 10: The Secret of Execution
"During my routine and even after it, I did not think it was all that perfect. I thought it was pretty good, but athletes don't think about history when making history. They think about what they're doing, and that's how it gets done."--Championship gymnast Nadia Comaneci, whose unprecedented score of 10.0 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Montreal has come to exemplify perfection on a grand and global sports stage.
"Hard work for consistent, excellent good results is what matters. Perfect is not the goal. Because, is it real?"
--Nadia Comaneci, who with her gymnast husband, Bart Conner, owns an Oklahoma gymnastics academy and appears extensively at promotional and charity events.
She says that hunger for superior results was a trait found in all elite athletes.
Excerpts from the New York Times, February 3, 2008.
Eric Heiden, Olympic Champion Speedskater
Mindset of Focus and Concentration
"I never once thought about the consequences or legacy of my efforts - a perfect Olympics never entered my consideration,"--Eric Heiden, who won five gold medals in a sweep of the individual men's speedskating events during the 1980 Olympics.
Heiden was so relaxed on the eve of his last race that he overslept and arrived at the skating oval late.
Heiden, who is now an orthopedic surgeon in Utah, later admitted that he might have felt the pressure briefly at the beginning of his final race, the grueling 10,000 meters.
"I wasn't skating particularly well in the first few laps of that race and what did enter my mind was that I had been training seven years for that moment. It was a rare opportunity that wasn't ever going to come along again. I started skating faster and better. I certainly wasn't going to let fatigue or the fear of losing get in the way."
"The first thing you see in all these cases is the overwhelming confidence that intense preparation brings about. I know what that's like. When you're on your game and you know that everybody else knows it, too, it's a big psychological advantage."
--Eric Heiden, discussing great accomplishments in sports and the necessary confidence that comes with tremendous preparation.
Excerpts from the New York Times 02/03/2008.
Maria Sharapova Comes Back
2008 Australian Open Winner: The High Standards of a Champion
"If you put the whole tournament together, for sure it was the best tennis she's played. Today was tough because it was so hot. To be honest of all the Grand Slams, this is one of the toughest to win because conditions can change day after day. One day it's 27 degrees Celsius, the next day it's 40. One day the roof is closed, the next day it's open. To get through two weeks is just mental toughness."--Michael Joyce, Maria Sharapova's coach.
"This is like success the second time around, and it's actually a lot sweeter. Becuase I think I've proven to myself that I can come back from having setbacks and netative thoughts and having doubts in my mind of: 'Where is this injury taking me? It's not making me a better player. It's making me sit at home and spend my money on artwork. I'm not having a great time, here.'
"Although I love art and all that, I'd much rather be out there winning tournaments and winning Grand Slams.
"It's probably one of the biggest challenges I'm going to have in my career, to win it. But as you all know, I love the challenges, and that's what drives me, and I'm getting better and better and feeling stronger."
--Maria Sharapova, following her 2008 Australian Open win. She started the 2008 season in perfect form winning seven matches with no sets lost in a very tough draw. She beat Justine Henin in the quarterfinals and Ana Ivanovic in the finals.
The previous year in 2007, Sharapova had weathered a disappointing and nagging shoulder injury. Bursitis in her right shoulder had cut into her practice time and kept her from serving effectively in her matches.
Having won her first title in 2004 at Wimbledon at the age of 17, Sharapova has now won three Grand Slam singles titles and only needs to win the French Open to complete her collection of Grand Slams.
"I don't care if they think it's intimidating or not or whatever. I try to take care of my own business out there, and that's the most important thing: the belief you have on the court. I believe I'm capable of playing great tennis."
--Maria Sharapova, discussing intimidation of others as an outgrowth of her desire to win and belief in herself.
Excerpts from the New York Times 1/27/08 and 1/28/08.
Novak Djokovic, 2008 Australian Open Men's Champion
Hardship and Hunger: The Desire to Succeed
"We have been through difficult things in our career, and we appreciate succes much more, even though we are still young."This is a difficult sport. It just depends where you grow up. It's a matter of luck in the end, but that's life. But probably this hunger for the success which we all have and still have, you can see it in the girls like Sharapova and the Williams sisters and the girls and guys from Serbia.
"You see how much they appreciate to be in that position and how much energy and emotions they put on the court. It's quite amazing. I know for myself I play with a lot of emotions, positive emotions, negative emotions. But this is how I feel and how I am. I'm a guy with alot of temperment, becuase I know how much it means to me to be in that position."
--Novak Djokovic, discussing the new wave of young players whose desire to succeed is born of economic hardship and cultural upheaval, particularly in Eastern Europe.
Excerpts from the New York Times 1/29/08.
Tony Romo: "That Special Swagger and Fire"
Developing Resilience, Confidence and Maturity
"When things don't go your way, you just have to come right back and say: 'Let's try this again. Let's have some fun. That's just the way I live my life."--Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys' quarterback.
"We've got a good football team, I know that, but it doesn't matter whether you're the favorite now or the least favorite. You're not trying to be the favorite in Week 3. You're trying to be it at the end of the year."
--Tony Romo, after beginning with a 3-game win streak at the start the 2008 season.
"I don't know why Tony is as resilient as he is, but I do know that's the mark of a great competitor.
"The Michael Jordans, the Tiger Woodses, guys like that all have that trait. Whether they make the shot or make the putt, or miss the shot or the putt, they are always the same. They have this tremendous belief in themselves. That's what Tony has.
"There are a lot of physical traits that people can get enamored with, but the psychological part is hard to see."
--Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboy offensive coordinator.
Not suprisingly, Romo is a fan of motivational sports books such as those by Larry Bird, Pat Riley, and David Halberstam.
"He would get intercepted, and Bill Parcells would undress him. Man, he'd kill him and yell at him, but Tony wouldn't be fazed by it. He would come back and throw an 18-yard dig route that hit the guy right in the chest. I mean, what is it about that kid? You can't keep him down. You can't break his spirit."
--David Lee, former Dallas Cowboys assistant coach.
During last season's run to the playoffs, Parcells said he told Romo about an N.F.L. quarterback who did well quickly, but declined just as fast.
"You're just trying to tell him that some people don't go on to sustain the success, and what separates the real great players from the others is that some guys can keep going at that level, but not everybody. I was trying to tell him that this might not be forever here, and that he shouldn't be satisfied with just being pretty good. It was more like fatherly advice, trying to maximize his potential."
--Bill Parcells, former Dallas Cowboys head coach.
"If you let this affect you, it will affect your next game. So as soon as I leave here today, I am going to try my best to let it go. Me being as competitive as I am, it will probably take me a little longer. But I will let it go when I get back out to practice."
-- Tony Romo, young, developing NFL quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys talking about bouncing back from a poor performance in his first season as a starter (2006).
After throwing five first half interceptions (and six turnovers total) against the Buffalo Bills in a Monday night game in 2007, Romo completed nine of 11 passes on a touchdown drive that pulled the Cowboys to within two points with 20 seconds left to play. Then, when the Cowboys somehow recovered the ensuing onside kick, he drove Dallas just close enough for rookie Nick Folk to kick the 53-yard game-winner.
"I'm always thinking we're going to go out and score on the next drive,'' Romo would say later. "You don't have to worry about that with me, that's for sure.''
Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said to Romo as they stood on the sideline late in the fourth quarter: "Wouldn't it be amazing if we won this game?''
After a horrible first half performance, Romo re-grouped. He held himself and his team together. And the Cowboys won.
"A lot of quarterbacks, a lot of players, would have given up and moved on to next week,'' Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. "He didn't do that.''
Romo, who grew up in Burlington, Wis., always wanted to be a combination of Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas and Tom Brady.
Cowboys coaches and teammates have extreme confidence in Romo. When someone asked Phillips if he ever considered benching Romo after his fifth interception, the coach said, "Well, he didn't throw six.....''
"I don't think he was getting to that point,'' Romo said. "I think I've shown him enough that he knows I can come back from a lot of stuff.''
"I think the biggest thing they saw is this kid never gives up. He's a fighter, a winner. That's what he's about. I think Belichick (New England Patriots head coach and the Cowboys next opponent) knows that. I think the whole league knows that. If they didn't, tonight was a great way to show it.''
--Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys' tight end.
Romo is a survivor. He survived an anonymous college career at Eastern Illinois, despite winning the Division I-A Offensive Player of the Year award. He survived being an undrafted, no-name free agent. He survived playing for Bill Parcells. And on that Monday night in Buffalo, he survived six turnovers.
"My confidence doesn't waver,'' he said later. "That's one thing I learned with Bill and everyone else. Wade says it all the time too. You got to keep going.''
Romo has even impressed Terrell Owens, the outspoken Cowboys wide-receiver, who is know to criticize his quarterbacks throughout his career. Owens describes his quarterback as having "that special swagger and fire."
"When I got out to the field, it was pretty neat, the atmosphere. I looked around and was like, 'This is why you want to play sports.' You want to play in games like this. Your competitive juices get flowing and you want to prove what kind of player you are."
--Tony Romo, responding to the exciting and competitive atmosphere of a late 2007 season game against the NFC contender Green Bay Packers. Romo threw four touchdown passes in that game, leading the Cowboys to a 37-27 victory and into the lead for homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The game was crucial as it pitted the 10-1 Cowboys agains the 10-1 Packers.
Excerpts from the New York Times 10/14/07
Steve Nash, Zen Playmaker
Two-time NBA MVP and Phoenix Suns' Point Guard
"Mental toughness encapsulates physical toughness."--Steve Nash, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and point guard of the Phoenix Suns.
"With Steve it's all about the flow."
--Bill Duffy, Steve Nash's agent.
Flow, of course, is a term for that state of mind that artists and athletes strive to enter into, and which in full flood entails an ecstatic expansion of consciousness that releases them from confines of the self and produces crowning moments of creativity.
"My first and second years in the N.B.A., I used to get really nervous in a tight game. But now I wait for that moment when things are really close - that's what I really love. Having the ball in my hands and the responsibility makes me feel calm and open. Not to have that, not to get to that point in a game, would feel really...really confining."
--Steve Nash, who still seeks his first NBA championship.
An interviewer asked, "Was there one shot or game when you first felt that way?"
"Probably it built over time - I don't want it to sound like there's anything too mystical about it."
"I've always said when Steve retires, I'll retire. I don't want anyone to be able to figure out whether our success is because of my system or Steve's ability to make it work. There's a period in a player's life where the novelty wears off. You've got kids and money, and sometimes your basketball flame begins to flicker. And then a few years later, you realize you've got a limited amount of time and this is the best it's ever gonna be. I think Steve is one of those guys who has always lived for the game. You can have all the money in the world, but for the great players the only thing that matters is winning a title."
--Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix Suns head coach.
"There are nights when I ask myself, 'Am I really playing basketball?' But that's mostly from the stuff around the game: talking to the media, taking the bus, getting warmed up. Once I'm out on the court, in the game, the game is great."
--Steve Nash.
"I don't know. I have a lot of energy and a lot of motivation. I have a hard time sitting still. I guess in a way I can't live with the alternative to being driven, which is sitting around being bored. If I'm going to go for something, I'm really going to go for it. I think I realized as a kid that I would keep going when other kids stopped. If my legs are there, if my quickness is there, I can have a good game. If not, I try to find other ways of making plays without being quick. Making smart plays. Making the game simple."
--Steve Nash, responding to a question about what drove him and motivated him beyond the obvious goal of a championship.
Excerpts from Play magazine November 2007
David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
Rewind and Review with Big Papi
"I think the best thing that ever happened to the baseball game is the video, the quick highlight of whatever is happening out there.--David Ortiz, slugger with the Boston Red Sox, who led the American League with a .455 on-base percentage.
Ortiz uses his laptop several times during a game to analyze his at-bats. He wants to see how pitchers approached, how he responded, and whether the pitch had a counter-response.
Ortiz is a designated hitter who has the luxury of studying videos on his laptop computer after every at-bat. He has used video equipment since his debut with the Minnesota Twins in 1997. At that time, he used a VCR which was very tedious, time consuming and inconvenient. Advancements in technology have allowed him to be more efficient in his batting reviews.
"That's the real deal. That's the view of what you want to do differently from what you did before. If you see something good, you want to stick with it. If you do womething wrong, you want to fix it," says Ortiz.
Ortiz does not have the reputation for being a student of the game, however, he led the league in walks with 111, which demonstrates his patience as a hitter.
"You don't hit .330 because you are big and strong. You have to know how to hit. I think he'a much better hitter than the stereotype of him.
"He'a a D.H. (designated hitter) so he gets to watch video more than anyone else while we're out on the field. He studies pitchers. That's part of his mental preparation, knowing possibly what type of game plan they're going to use to go after him. That has to help with his success."
--Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox thirdbaseman and teammate.
Excerpts from the New York Times 10/12/07
For more information on David Ortiz and his approach to hitting scroll down to the section on Performance Psychology Information" on this weblens and look for the article--Cracking the Big Papi Code. Or, check out the article online at:
http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/local_story_218101834/resources_printstory
The Birth of a Belief System
John Isner, newcomer on the men's professional tennis scene
"If I go in that match not believing I'm going to win, just happy to be out there, you know, he's going to smell that blood and just attack. I'm not saying I'm going to win, but I'm going to believe."--6 foot, 9 inch John Isner, former University of Georgia tennis player, responding prior to facing Roger Federer, the world's #1 player, in the third round of the U.S. Open.
"Right now he's on cloud nine. They way he's hitting his ground strokes, he's on a totally different level than he was a month ago. That's all confidence."
--Manny Diaz, University of Georgia tennis coach, talking about Isner, as Diaz watches him at the U.S. Open during the first week. Diaz was coaching Isner at the University of Georgia just months before the Open.
"Just talking to him, he feels like he can beat anyone right now."
--Travis Helgeson, college teammate and friend of Isner.
Excerpts from the New York Times 8/31/07
Failure Is Not An Option
The New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera
"I am talking about myself, but I am definitely into it 100 percent. I have to be 100 percent. I have no choice."--Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees relief pitcher.
Rivera has been closing games for 11 seasons, and might be the best closer of all time.
Starting his 12th season in 2008, Rivera has to continue thinking about maintaining his edge.
"When you start thinking, a lot of things will happen. Emotions take place, and you have to know how to control your emotions. If you don't control your emotions, your emotions will control your acts, and that's not good."
--Mariano Rivera, discussing the difficulty of controlling the mental aspect of baseball.
"He told me if you want to stay in the big leagues with the Yankess, you have to stay straight. You don't have to go to the clubs, you don't have to drink. That's what he showed me, because he doesn't drink and he doesn't go to the clubs."
--Edwar Ramirez, young New York Yankees relief pitcher, who Rivera has begun mentoring since Ramirez' call to the majors in July 2007.
Excerpts from NY Times 09/15/07 and 3/9/2008.
LaDanian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Setting The Goal for the 2007 NFL Season: Winning The Super Bowl
"At this point of my career, I have only one goal. Not numbers, not stats. I want to win a championship. I've seen a lot of other players I respect win them, and it drives me. It's all I care about right now. The records ... you can have the records. I respect them, but I'm playing only to win."Do I want it? I want it more than anything. It's something you dream of growing up, winning the Super Bowl. I grew up a big Cowboys fan in Texas and watched them go from 1-15 to winning three Super Bowls. It's like I was a part of the team, I rooted for them so hard. I remember the Super Bowl titles, not the individual achievements. And I'm telling you, that's what drives me.''
--LaDanian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers running back, discussing his motivation as he enters the 2007 NFL season.
Justine Henin
Overcoming Adversity
"I proved so many things. I'm really proud of what I did this year. It's been great because I came back from a very tough situation personally [including a divorce]. It was tough to come back professionally and just do my best -- and that's what I did."I really had a lot of fun, and that's really important."
--Justine Henin, #1-ranked female tennis player in the world who is also the smallest player in the top 10, discussing her motivation after beating Serena Williams in the 2007 U.S. Open quarterfinals. Henin has made a career of overcoming adversity.
"I didn't believe enough in myself, didn't trust myself enough in the last few years against them. In the last few years, I still have a lot of respect for them, but I'm not scared anymore. It was a great challenge and I did it."
Justine Henin, who defeated both Serena and Venus Williams in the 2007 U. S. Open, discussing the recent change in her mindset.
Hank Aaron: Major League Baseball's Former Career Home Run Leader
Pioneer in Mental Preparation and Visualization Techniques
"I think about how a guy mentally prepares himself to do battle, to go out and face the pitcher. I think so many hitters do not know how to get themselves prepared to play or hit against a pitcher. You have to mentally be prepared to hit against all pitchers,""You visualize [pitches]. You see it in your head; you think about it... I used to play every pitcher in my mind before I went to the ballpark. I started getting ready for every game the moment I woke up,"
--Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, major league baseball's leading career home run hitter.
Aaron was one of the best hitters in baseball history and one of the most consistent. He had a record 20 years of hitting over 20 home runs. When Hank Aaron failed to get a hit against any particular pitcher, he would go back to the dugout and study the pitcher. He was a champion of mental preparation and visualization techniques.
Aaron would also reverse his baseball cap, using the small eyelets in the back of his baseball cap to narrow his focus to the pitcher. By eliminating distractions from the crowd and the benches, he could concentrate on the pitcher, and visualize successfully getting a hit the next time at bat.
Aaron attributed his great success in baseball to his mental preparation both before and during the game. He did not focus as much on the mechanics of hitting. He believed that mental preparation and doing his homework was the secrert to becoming a great, consistent hitter. He was a master at studying the pitcher before games as well.
Aaron treated each game differently because he had to face a different pitcher, and this required focus, concentration, preparation and visualization of the pitcher's "stuff" (his array of pitches, pitching style and technique).
Many world-class athletes use pre-game and game-time rituals or routines to help create the proper mindset for competition and practice. However, mental preparation starts a long time before the competition, and involves more than just visualizing a successful performance. Rituals and routines center individuals and instill confidence, focus and the proper, outcome-oriented, successful mindset during times of pressure.
Ronaldinho
The Vision and Mental Mindset of a Great Soccer Magician
"When I train, one of the things I concentrate on is creating a mental picture of how best to deliver that ball to a teammate, preferably leaving him alone in front of the rival goalkeeper. So what I do, always before a game -- always, everynight and every day -- is try and think up things, imagine plays, which no one else will have thought of, and to do so always bearing in mind the particular strengths of each teammate to whom I am passing the ball. When I construct those plays in my mind, I take into account whether one teammate likes to receive the ball at his feet or ahead of him, if he's good with his head and how he prefers to head the ball, if he's stronger on his right or his left foot. That's my job. That is what I do. I imagine the game."--Ronaldinho, Brazilian soccer player, currently considered the world's best.
Longevity: Consistent and Sustained Success
No one-shot, one-hit, one-season wonders here
"It says a lot about the determination of Roger (Clemens) and Greg (Maddux) and, I guess, myself. It says a lot about their work habits, their work ethic and, ultimately, their understanding of themselves and what they have to do to be successful. And the ability to do that on a consistent basis."--Tom Glavine, New York Mets pitcher, discussing his approaching the 300-win plateau, his big league peers and their ability to sustain their performance over a long period of time.
One of the signature traits of a peak performer is sustained performance and success over an extended period of time. Tom Glavine as been able to do that with two teams, the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets. Glavine is closing in on 300 victories, an accomplishment that is becoming more and more rare over the years. Only The last two pitchers to win 300 games are Roger Clemens (351 victories) in 2003 and Greg Maddux (340 victories) in 2004. Prior to that, Nolan Ryan was the last to make 300 victories in 1990. Many baseball experts predict that Glavine may be the last for many years and, perhaps, forever.
Excerpts from USA Today 7/30/07.
The Art of Talent Evalaution and Selection
The Intangibles in Selecting Talent
"If you make a mistake in that area, it kills you for a chance to win championships. I wanted to have a system that was the most efficient and make the least amount of mistakes."--Leslie Alexander, owner of NBA Houston Rockets, who hired Daryl Morey as general manager to ensure that the Rockets draft or trade, and sign the right players to be successful.
"To me, maybe the most important thing to have is mental toughness, and it's probably the element that is most overlooked. It's an incredibly hard position to play. You've got so much information to formulate and formulate it quickly. So mental aptitude is critical. But the ability to overcome adversity, to hang in and get things turned around for you and your team, that's even [more important]. I'm not saying that's why so many guys fail, but I think it's a big reason."
--Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia, who entered the NFL as a free agent from the CFL at age 29.
"Some of it is just playing time, getting an opportunity and taking advantage of it, but a lot of it is just believing in yourself, riding out the tough times and never losing faith. You've got to be wired a certain way, you know? If not, then you just become one of those [failure] statistics."
Jake Delhomme, NFL Carolina Panthers quarterback, who failed at New Orleans before winning the starting job with the Panthers.
"You hold your breath with any first-round pick, but at quarterback, it's more than holding your breath. You get a big knot in your stomach when you're turning in the [draft] card with the guy's name on it. I mean, there have been times where, we've made a decision [on a quarterback], our guy in New York is going up to turn in the pick, and I wished I could reach out and tackle him because I was already having [reservations]. It shouldn't be such a hard position to grade, should it? But, hey, it is."
--A current college scouting director, who admitted his track record includes as many misses as hits at the game's most crucial position: quarterback.
Character in drafting college athletes
Does character matter?
"We want players with good football temperament, ployers who have reliability, who like the game. Players who are durable, who have good football intelligence as to what's happening out there, and a good work ethic."
--Bill Polian, NFL Indianapolis Colts president.
When the Colts took running back Edgerrin James from the University of Miami, with the #4 pick in the 1999 NFL draft, many of their fans were disappointed. They had hoped for Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams from the University of Texas, but the Colts knew that with Peyton Manning at quarterback, ehey would need a strong running back and receiver, they knew that they would need someone with a strong character who would fit it well.
"We knew Edgerrin was a totally grounded guy. Ricky had other interests," said Polian.
"The most important thing is to get guys that have football character. You want guys who show up to work every day, guys that practice every day, work hard in the offseason, are smart and know their assignments. If you have a guy who is a little bit of a malcontent who doesn't show up for meetings or practice, while other players are pushing through injuries to play, you're in trouble." -- NFL personnel executive
"We're committed to smart, tough, hard-working, competitive guys that are selfless, guys that football is important to. And that's what we're going to draft."
-- Eric Mangini, first year head coach of the NFL New York Jets
--Bill Polian, NFL Indianapolis Colts president.
When the Colts took running back Edgerrin James from the University of Miami, with the #4 pick in the 1999 NFL draft, many of their fans were disappointed. They had hoped for Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams from the University of Texas, but the Colts knew that with Peyton Manning at quarterback, ehey would need a strong running back and receiver, they knew that they would need someone with a strong character who would fit it well.
"We knew Edgerrin was a totally grounded guy. Ricky had other interests," said Polian.
"The most important thing is to get guys that have football character. You want guys who show up to work every day, guys that practice every day, work hard in the offseason, are smart and know their assignments. If you have a guy who is a little bit of a malcontent who doesn't show up for meetings or practice, while other players are pushing through injuries to play, you're in trouble." -- NFL personnel executive
"We're committed to smart, tough, hard-working, competitive guys that are selfless, guys that football is important to. And that's what we're going to draft."
-- Eric Mangini, first year head coach of the NFL New York Jets
- Drafting character
- This is an ESPN.com story from 4/18/06 by Greg Garber on the upcoming NFL draft and the issue of character in drafting college athletes.
- Greg Oden and the Question of Character
- This NY Times article prior to the 2007 NBA Draft highlights the solid character that makes Greg Oden a draft day gem.
- Kevin Durant: Mr. Nice Guy or Nasty Competitor
- This NY Times article about the 2007 NBA Draft focuses on Kevin Durant and his unique maturity.
- The Search for Character: Evaluating Calvin Johnson
- This article from the New York Times on 4/26/2007 examines Georgia Tech's fabulous wide-receiver who has NFL scouts, coaches, and administration drooling with his combination of talent and character.
Reggie Bush: Peak Performance Case Study
Legacy: The Ultimate Vision
"I've never been big on setting personal goals. The only thing I care about is Super Bowls. Your legacy is based on championships -- how many championships you win -- and you remember guys like Michael Jordan and Walter Payton and even a Tom Brady. That's the kind of caliber athlete I want to be remembered as. So that's what I shoot for when I'm training."--Reggie Bush, NFL New Orleans Saints second-year running back and former Heisman Trophy winner, discussing his clear vision and the legacy he wants to achieve.
The New Orleans Saints came within one victory of reaching the Super Bowl during the 2006 season. They appeared in the first NFC championship game in their franchise's history.
As both a running back and receiver, he gained over 1,300 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season. He adapted well to the NFL. Among other things he used his speed, quickness and agility that helped him win the Heisman Trophy at Southern California, to help the Saints experience their best season ever.
He scored a midseason 65-yard touchdown on a punt return against Tampa Bay, a 65-yard touchdown on a screen pass at Dallas in December. In the NFC championship game, he scored on an 88-yard touchdown in Chicago during the NFC championship game, where he grabbed a short pass, outran the Bears' numerous defenders, cut across the entire width of the field.
To finish off the pass and run, he pointed back tauntingly toward Bear linebacker Brian Urlacher, and then launched into a forward somersault across the goal line.
Bush is in excellent shape after the offseason, because of a new workout regimen he began in Los Angeles last February. It's called fre flo do (pronounced FREE-flow-doe). Bush describes it as a Chinese-inspired type of training that builds strength with exercises focused on flexibility, quickness and endurance. Fre flo do also has a meditative and spiritual component.
Bush said he prefers the workout because it leverages his strengths as an athlete.
"You know, some of my plays last longer than the average play, so I'm trying to simulate that ... going beyond the average time within a workout," Bush said.
"I expect to improve on last year. I don't have a number, but I definitely expect to be a lot better than last year and help my team get to the Super Bowl."
Excerpts from the Associated Press (2007).
Vision: The Foundation of Peak Performance
The Secrets of Goal Setting
Anyone who keeps up with sports is likely to be aware of the career and achievements of the American 200 meter and 400 meter sprinter, Michael Johnson. During his remarkable and spectacular career, Johnson rewrote the record books when he became the only man ever to win both the 200 meter and 400 meter Olympic gold medals, at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.His achievements were based not only on talent and hard physical conditioning, but on mental strength and a clear vision of where he wanted to go.
Michael Johnson mobilized his extraordinary talent through effective goal setting.
You may have tried goal setting before. Or if you have tried and been defeated, there's a good chance you misunderstood how it works.
One of the main problems is that not all coaches or athletes are aware of the principles of goal setting and how to apply them effectively.
Not everyone has the talent to be a Michael Johnson, but anyone can achieve significant improvements in performance by the same means.
Research on effective goal setting in the world of business as well as sport and exercise has consistently shown that it can lead to enhanced performance.
In fact, a recent meta-analysis (evaluation of pooled data from a whole series of studies) showed that goal setting led to performance enhancement in 78% of sport and exercise research studies, with moderate-to strong effects. So how does it work?
Top athletes like Michael Johnson have understood that, although dream goals such as Olympic gold medals are important in helping to direct our efforts, it is the day- to-day, short-term goals that provide the key to success. We can classify goals into three types:
·Visionary or long-range goals are the ones that seem a long way off and difficult to achieve. They may be anything from six months to several years away.
·Intermediate goals are benchmarks for where you want to be at a specific time. For example, if your dream goal is to reduce your personal best running time by one second over 10 months, an intermediate goal could be a half second improvement after five months
·Short-term or daily goals are the most important because they provide a specific focus for our training in each and every session. Past research on Olympic athletes found that setting daily training goals was one factor that distinguished successful performers from their less successful counterparts.
Lorena Ochoa: The Importance of Vision, Discipline, and Practice
2007 Women's British Open Champion
"She feels like she has a purpose and that everything happens for a reason and that she's been put here to do something magical."She enjoys competition, enjoys the pressure, as much as anybody I've ever seen."
--Dave Brooker, Lorena Ochoa's caddie of two years.
"You know, I saw myself on the 18th green lifting the trophy and it's almost something that you already believe."
--Lorena Ochoa, from Guadalajara, Mexico and the first Mexican-born player to win on the L.P.G.A. Tour, who felt that her victory at St. Andrews in 2007 was destiny.
"I didn't struggle doubting or spending time debating on what should I do. It was clear to me that I wanted to be a golfer and I wanted to be the best."
--Ochoa, discussing her career choice that came first at age 13.
Ochoa left home to attend the University of Arizona (following her role model, Annika Sorenstam), and turned pro after he sophomore year, joining the LPGA in 2003.
Lorena Ochoa won her first major and became the first woman to win a pro tournament at the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Her confident feeling grew stronger after she played her first practice rounds and saw how the course was a perfect fit for her imagination. She luckily drew a morning tee time on the first day and was able to play in nearly ideal weather conditions.
Ochoa opened the tournament with a six-under-par 67, leading wire to wire to record her first Grand Slam victory in the first women's pro tournament held at the home of golf. She protected the win on the final round with a 74 that gave her a 72-hole total of five-under-par 287.
"There were a lot of people saying that I wasn't good enough or that I couldn't win a major or when am I going to win a major," said Ochoa, the No. 1 women's player in the world. She added, "I did it, and there's no more to say. I love St. Andrews."
As of April 2008, she has won 18 times. Taking in more than $8 million since 2006, Ochoa, a 26-year-old Mexican star, has collected corporate sponsorships, such as Mexican banks and the national airline, a German automaker, a luxury Swiss watchmaker, a large golf club manufacturer based in Arizona, the country club in Guadalajara where she learned the game and still lives.
"Everything that she's done this year (2008) has been phenomenal. Just as a person, she would give you the shirt off of her back if you needed it. Just being so nice and be able to play so well and not being cocky about it, how she presents herself.
"She's definitely a role model to every kid, every adult, everybody out there that likes golf. So it's really great to have her out here."
-- Brittany Lincicome, LPGA competitor.
"I enjoy very much the pressure of playing in the last group. I like to be in the pressure. It is fun, something I have worked very hard for, to give myself the opportunity to win tournaments. It's been fun."
--Lorena Ochoa
Ochoa's work ethic is rapidly is becoming legendary on the tour.
"Obviously, at practice, she's phenomenal at doing it and getting it done the right way," Lincicome said.
Discipline, structure and regimentation are the hallmarks of Ochoa's approach. All the style, flair and creativity with which she brings to playing and shotmaking on the golf course is a result of her strict adherence to a training and practice regimen.
A typical week between events: travel on Monday, off on Tuesday and Wednesday, practice from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, home for lunch, then to the gym from 5 to 7 p.m.
As a result of her commitment to training and practice, Ochoa is the longest hitter on the tour so far this season, averaging 279.6 yards. Her technique has improved in other areas as well.
"I always want to take everybody down, I think you can do it with a smile on your face, and be nice and talking to them. You don't have to be mean or rude," said Ochoa.
Ochoa knows that you just have to practice to excel at all aspects of the game, on and off the course. That is what it means to be a peak performer.
Excerpts from the New York Times 6/22/2008, 8/6/2007 and 4/20/2008.
"Fast Forwarding"
Learning from Wayne Gretzky and Cristiano Ronaldo
"I skate to where the puck is going to be."--Wayne Gretzky, legendary ice hockey great and NHL Hall of Famer.
Even in his prime, Gretzky wasn't very fast, his shot was oddly weak, and he was last in the team in strength training. He would operate from his "office," the small space in the back of the opponent's goal, anticipating where his team would be well before they got there and feeding them passes so unsuspected he would often surprise them. For a cover story in 1985 he told Time, "People talk about skating, puck handling and shooting but the whole sport is angles and caroms, forgetting the straight direction the puck is going, calculating where it will be diverted, factoring in all the interruptions." TIME (April 26, 1999)
What Wayne Gretzky described above is called "fast-forwarding" (Sashittal & Jassawalla, 2002) or the ability to travel forward in time and predict where, after seemingly infinite combinations of ricochets and caroms, the puck will emerge-the ability to make his way to the precise spot.
Fast-forwarding in sports involves the ability to anticipate the flow of play and stay ahead of real time. Athletes who fast-forward, anticipate where teammates and the competition are going to be. Using this technique provides a competitive advantage and makes other teammates' performances better. Through this fast-forwarding they are able to achieve peak performance, inspire others to greater performance and motive others through their focus and intensity.
In all walks of life, "fast-forwarding" is about anticipation, being steps ahead of others in thinking and visioning, and predicting outcomes from one's experience as quickly as possible. Great performers need talent, but they also need to anticipate effectively. That is what made him the best.
Another athlete with strong "fast-forwarding skills" is Portuguese soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronald scored 42 goals last season (2007) for Manchester United and led his team to the English Priemier League and UEFA Champions League titles. He also earned both player-of-the-year awards for the second year in a row.
"Those guys had tremendous field awareness, a great feel for the game. I can compare it to chess players, who are three or four moves ahead of everybody else."
--Thomas Rongen, coach of the under-20 USA soccer team, comparing Ronaldo favorably to two all-time soccer greats, Pele and Johan Cruyff.
"Over the past two years his abiliity to impact the game has gone through the roof. He picks his points to dribble when has has the most chance of success. He's much less predictable."
--Donald Kirkendall, a research in soccer physiology at the FIFA's Medical Asessment and Research Centre.
"I know when I should pass the ball, dribble or shoot. When I have the ball at my feet, I know that something good will emerge. I am always confident."
--Cristiano Ronaldo, a believer in deliberate practice and, subsequent, anticipation skills as factors in his extreme confidence and his recent success.
Excerpts from The New York Times Play Magazine, 9/14/2008.
The Masters of the Art of Anticipation
Red Auerbach and Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics
"That was one of my major achievements as a coach. What I learned from playing for Red [Auerbach] was: Almost everything that could happen, he anticipated, and he had a decision for it. With the guys we had, we didn't have to put in a [last-second] play. But I felt it was my duty to my team to try to anticipate contingencies. When I see a guy with a board and he's going like this'' -- and here Russell emulates a coach drawing wildly on a greaseboard during a timeout at the end of a tight game -- "they're screwed.''"When you do that, everybody's guessing. The key to making good plays work is the timing. Is this guy going to do this or that? If you have it pre-planned, you have a much better chance at success.''
--Bill Russell, former NBA champion head coach, player and Hall of Famer with the Boston Celtics, discussing the importance of anticipation, timing and planning.
Fast-forwarding in Business
Pre-mortems versus Post-mortems
The concept of fast-forwarding in sports is easily applicable to the business world.One of the most common business practices and improvement processes is the post-mortem. Post-mortems are well-intentioned attempts to figure out why a new idea, initiative, product, service or marketing campaign failed.
Gary Klein, chief scientist at Klein Associates, a division of Applied Research Associates, works with companies to train them on how to conduct what he calls "pre-mortems." These pre-mortems identify risks at the outset of a new business activity.
"A pre-mortem in a business setting comes at the beginning of a project rather than the end. so the project can be improved trather than autopsied," says Klein.
Writing in the Harvard Business Review, he explains that in the pre-mortem, company executives and managers are confronted with the hypothetical scenario that assumes they have just learned that a product or a serve they are about to introduce has failed miserably. In this scenario, they then write down and discuss every plausible reason they can think of to explain the failure. The list and subsequent discussion is used to eliminate the potential flaws before the new idea is actually introduced into the marketplace.
While companies frequently engage in risk analysis in the early planning stages, employees are often afraid to speak up, fearing that they will be seen as negative, or will be committing career suicide, or at least suffering political consequences by objecting to a plan that has become popular internally.
These "nay-sayers" are often seen as not-credible in the organization, particularly if the idea is too far along in the planning stage. The pre-mortem is useful in that it assumes that the exercise will free up people to be more candid than normal. This process can serve as a check on the "damn-the-torpedoes attitude often assumed by people who are overinvested in the project" or are too afraid to be critical. Also, the pre-mortem comes at an earlier time in the process than would normally happen in the organization.
Preparation
Due Diligence and Meticulous Hard Work
"The main thing about Paul Brown was how articulate he was and how everything had to be perfect."--Dante Lavelli, Cleveland Browns' Pro Football Hall of Fame player, who was a wide receiver for Paul Brown, the head coach of the old Cleveland Browns.
Led by Otto Graham at quarterback, the Cleveland Browns went 14-0 in the regular season and embarrassed the Buffalo Bills, 49-7 in the All-American Football Conference championship game. They had a 29-0 unbeaten streak over three seasons (including two ties). The Browns won all four titles in the AAFC during its existence, compiling a 47-4-3 record, and going 4-0 in championship games. Eventually the Browns were absorbed by the NFL (along with the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Colts).
In 1950, the Brown proved they belonged in the NFL by winning that league's championship. They beat the Los Angeles Rams in the final game that season. Over a ten-years stretch, the Browns captured the 1954 and 1955 championships and won 7 NFL and AAFC titles and 10 divisional titles.
"There were no great mysteries attached to our success. We were meticulous in all our preparations, and we even practiced how to practice."
--Paul Brown, former Cleveland Browns Head Coach
Excerpts from an anthology of insights from famous coaches: The Ultimate Coaches' Clinic by Pat Williams; and the New York Times 1/28/08.
The Game Plan
Another Brick in the Wall
"It takes five guys understanding what we're doing, understanding a game plan and sticking with it."--Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, three-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, discussing the importance the game plan in the success of the entire team.
The Wizard of Westwood: UCLA's John Wooden
The Master of Preparation
"He never talked about winning. The only thing we can control is our preparation."--John Vallely, former UCLA basketball player, talking about the approach to preparedness that John Wooden took that led to multiple NCAA basketball championships.
"Watching that team get off the bus, wathching that team walk on the floor, they had a certain strut that forced you not to like them.....their whole demeanor, 'You can't beatus," superiority, winners, champions"
--Don Chaney, former University of Houston player, retired NBA veteran and former NBA head coach, discussing the greatness of the UCLA teams and the dislike it fostered in others.
So focused was Wooden on preparing his teams on fundamentals from the ground up that he began each season by teaching his players the proper way to put on their socks.
Lacking a dominant big man after losing Lew Alcindor (now known as NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) to graduation the previous year, the team was not supposed to win the title game against Jacksonville University, featuring 7-2 center Artis Gilmore. Vallely and his Bruins teammates didn't necessarily expect to win. But they expected to execute the fundamentals and be as well prepared as possible.
Still, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Bruins did, in fact, win the game. Vallely noted that Jacksonville's practice session before the game was a loose affair with lots of laughs and loud music.
"Then when we went out, it was 35 minutes of perfection. Dribbling drills, running the fast break, everything working," Vallely said.
Indeed, in basketball as in life, winning and losing happens to everyone. But dogged preparedness provides peace of mind over the result.
Watch the excellent new HBO special about John Wooden, "The U.C.L.A. Dynasty"
Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers: The King of Preparation
Greatest NFL wide receiver of all time
"He was always there for me, when I was dropping balls... when the media was trying to crucify him. He hung in there with me. He was a father to me."
--Jerry Rice, discussing the impact of Bill Walsh, his former coach with the San Francisco 49ers, on his life.
Watch the king of preparation and marvel at the results.
--Jerry Rice, discussing the impact of Bill Walsh, his former coach with the San Francisco 49ers, on his life.
Watch the king of preparation and marvel at the results.
curated content from YouTube
Vince Young, Tennessee Titans' Quarterback
The Importance of Execution
"All I can do is play my game. I can't worry about what they're going to try to do. All I know is when Coach calls this or this or that, I have to execute the play. If it's a run or a pass, whatever it takes to win a ballgame, that's what I'm going to do. At the same time, it's not all about me. I know the rest of the guys are going to make plays as well."--Vince Young, Tennessee Titans' quarterback and 2006 NFL Rookie of the Year, discussing his focus on his role, blocking out the opposition's defensive schemes, and the importance of execution and teamwork.
"This guy is unique, no question he's unique. He's a very, very competitive young man. He's used to winning. He's used to being a leader, so it all fits very well."
--Norm Chow, Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator, talking about his quarterback, Vince Young and his emerging leadership.
"My goal is to win three or four Super Bowls."
--Vince Young, responding to questions as he enters his third NFL season with the Titans.
The Signature Characteristics of Peak Performers
What do great world-class championship athletes have in common?
What Do These Athletes Have in Common?· Wayne Gretzky
· Michael Jordan
· Tiger Woods
· Martina Navratilova
· John Elway
· Andre Agassi
· Joe Montana
· Mia Hamm
· Magic Johnson
· Lance Armstrong
· Michael Schumacher
In order to understand the components of peak performance, let's look at the most successful athletes of our time. What do the most successful world-class championship caliber athletes have in common? If you go beyond the obvious physical talent, skills, and conditioning, you would find that the most successful athletes have similar characteristics. What makes a peak performer in the sports world?
For most people, these names conjure up visions of greatness and images of tremendous effort and a strong will. Going beyond the surface, one can also think of these common traits:
· HIGH LEVELS OF SUCCESS
-The ability to achieve greatness beyond what was expected of them
· SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE
-The ability to reach a championship level time after time
· MAXIMIZATION OF TALENT
-The ability to get the most out of their talent
· WHOLE BIGGER THAN THE PARTS
-The ability to achieve beyond what others of a similar or greater talent can do
· MAXIMUM TIME "IN THE ZONE"
-The ability to make their effort seem easy for long periods of time
· FAST-FORWARDING SKILLS
-The ability to anticipate where the ball, their teammates and their opponents are going to be
Personality Traits of Peak Performing Athletes
The emotional make up of a winner
"My inspiration? I don't know. Pride. Wanting to win. Wanting to play better."--Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bull point guard, discussing his source of inspiration, following a crucial playoff victory in the face of instant elimination.
"Until you prove to them over an extended period of time, or until you prove to them in the playoffs or in a big situation a bunch of times, everyone is going to question what type of player you really are."
--Tony Romo, young NFL Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback
Achieving peak performance also requires certain personality characteristics as well. The athletes listed above also seem to possess high levels of:
· FOCUS
-Intense concentration
-Unwavering need to work on routine fundamentals
-Demanding of self
-Pushes self to great performance
-Willingness to isolate and/or work alone for long stretches
·CONFIDENCE
-Self-assurance
-Positive outlook
-Great belief in their ability to meet their goals
·PERSEVERANCE
-Failure is not an option
-The ability to persist through difficulties
-Acceptance of criticism and feedback
-Determination
· TENACITY
-A willingness to pay the price
-The toughness to endure pain, suffering, and hard work
-Fearlessness and effective managing of emotions
· CLEAR, UNWAVERING GOALS
-High standards and expectations
-Striving for perfection
-Driven to high levels of performance
-A consistent focus on the end result
-Challenges self continuously to stretch
· WILLINGNESS TO PRACTICE
-Committed to be the best through hard work and sacrifice
-The ability to spend the necessary amount of time mastering their craft
-Continuous improvement mentality
-Sponge for more information and data about performance
· ABILITY TO DEAL WITH ADVERSITY AND FAILURE
-Extreme strength and emotional resilience to tolerate pressure and bounce back from setbacks
-Willingness to explore and tolerate the unknown
-Looks ahead to the future and its possibilities
The Peak Performance Behavioral System
The Seven Steps to Peak Performance
The following is the Peak Performance Process that these individuals go through. It involves several important steps. The first of which is:1. VISION- Peak performers are inspired and motivated. Peak performers are engaged. They have a definite purpose and find meaning in what they do. For athletes, that may be winning the World Series, the Super Bowl, Wimbledon, etc. They have a specific mountain to climb. Their desire is clear. They have a vision of what they want, where they want to be and what they want to accomplish. They maintain their eye on that vision. In order to achieve peak performance you must develop the clearest of visions. This vision provides the big picture and maintains direction: the eye on the prize. All roads lead to that vision.
2. MINDSET - Peak performers maintain a focus by developing the proper emotional conditions. The mind-set involves developing the skills of internal dialogue, imagery, and mental preparation to manage emotions in such as way that stress and pressure have minimal impact and the individual is able to remain centered and focused.
3. FAST-FORWARDING - Great athletes, like Wayne Gretzky stay several steps ahead of real-time. They anticipate where the ball, their teammates, and their opposition are going to be. They know well ahead of everyone else.
4. GAME-PLAN - Peak performance requires meticulous step-by-step planning. Planning provides a specific and detailed road map to facilitate diligent and often extreme preparation and continuous rehearsal. Rigorous planning and heavy sessions of practice are essential to success. Peak performance is about getting the game-plan right.
5. REHEARSAL - In conjunction with the game-plan, peak performers rehearse and make their actions automatic. This is another way to ensure success. Rehearsal is the key to the ability to achieve and execute.
6. EXECUTION - Peak performers are good at following the game plan that has been developed and rehearsed to perfection. The game plan provides the guidance and the route to success.
7. REVIEW- Once a peak performer's plan has been executed, it is essential that the results are evaluated, that the process be analyzed, and the game-plan be scrutinized. Debriefing after every plan is executed is vitally important for learning and improvement. Reviewing in order to determine what adjustments need to be made will result in a better product and a better outcome.
Peak Performance Evaluation
Are you a peak performer?
Answer this checklist honestly to see how you stack up. The follow survey is an indicator of an individual's ability to be productive and sustain a high level of performance over time. Please rate yourself from 1-5 with 1 being low and 5 being high, regarding how descriptive you think the statement is:
- 1. I am confident in my abilities.
- 2. I have a clear vision of my short and long-term goals.
- 3. I anticipate and prevent problems, crises and emergencies from occurring in my personal, professional, and sporting life.
- 4. I plan and organize my activities effectively.
- 5. I follow-through on my plans without major disruptions, distractions, and modifications.
- 6. I carefully and meticulously practice when presented with opportunities to perform my duties and responsibilities.
- 7. I review and evaluate my activities after a major project or assignment is completed.
- 8. I maintain a positive mental mind-set.
- 9. I bounce back quickly from failures and setbacks.
- 10. I get the most out of my talents, abilities, and potential.
Scoring: A score of 46-50 is excellent and highly correlated with peak performer attributes. A score of 41-45 should result in frequent success in your professional life. A score of 36-40 suggests an adequate to good set of peak performance skills. A score of 30-35 suggest a bit of improvement is in order. Finally, any score under 30 suggests some need for basic peak perfomance skills building and consideration of installing a peak performance systems approach to provide some structure to your daily activities.
Peak Performance
Talent DNA Analysis: Understanding the Make-up of Winners
"In business or in football, it takes a lot of unspectacular preparation to produce spectacular results." - Roger Staubach, NFL Championship quarterback Dallas Cowboys, Heisman Trophy winner, US Naval Academy graduate, and successful businessman.We understand peak performance extremely well. We have studied it inside and out. We have not only observed and worked with world-class athletes, but we have worked closely with hundreds of executive, managers, and team leaders in the business world. Some have been very successful over time, while many have not. Some of these individuals were doomed from the start, while some were able to achieve some success. Many, at some point, were eventually overwhelmed by the magnitude, complexity, and frequency of the problems, issues, and situations that they faced on a regular basis. Others fell victim to a lack of planning, organization, foresight and anticipation required of them. Still others lacked the proper mindset, persistence, perseverance, tenacity, and competitiveness so important in achieving success.
However, the consistent, peak performing championship athlete (as well as the peak performer in business) has a particular set of characteristics, personality traits, and behavioral skills that set him or her apart from all the others. Let's take a closer look.
Zone Secrets
Achieving The Zone
" I feel like I have a tennis ball in my hands and I'm shooting it into the ocean."--LeBron James, talking after his 48-point, playoff explosion to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win Game 5 and take a 3-2 lead against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals of the 2007 NBA Playoffs.
On 5/31/07 Lebron James scored 48 points, a franchise playoff record, against the Detroit Pistons, in a double overtime victory in the 2007 NBA playoffs. The performance put his team one victory from reaching its first N.B.A. finals.
The zone James locked into that night looked effortless and was dazzling to players and observers alike.
"I'm not going to miss. Not everybody gets the opportunity to be in a zone like that. I just wanted to will my team to victory and do the best job possible," said James, who wears #23 in homage to Michael Jordan.
"It was very Jordanesque. That kid was on fire, it was crazy."
--Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons point guard.
"It's like an out-of-body experience, like you're watching yourself. You almost feel like you don't even see the defense. Every move you make, you feel, God that guy is slow. You're going by people. You don't even hear the regular noise you hear. It's muffled. You go to practice the next day and you say, 'God, why can't I do that every night?' Guys have wanted to bottle that feeling."
-- Joe Dumars, former All-Star Detroit Pistons guard and current Pistons executive, discuss the zone.
"No one has been able to define what it means, but everyone knows it exists. It's when everything - the physical, the mental, and the emotional - comes together. Everything seems to click."
-- Walt Thompson, professor of kinesiology and health at Georgia State University.
Athletes refer to the state of being in the zone when everything comes together, when one does great things, and when mind and body are able to stretch to the limit to accomplish greatness. This state involves total immersion and focus, such that distractions and "noise" are absent. Often, at times of peak performance, athletes find themselves "in the zone." For basketball players the basket seems bigger and wider. They can't miss. For baseball players, they report being able to see the baseball bigger, more clearly and in great detail. Football players describe a feeling of being invincible with the ability to run all day through their opponents without being touched. In the zone, your confidence is high, worry is non-existent.
The Atlanta Braves' Jeff Francoeur
The Battle for Discipline, Maturity and Patience as a Hitter
"Am I always going to be an aggressive hitter? Absolutely. But I can be a more disciplined aggressive hitter. I'm a better hitter than .260."I was determined to have a better year as far as my batting average. It's funny, I had a pretty good year last year. But I went up there with no approach. I did pretty good having no clue what I was doing. Watching guys like [Brian] McCann, Chipper [Jones] and [the Mets'] David Wright, I learned some things."
"Finishing at .260 drove me to work and figure out what I could to make me a .290 or .300 hitter. I'm not going to be a .340 hitter, but there's no reason I can't be a .290, .300 hitter every year."
--Jeff Francoeur, Atlanta Braves' outfielder, who had a .282 average in the minors and hit .300 as a Braves rookie in 2005.
"Discipline at the plate. It's something he talked about doing this year, but with him, I thought, 'Yeah, right.' I told him, 'Yeah, right, Frenchy.'"
"But he's come out and done it. He's getting pitches. Obviously he's a guy who can go out of the strike zone and hit some pitches, too. But he's going to be better in the strike zone. You just want to find something you can handle, instead of anything around the plate.
"He's done that this spring. He can be productive hitting .260 or .270 - he's that kind of guy. Of course, I'd like to see him at .280, .290, .300. And he might do that."
--Terry Pendleton, Braves' hitting coach
On April 10, Jeff Francoeur drove in five runs, leading the Atlanta Braves to an 8-0 victory that extended their record to begin the season at 6-1. He is currently hitting .320 and is leading the team in home runs and RBIs.
Excerpts from Atlanta Journal-Constitution 3/27/2007
"In The Zone"
Following the Streaks
Everyone knows the zone when they see it. It's when you are locked in. Can you bottle it? Here is the latest on who's in, who's out and why.
- A-Rod Finds the Zone: Six Homers in Seven Games
- What is going on with Alex Rodriquez of the New York Yankees? This 4/11/2007 article reports on his hot streak to begin the 2007 season.
- A-Rod and Yankees Having a Blast: Hot Streak Continues
- This April 20, 2007 NY Daily News article reports on the hot start of Alex Rodriguez as he hits another game-winning, walk-off home run.
- Alex Rodriguez Ties Major League Mark for Home Runs
- This article describes A-Rod's tying the home run mark with 14 home runs in 18 games at the beginning of the 2007 MLB season.
Pete Carril: The Man Behind the Georgetown Hoyas' Resurgence
David vs. Goliath: The Architect of the "Princeton" Offense
"Coaching is preparation.""The strength of my Princeton teams has always been attitude, intelligence and discipline."
"A guy who gives you less than what he has to give is, one, telling you what he thinks of you, and two, telling you what he thinks of himself."
"I don't recruit players who are nasty to their parents. I look for players who realize the world doesn't revolve around them." -- Pete Carril
"Once practice starts, we work hard, and that's the best conditioning there is. Everything counts. Every little thing counts. Run hard, play hard, go after the ball hard, guard hard. If you play soft (what I call signing a 'non-aggression pact' with your teammates), you won't ever get into shape." -- Pete Carril
In the 1989 NCAA tournament, the Princeton Tigers, a 16-th seed, nearly upset the Georgetown Hoyas, a #1 seed. This was the closest that a upset of that magnitude had ever occurred. Georgetown won 50-49, but Princeton gave hope to all the little guys and proved the genius of Pete Carill, the Princeton head coach.
In 1996, Princeton, as a 13th-seed, upset the UCLA Bruins, the defending national champion, 43-41, on a winning last second basket. That basket was highlighted by the famed "back-door play," used so often in the Princeton offense to get lay-ups and other easy baskets.
John Thompson III, current Georgetown head coach, played for Carril at Princeton, learning the offense as a point forward, and then as assistant coach for the Tigers. When he got to Georgetown as head coach, he installed a version of the offense, using stronger faster players.
People say 'The Princeton offense', and what pops into people's head are slow white guys that are gonna hold the ball for, you know, 35, 40 secods and then take a 3-pointer and get a layup. When I say 'The Princeton offense,' I just think of guys playing together, sharing the ball, talent baseketball, talent, unselfish players," says Thompson.
Thompson insists that it is not the Princeton offense, it's the Georgetown offense. But,
they are very similar.
"He's added a number of things of his own to make it even better," says Carill.
Carril left Princeton in 1996 with a career record of 525-273, including 514-261 in 29 years with the Tigers. Carril retired as the winngest coach in Ivy League history and was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Excerpts from Atlanta Journal Constitution 3/27/2007
Relaxing with Derek Jeter
Success by calming down
"I think that's where people get in trouble, when they start complicating things. It's really not that complicated. The more complicated you make it, the more difficult it is on you. You're playing a game where you fail more than you succeed. You've got to try to keep it as simple as possible."
-- Derek Jeter, New York Yankee shortstop discussing the essence of his ability to consistently perform at a peak level.
"Jeter is the most relaxed person that I've seen in the postseason. I would relate him to the way Ron Guidry approached it or Catfish Hunter or Mariano Rivera. There's a relaxed way to go about playing. At the same time, there's tension. You have to be mentally and physically alert. Jeter is always ready.
"The postseason is not just another game so you're not going to play it the same way. You're going to be nervous. There are going to be butterflies. But Jeter understands how to control the butterflies by getting them in the right formation. He does that very well."
"When you look across the room and you see #2 on your team, you know he's going to be ready. You know he's going to be calm. Everyone sees that and it makes them calm, too. The leader of all of this is Jeter. I put him on a high level as a postseason player."
--Famed major league baseball legend Reggie Jackson, talking about the calm approach New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter takes to the game of baseball.
"Derek is the same person every day. He just seems to be able to play the game every day and not really concern himself with what it looks like as much as what the results are. And he's very unique in that regard."
--New York Yankee manager Joe Torre, discussing Derek Jeter's approach to his high-level and consistent baseball performance.
In 2005, Derek Jeter hit .343 with 97 runs batted in and had a .417 on-base percentage. In 2006, he hit .381 with runners in scoring positions, had 14 home runs and, again, had 97 runs batted in.
"Everybody has always said that Jeter has all these intangibles and you can't measure him because he's got these other qualities that don't translate into numbers. But I thought this was the year (2006) you really could measure what he meant to the Yankees."
--Bob Klapisch, Hackensack, New Jersey columnist
-- Derek Jeter, New York Yankee shortstop discussing the essence of his ability to consistently perform at a peak level.
"Jeter is the most relaxed person that I've seen in the postseason. I would relate him to the way Ron Guidry approached it or Catfish Hunter or Mariano Rivera. There's a relaxed way to go about playing. At the same time, there's tension. You have to be mentally and physically alert. Jeter is always ready.
"The postseason is not just another game so you're not going to play it the same way. You're going to be nervous. There are going to be butterflies. But Jeter understands how to control the butterflies by getting them in the right formation. He does that very well."
"When you look across the room and you see #2 on your team, you know he's going to be ready. You know he's going to be calm. Everyone sees that and it makes them calm, too. The leader of all of this is Jeter. I put him on a high level as a postseason player."
--Famed major league baseball legend Reggie Jackson, talking about the calm approach New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter takes to the game of baseball.
"Derek is the same person every day. He just seems to be able to play the game every day and not really concern himself with what it looks like as much as what the results are. And he's very unique in that regard."
--New York Yankee manager Joe Torre, discussing Derek Jeter's approach to his high-level and consistent baseball performance.
In 2005, Derek Jeter hit .343 with 97 runs batted in and had a .417 on-base percentage. In 2006, he hit .381 with runners in scoring positions, had 14 home runs and, again, had 97 runs batted in.
"Everybody has always said that Jeter has all these intangibles and you can't measure him because he's got these other qualities that don't translate into numbers. But I thought this was the year (2006) you really could measure what he meant to the Yankees."
--Bob Klapisch, Hackensack, New Jersey columnist
Patience: Dealing with Pressure
"Be quick but never hurry." -- John Wooden
Following a dazzling opening kickoff return by Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears, Super Bowl winner and Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy said that his 2007 NFL Championship team maintained their "no panic" mode and extreme poise that they had shown all season through their ups and down season."No one was really shocked, no one was upset after the opening kick off. It was just seven points and we felt we could bet back in it," said Dungy.
"You have to go out there and make your mistakes on the field and learn from it. I'm fortunate they have been pretty patient with me early in my career, and gave me this opportunity."
--Dallas Clark, NFL tight end, Indianapolis Colts
"If you play angry, you lose what you're supposed to do. On defense, we just read our keys and play fast."
--Brian Urlacher, NFL middle linebacker, Chicago Bears
Justine Henin, Belgian tennis champion
Coolness Under Fire
"The difference is how you manage your nerve. No one sleeps well the day before a Grand Slam final. During these two weeks I have been able to accept that some things were not going my way. I have been able to turn situations by keeping calm."-- Justine Henin, Belgian tennis champion, analyzing her 2006 win in the French Open.
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints Quarterback
Belief and Faith in the Right Way of Doing Things
"You just keep doing things the right way and things are going to work. I think we all believed that. And it just started to come together."-- Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints quarterback discussing the Saints remarkable turnaround as a team in 2006.
Personal Effectiveness Checklist
Find out how you rate on Personal Effectiveness
PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS CHECKLISTPlease rate your behavior (from 5 to 1) on the following 10 dimensions:
5 -- Never
4 -- Not Much
3 -- Sometimes
2 -- A lot
1 -- Always
1. I seem to be rushing through things. (___)
2. I tend to alternate between working on two or more equally unpleasant tasks. (__)
3. I feel fatigued a great deal of the time. (__)
4. I experience more slack periods of non-productive activity than I can afford. (__)
5. I constantly miss deadlines. (__)
6. I find myself pushing back deadlines. (__)
7. I have insufficient time for rest or sleep. (__)
8. I have insufficient time for personal relationships. (__)
9. I feel overwhelmed by demands and/or details. (__)
10. I feel that I spend my time having to do what I don't want to do. (__)
SCORING:
45-50 High Score(MASTER LEVEL)
38-44 Above Average: Needs fine tuning, doing well but inconsistent
23-37 Moderate: Functional, consistently not reaching potential
16-22 Below Average: Marginal - needs considerable work
10-15 Danger Zone
Personal Effectiveness
Are you driven or are you driving?
"Don't mistake activity for achievement." -- John Wooden, former Hall of Fame UCLA basketball coachSymptom Analysis: Are You Driven Or Are You Driving?
Many so called "successful" people describe themselves as "driven". I have been in many meetings, conversations, discussions, and job interviews in which the employers describe their desire for hiring people or working with people who are driven. Driven people have the best of intentions when asked about their behaviors and actions. They may be very ambitious people, very career-minded, and results-oriented. They typically describe themselves as task-focused. They tend to focus on deadlines ("drop dead dates") and describe themselves as being able to work well under pressure. They tend to experience and can easily report a series of emergencies and crises, for which they are compelled to respond and react. Although they tend to like control and talk about control, their descriptions of their personal and work lives suggest a significant lack of control.
These driven individuals describe liking challenges, but tend have an inability to say "NO" or set reasonable limits on their time and commitments. They tend to see time as the enemy as "something that they do not have enough of."
Now, let us contrast the "driven" individual with the "driving" individual. The "driving" individual is more likely to achieve sustained peak performance and demonstrate personal effectiveness. Personal effectiveness is attained through a disciplined mental and physical approach. Personal effectiveness is about being productivity-focused rather than task-focused. Personal effectiveness is about control and predictability. Do you remember Wayne Gretzky and his ability to fast-forward? He was able to predict and anticipate. He kept several steps ahead of real time.
Personal effectiveness involves approaching time as a resource rather than an enemy, something to be "squeezed" or as a scarcity. Peak performers have a healthy and realistic respect for resources (including time), quality and excellence. They learn how to value time, not fight it.
Personal effectiveness also involves being results-focused with an emphasis on high-impact activities and high-impact outcomes. With this comes a big-picture, strategically focused mentality. Personal effectiveness is about taking the long view.
Mental Power
Imagery Skills Development
A few years ago on television, a close-up shot of former world motor racing champion Damon Hill showed him in his Formula 1 car as his head swayed from side to side. The most interesting thing about this shot was that Hill was sitting in a stationary car, waiting to exit the garage in an attempt to qualify for the race.There was a simple explanation for Damon Hill's behavior: like many other championship athletes, he was using his time leading up to a performance to mentally rehearse and (in his case no doubt) imagine steering the correct racing line through each corner.
To augment the hours and hours of time spent honing fundamental skills and developing peak physical readiness, world-class elite performers from all kinds of sports complete many practice throws, catches, swings, laps of the track, lengths of the pool or throws of the javelin in their minds before major competitions.
Training your mental skills can also make a better athlete and winner out of you.
We mention this to encourage more businesspeople and professionals to use and develop their imagery skills and to advise them on how to use these skills to maximum effect.
It is all too clear that creating, or recreating, an all-sensory experience can have profound effects on physical performance and psychological functioning. However, recent research evidence suggests that to achieve maximum benefits athletes and coaches should select the content of their images very carefully.
You'll find that once learned, imagery can be applied in many different ways to aid sports performers, and is one of the most regularly used tools of sport psychologists. It should be the tool of all executive coaches as well.
What performance psychology has to teach us about imagery
Scientific research strongly supports the use of imagery in sports and business as an adjunct to physical practice. However, skeptics who need convincing may wish to consider the following three pieces of evidence:
· Elite athletes and coaches use imagery regularly. Do you really think world-class performers would devote time to a technique that didn't aid their performances?
· Case studies of the use of imagery programs tailored to individual needs have demonstrated some dramatic performance improvements.
· Most importantly, a number of controlled scientific studies have shown that imagery can significantly benefit the learning and performance of a variety of sports skills.
More On Visualization
Read What Championship Caliber Athletes Say About Visualization
"Considering the stage, this was the best game I've played. It's something you visualize before the game. I saw myself making shots and those shots went in in the second half."--Derrick Byars, 2006-2007 SEC Player of the Year from Vanderbilt University, who scored 27 points and made five 3-point shots to lead his team to an NCAA basketball tournament double overtime upset of 3rd-seeded Washington State.
The Epitome of Mental Focus
San Francisco Giant, Barry Bonds
"There is nothing that's going to help you hit the baseball better, other than probably glasses. This is far more complex than people want to admit. Nobody wants to look into the hard work, the perseverance, the sacrifices and also the planning both these hitters have made in order to get to this. What Aaron did to get to his moment, what Barry has done to get to his moment."--Al Downing, retired, former all-star pitcher for the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers who served up Hank Aaron's 715th home run, discussing the difficult of hitting a baseball, the magnitude of the feats of Aaron and Barry Bonds, and the perceived competitive advantage of steroids.
With all that is going on around Barry Bonds (much or most of it his own doing): the chase of Henry Aaron's career home run record, alleged steroid use, a criminal investigation, fans' boos around the league, etc., he continues to have a supreme ability to focus. Along with a perfect home run swing and great eyesight, Bonds continues to maintain a concentration unlike anyone else in baseball.
When asked what he hears when he steps up to the plate, Bonds says, "Blank."
He just hits.
More on Focus
The Professionalism of Eliminating Distractions
"I'm a professional when I step on the field. I put all distractions, or what people call distractions or whatever they want to call it, behind."--Gary Sheffield, veteran Detroit Tigers' slugging outfielder, who hit a grand-slam home run the day after making some controversial and critical comments to the media about racism in baseball.2007 rookie Shelley Duncan, of the New York Yankees, is the son of the St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan and the brother of Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan. As a child, he tagged along with his father's teams and became close with the slugger Mark McGwire, spending a week with McGwire in California in October 2007.
"It was funny, I went out there thinking we were going to hit," Duncan said of his visit with McGwire. "It wasn't really. It was all mental stuff. That's how he's always been his whole career. He was so strong mentally, and that's what made him such a great hitter.
"I've talked to a lot of successful people around the game, and that's what they all have in common: they stay focused every single day."
Mark Newman, the Yankees' senior vice president for player personnel, said Duncan had improved by getting smarter as a hitter.
Shelley Duncan's first major league homer in his second game in the major leagues led the Yankees past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-3. The Yankee Stadium crowd roared as Duncan rounded the bases.
Duncan called up from the minor-league Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team on Friday picked up his first big league hit and RBI in Friday night's (7/20/07) game.
"Most guys that come up here -- really, all these guys -- have the ability to pitch up here. But it's the mental side that is going to make you successful and keep you here."
--Scott Proctor, New York Yankees relief pitcher. Proctor
excerpts from New York Times
Home Run #756
Accomplishment Acknowledged, Judgement Deferred
"I would like to offer my congratulations to Barry Bonds on becoming baseball's career home run leader. It is a great accomplishment which requires skill, longevity and determination. Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement. My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams."--Henry Aaron's statement of congratulations in a video message after Barry Bonds broke his major league baseball record for career home runs on August 7, 2007. Bonds hit his 756th home run.
"Flow": Getting in the Zone
The In the Zone Primer
"Everything went perfectly. The tactics, the training, everything. The team was the best one here." -Lance Armstrong, Tour de France, 2004Flow is the term coined by University of Chicago Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (1990) to refer to this psychological dimension described by thousands of individuals during his 25 years of researching this universal phenomenon. In sports, athletes often refer to this state as the "zone". Eastern philosophers experience similar meditative states when practicing Zen Buddhism.
During flow, consciousness becomes harmoniously ordered. According to Daniel Goleman (1995), author of Emotional Intelligence, the ability to enter a state of flow represents emotional intelligence at its best, because it is incompatible with emotional discord or strain. Flow is considered an autotelic, or intrinsically rewarding experience. Since it feels so good, this optimal experience becomes not just a means, but an end in itself.
Prescription For Flow
People attain a state of flow and perform at their best when they are engaged in a task where the challenge is slightly above their ability. Too much challenge will produce anxiety, overload the psyche, and sabotage any chance of having a peak experience. On the other hand, too little challenge will inevitably lead to boredom. Flow occurs in the narrow zone between these two opposites.
James' 48 points - a franchise playoff record - put his team one victory from reaching its first N.B.A. finals. Game 6 is in Cleveland Saturday, where the Cavaliers have not lost in this series.
The zone James locked into this night was as effortless for him as it was dazzling to observers. What, exactly, did it feel like?
"I'm not going to miss," James said with a weary smile, walking out of the interview room 20 minutes after the buzzer sounded. "Not everybody gets the opportunity to be in a zone like that. I just wanted to will my team to victory and do the best job possible." There was no denying this night was another step toward a coronation for James, the player dubbed the Chosen One and King James when he starred in high school in Akron, Ohio. James wears 23 in obvious homage to Michael Jordan and on this night the comparisons - from the performance, to the team he beat were inevitable.
James' 48 points - a franchise playoff record - put his team one victory from reaching its first N.B.A. finals. Game 6 is in Cleveland Saturday, where the Cavaliers have not lost in this series.
A tribute to The Doctor: Julius Erving
Dr. J set to music
Watch him swoop and glide to the music of Whitney Houston
Old School
When sport was still sport
Here are some links to the peak performers of old.
- Johnny Unitas: The One and Only
- "It's an honor to wear the same uniform. The fact that my number is one below his, and the fact that I wear the same horseshoe helmet, inspires me. He was the ultimate field general. He called his own plays and was in complete control out there. Aggressive. Fearless.
In looking at highlight film, I could see what a technician he was. He cared about the smallest details. It's the little things that make the big differences. The true timing in the passing game, that came from him too, from the after practice and off-season work he did with Raymond Berry."
--Peyton Manning, NFL Indianapolis Colts quarterback, discussing his thoughts about John Unitas, NFL Hall of Fame quarterterback who died in 2002
Here is an article by the famed sports journalist Frank Deford about the famed quarterback of the Baltimore Colts: John Unitas. - Interview: Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics
- This recent ESPN.com interview with Bill Russell lets you know what is inside the man, what he thinks about his achievements and what he sees now.
January 17th--Happy Birthday to Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
The Finest Boxer of All Time
See for yourself! See what made Muhammad Ali the greatest.
curated content from YouTube
Daily Review Worksheet
Learning to anticipate by reviewing
DAILY REVIEW SHEET1. What were my top objectives for today?
2. What did I accomplish today?
3. What did I anticipate well today?
4. What did I fail to anticipate?
5. What did I learn today?
Most important learning:
As a result, what changes have taken place in my mind-set, knowledge, game plan, and execution skills?
6. What additional assistance do I need to succeed?
Knowledge/Information:
Feedback:
Support:
Resources:
Keys to Peak Performance
Personal Effectiveness
"Textbook boring basketball. That's what gets you the victories in this league."
--Bruce Bowen, fierce NBA San Antonio Spurs defensive stalwart, discussing the key to winning: sharing the ball and playing physical defense against more flashy opponents.
"This is the NFL. People see guys out there playing and they see us having fun and dancing in the game, but they don't realize how much professionalism it takes to come into the league. I try to emphasize this to my family. They don't realize. I come in and work. You go to work from 9 to 5, or 7 to 3. I come to work from 7 to 6. I got an hour lunch break before I go back to work. So, it's the same exact thing. I wish more people knew about it that way."
-- Leon Washington, rookie professional NFL running back and fourth round draft choice in 2006 from Florida State, discussing his life in professional football
--Bruce Bowen, fierce NBA San Antonio Spurs defensive stalwart, discussing the key to winning: sharing the ball and playing physical defense against more flashy opponents.
"This is the NFL. People see guys out there playing and they see us having fun and dancing in the game, but they don't realize how much professionalism it takes to come into the league. I try to emphasize this to my family. They don't realize. I come in and work. You go to work from 9 to 5, or 7 to 3. I come to work from 7 to 6. I got an hour lunch break before I go back to work. So, it's the same exact thing. I wish more people knew about it that way."
-- Leon Washington, rookie professional NFL running back and fourth round draft choice in 2006 from Florida State, discussing his life in professional football
- In order to maximize personal and achieve peak performance, one must focus on several key elements. First is an understanding of individual values (not only what is most important in your life and what your behavior suggests is important). In other words, these values include our aspirational values as well as our day-to-day values. Aspirational values are what we believe to be most important, while our day-to-day values are the values we actually have, based on what we actually do (as indicated by our behavior and actions). Our actions tell us more about our values that what we say are our values.
Personal effectiveness also involves the identification of personal goals and the realistic prioritization of those goals. In many organizations or with many an individual, confusion is created by situations in which everything is considered "mission critical". Personal effectiveness is possible only when goals are properly prioritized and low-impact, low-importance activities are eliminated or postponed.
Personal effectiveness also involves the commitment to what we call scheduling and planning follow-up. It is what many people call the process of "planning your work and working your plan". Personal effectiveness is achieved when one learns the ability to consistently follow through and execute a plan on time and in the prescribed sequence.
Finally, personal effectiveness involves the ability to achieve consistent and timely decision-making in accordance to your aspirational value system.
Extreme Motivation and Resilience
Roger Federer: Looking at Next Year
"Obviously, if I would have won today -- again, same thing happened last year -- I would have had not many other goals to chase in my career. Like this, it stays open. And, eventually, if I get it, the sweeter it's going to taste."--Roger Federer, current tennis great, talking after his loss in the 2007 French Open, about his motivation and goal-orientation.
"Basically, this game's a roller coaster, and you've just got to ride them out -- weather the storms."
--Ken Griffey, Jr., Cincinnati Reds All-Star outfield, discussing his philosophy and mindset about baseball as he reaches for the 600 home-run plateau.
Serena Williams: 2007 Australian Women's Tennis Open Champion
Confidence: The Fuel for A Championship Comeback
"I think what makes a real champion is someone that can fall and dust themselves off and get up."--Serena Williams, two-time winner of the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, who dropped to a ranking of 139th in the world in 2006, but is currently ranked in the top ten in 2007."I've always been mentally strong. I think probably mentally stronger than a lot of players on the Tour. I think for me tennis has always been 80 percent mental. Like I always say, I've believed in myself more than anyone. Even though it was hard, I really believed in me and in my game. No matter what, if I'm playing right, it's hard for anyone to beat me on the women's Tour."
--Serena Williams, women's tennis player, talking about her mental toughness, prior to beating top-seeded Maria Sharapova in the 2007 Australian Open.
Prior to the 2007 Wimbledon championships, Serena said: "I'm still, I think, the best player out here when I'm playing well. It's not even a belief. It's more of a fact."
Tenacity
Never Give Up
"You tell everyone or anyone that has ever doubted, thought they did not measure up or wanted to quit, you tell them to look up, get up and don't ever give up."--Michael Irvin, recently inducted NFL Hall of Fame wide-receiver (2007) and former Dallas Cowboy.
Confidence
How Important Is It?
Confidence: The Power of Framing & Optimism"Confidence isn't optimism or pessimism and it's not a character attribute. It's the expectation of a positive outcome. It is essential" - Rosabeth Moss Kanter, author of the book, Confidence.
Framing and optimism are everything, as Andre Agassi demonstrates in this great quote from a panel (with Lance Armstrong) at the Milken conference in April 2006:
After wrist surgery, Agassi was ranked number 141 in the world in 1998. As Agassi said, he tried to look on the bright side, "only 140 people in the world could beat me."
A lack of confidence effects capability and reduces all-round ability. When confidence is high, real breakthroughs are possible.
It's possible to affect and, thus, manufacture confidence. Indeed it is a vital process to avoid the kind of expectation trap described below.
According to psychologist Albert Bandura, performers' situational-specific confidence, or 'self-efficacy', is based on four primary sources of information.
The first and most important factor is past performance accomplishments. What we have achieved in training and competition forms the basis of future expectations of success or failure. Repeated success naturally leads to positive expectations of further success, higher motivation and enhanced self-belief.
Unfortunately, the drawback of this principle is that failure can give rise to a downward performance spiral and a 'snowball effect' whereby a performer starts to believe that success is unattainable.
Of course, such an athlete does not mysteriously lose his or her physical skills and talents, but without confidence in these abilities high-level performance is rarely achieved. This is the 'expectation trap', which has put many a gifted athlete into permanent decline.
In research, confidence has been shown to consistently distinguish between highly successful and less successful athletes. Although many people mistakenly assume that confidence reflects performance - i.e. we become confident once we have performed consistently well - it is becoming increasingly evident that confidence can be established, or 'manufactured' beforehand.
As the story of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile demonstrates, we are often capable of far more than we do, but we restrict ourselves by our beliefs and expectations.
Opportunity to Bounce Back
Learning from and Dealing with Adversity, Failure and Criticism
"I let it affect me because I had never dealt with adversity before. We went 25-3 in college. We never hit a real road bump. Everything was easy. Everything was fun. You get to the point where you expect everything to be like that. Then when I got to Detroit, everybody was criticizing, guys weren't getting along. I had never been through that before. I didn't know how to deal with it. I've been publicly called out by my teammates and fans. But I've grown because of it. I've had to learn things besides the playbook."--Joey Harrington, discussing his lack of experience in dealing with adversity. Harrington, former #1 draft choice who was considered a failure at quarterback with the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins, has a fresh start as a starter with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007.
Continuous Improvement
Striving for the Perfect Game
"I've never been around anybody like him. He wants to be perfect, and that's what you want from your quarterback, a fiery person and somebody who strives to be perfect. I think he feels accountable to his teammates. He wants to prepare as much as he can so when he goes out there and the game is over, he has no regrets."--Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Brandon Stokley, discussing the preparation and mindset of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning
"When you look at top sports figures, like the Wayne Gretzys of the world, they're people who aspire to be known for a strong work ethic. Their commitment is to being the best they can be, not necessarily to being the best in the world."
--Reg Neufeld, who runs a training center in Chilliwack, British Columbia, that counsels individuals and corporate clients on personal and professional development.
"Everything can always be better. This game is fluid. It's always changing, it's always evolving. I could always hit the ball better, chip better, putt better, think better. You can get better tomorrow than you are today."
--Tiger Woods, after winning the 2006 Deutsche Bank Championship, to give him his fifth straight PGA Tour victory in five starts.
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The Perseverance and Resilience of Tony Dungy and the Indianapolis Colts
How to Keep Going and Going and Going
"He's the greatest role model for our players."--Bill Polian, Indianapolis Colts president, discussing the importance of Tony Dungy to the success of the team.
"The message of this team is about perseverance. You are going to be disappointed at times. You're not going to win every game. Every season is not going to end up the way you'd like it. But the real test of a man and the test of a champion is, can you continue to fight when things don't go your way? And that's what we've had."
Tony Dungy, head coach of the NFL Champion Colts, who needed five years to deliver the championship to Indianapolis that everyone thought was just around the corner when he teamed up with Peyton Manning and the rest of the Colts in 2002.
One Day at a Time
Measuring Progress
"Thirteen games ago, we didn't say we needed to win 13 in a row to get back into this thing. We're just trying to get better as a basketball team, so when the playoffs start, we feel we can win games night in and night out.""It would mean more if we won 14, and if we win 14, then 15. You just want to win the next one. That's what it's about."
--San Antonio Spur Tim Duncan, discussing the importance and meaning of the Spurs 13-game win streak while preparing for the 2007 NBA playoffs.
Focus: Intensity, Tenacity, Will and Resilience
What do peak performers have to say about their focus?
"Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to."--Tiki Barber, New York Giants running back and career team rushing leader, discussing his philosophy as a rookie in 1997.
"The true challenge is to bounce back."
--Randy Johnson, Cy Young Award-winning major league baseball pitcher.
"The best quality about the young man-- Philip Rivers never thinks about the last play. When the previous play's over, it doesn't matter to him."
--San Diego Charger head coach Marty Schottenheimer, talking about the resilience and maturity of his quarterback, Phillip Rivers.
"Coach had been speaking to us the last couple of weeks about how you act when adverse things happen to you. We had something adverse happen and we bounced back as a unit. That's what it's all about, being able to bounce back, because everything isn't always going to go perfectly."
--Laveranues Coles, NFL New York Jets wide receiver.
"Sometimes, you enjoy your struggles as much as you do your M.V.P. season. I love that fight and the struggles and even getting booed sometimes. The fight of persevering and being resilient is as enjoyable as hitting three home runs." --
Alex Rodriguez, 2005 American League MVP, New York Yankee third baseman.
"Everybody goes about their business a certain way. It's the nature of the playoffs. It creates a lot of tension. It's like blowing up a balloon. You blow it up, you blow it up, you blow it up. You just don't want it to pop. That's what you don't want. You want to raise the intensity and the least attention; that's what you need to do."
-- Pat Riley, 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat head coach, discussing self-control and the pressures and distractions of the playoffs
"It's instinct. You don't think about it, when you're jumping into the stands, that it might hurt. All you think about is, 'I've got to try to make this play.' Sometimes I'll see somebody else do it, and I'll think, 'What's that guy doing?' But when it's you and you've got that adrenaline going, it's just instinct."
-- David Wright, New York Mets baseball player
"He never loses his focus. He never loses his energy, he never gets down on his teammates. That's why we love him; that's why I love having him on our team."
-- Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi, talking about Marlins star pitcher Dontrelle Willis
Consistency
The Foundation of Professional Respect
"I've realized you don't have to be the fastest, the strongest or the smartest. But the more you're consistent, the more your teammates and the coaches in the league respect you."--Reggie Wayne, wide-receiver, NFL Indianapolis Colts, discussing his improvement as the counterpart of future Hall of Fame receiver, Marvin Harrison.
The Tenacity of Jeff Garcia, Philadelphia Eagles QB
His victory over tragedy
"He is the toughest guy I have ever been around, pound for pound." -- John Ralston, who coached Jeff Garcia in his senior season at San Jose State UniversityJeff Garcia, the back-up quarterback of the 2007 National Football League Philadelphia Eagles, has surprisingly led his team to the playoffs. Following the season-ending injury to All-Star starting quarterback, Donovan McNabb, most Eagle fans gave up hope and gave the team little chance to make the playoffs.
Perhaps they didn't know about what Jeff Garcia could do or what he had been through. Starting with the death of one of his siblings when he was seven and then another when was eight years old, Garcia has learned to deal with adversity much greater than anything he has experienced in sports.
Therefore, it has mattered little that he was an unheralded and unwanted athlete coming out of high school. Rather than attend a large school, he went to San Jose State. Following his college career, he went undrafted by the NFL and ended up in the Canadian Football League for five seasons. After winning the Grey Cup as CFL Champion, he joined the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL. Following three Pro Bowl seasons with the 49ers, the team discarded him. He ended up in successive seasons with the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions. He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006 with the expectation of backing up Donovan McNabb.
Through his tenacity, in the 2006 season, Garcia led the Eagles to five straight victories, resulting in a NFL Eastern Division championship, a spot in the playoffs, and a valuable first round home playoff game. A potentially lost season has been resurrected. How far can he take them?
"I think I'm very conscientious of how precious life is and how quickly life can be taken away from you, especially at times when it can be least expected. To experience that personally with family tragedies, it's one of those things where I really value where I am today and everything I have been able to achieve," Garcia says.
On January 7, 2007, the Philadelphia Eagles won their first round playoff game against hated rival, the New York Giants. Another victory over tragedy. However, the journey for glory stopped this year for the Eagles when they were beaten in the second round by the New Orleans Saints.
Winners
What Do You Look For? What Do You Need?
At the end of the day, Peak Performance is about winning, consistently and under pressure. Read what has been said about the best players, the Peak Performers.
- "He focused hard. He was more business than flash. I also think he didn't want to look back on his career and have any regrets."-- Pete Sampras, talking about Andre Agassi, long-time professional tennis great.
- "He wants to be thought of in a context of the best of the best of the best. Nothing wrong with that. He says it's about legacy. He's really interested when it's all said and done for him, where he's put."-- Pat Riley, Miami Heat head coach, four-time NBA championship coach, talking about Shaquille O'Neal's motivation for another NBA ring.
- "It's impressive how Ronaldinho can combine both technique and speed. It's only possible because he has a privileged mind. He's such a quick thinker. He know what he's going to do before the ball gets to him....He's a show on his own."-- Diego Maradona, 1986 & 1970 World Cup winner talking about Ronaldinho, currently considered the world's best soccer player.
- "He's different than so many other players in this league. There's nobody on his level that gets his teammates inovlved the way he does. He sees the plays coming before they even happen. I don't think any other player sees that . That's just instinct, that's God-given talent.-- Tayshaun Prince, NBA player talking about Cleveland Cavalier star LeBron James.
- "Every player competes at a certain level, but there are special players who really are able to intuitively understand situations that help win games, whether it's a steal, an offense board at the appropriate time, having the fortitude to shoot the 3 when maybe it's not exactly called for. Those types of things, great basketball players understand. Manu's one of those guys who's been in a lot of situations. He knows what wins."
-- Gregg Popovich, NBA coach of the San Antonio Spurs talking about his player Manu Ginobili, Gold medal Olympian and NBA champion. - "History does not remember beautiful football as much as it remembers champions."--Brazilian World Cup team head coach Alberto Parreira, discussing his concern with World Cup favorite Brazil's performance that displayed tremendous skill and fluidity in spots, but did not show championship form.
- "He wants to win major championships. We just keep plugging along. People just keep doubting him and doubting me as a coach, and we just keep working on our plan."--Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' swing coach.
- "I don't know if I ever met a player that was a better leader, that people could follow. To get people to follow you, that's the thing I saw most about him."--Chuck Daly, former Detroit Pistons coach, talking about the leadership qualities of Isiah Thomas, the point guard who led Indiana Univeristy to an NCAA basketball championship in 1981 and the Detroit Pistons to NBA titles in 1989 and 1990.
- "I don't know what it would be like, but I wouldn't change. Now don't get me wrong. I do understand it's a game of numbers and people are going to pay attention to your numbers, say you did this or did that. I would love to hit .400. That would be a lot better than .200. You take pride in how you play. But that shouldn't be your main focus. Your main focus should be whether you win or lose." -- Derek Jeter, New York Yankee shortshop, discussing his attitude about winning and success.
Athletic Arrogance
Is it real and what is it?
Jim Mora, the former Atlanta Falcons head football coach, has used the term athletic arrogance to describe a trait in Michael Vick, the highly gifted but suspended, recently convicted, and currently incarcerated former Falcon quarterback. The term was originally coined by Mora's former San Francisco 49ers boss, George Seifert. The term refers to the tendency of athletically gifted players to resist coaching and advice about technique and structure to their play. Mora suggested that Vick had a bit of athletic arrogance. Mora reported that Vick had not taken well in the past to being coached and preferred to let his athletic skills take over in tough situations.Vick seemed to be maturing some and there has been some significant improvement in his footwork and his preparation for the 2008 season, guided by Bill Musgraves, his quarterback coach.
However, as training camp opened for the 2007 season, Vick was arrested for dogfighting and suspended by the NFL. He was later convicted and sentenced to 18 months on jail. Perhaps athletic arrogance is just plain old arrogance.
Intelligence
Mental "horsepower" and peak performance
What does being smart have to do with "Peak Performance"?
- The Wonderlic
- How the NFL uses intelligence tests.
- How would you score on the Wonderlic?
- The NFL and the Wonderlic part two.
- NFL Draft Quarterback Wonderlic Scores
- What did the past NFL Quarterback draftees score on the Wonderlic?
- Wonderlic Press Release
- See what Wonderlic, Inc. says about their employee intelligence test.
Quotes on Performance
Pearls of Wisdom
Things I wish I had said, but I have to always remember:
- "Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true." - Honore de Balzac
- "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Texas football coach Darrel Royal
- "If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." - Author Unknown
- "Ninety percent of the game is half mental." - Yogi Berra, great New York Yankee catcher
- "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Jim Lefebvre, former major league player and manager
- "You can't outperfom your self-image." - Dennis Connor
- "Be quick but never hurry." - John Wooden, great UCLA basketball coach
- "The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field." - Vince Lombardi, champion Green Bay Packer football coach
- "All I want out of life is that when I walk down the street folks will say, 'There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived'." - Ted Williams, Hall of Fame Boston Red Sox baseball slugger
- "A bad attitude is worse than a bad swing." - Payne Stewart, famous PGA golfer
Installing Your Peak Performance Behavioral System
Successful Installation
"It is possible to fail in many ways...while to succeed is possible only in one way." -- Aristotle, philosopher and scientistAchieving peak performance involves developing a system and a structure that puts you in a position to succeed. Installing a peak performance system requires several key steps.
RECOGNITION - First, it requires that you recognize that not only does peak performance require a system and a structure; but, also that you cannot expect to achieve peak performance without it.
OWNERSHIP - Secondly, it requires ownership. That is that, ultimately, your performance must be yours and yours alone. You cannot assume or expect that others are responsible for your performance.
INSTALLATION - In order to achieve peak performance, you must know how to install the system. You must have all the components, and steps in place. You cannot skimp or skip your way to peak performance.
COMMITMENT - Additionally, you must have a strong and unwavering commitment to peak performance and to the specifics of your program. You must have a commitment to the "what", the "when", and the "how" you will install your system.
ACCOUNTABILITY - Accountability is another key factor on peak performance. Obviously, you are personally accountable for your results. However, it is vitally important that you also develop a broader system of accountability. In other words, peak performance requires that you will report back to someone about your progress and results. Peak performance requires support. Identifying someone who can provide support and a source of accountability can be very helpful.
AWARENESS - Achieving peak performance also requires that you have a firm grasp of the barriers to your success. You must be able to identify the stoppers and blockers that could get in your way. These barriers can take many forms and come from a variety of sources. Stoppers can come from within yourself and can come from others outside yourself. Barriers can be people, processes, institutions or attitudes. Anything that can directly or indirectly sabotage you in getting results can be considered a barrier. You must be aware of your barriers and have a plan for addressing your particular barriers.
CONTRACT - Finally, in order to achieve peak performance you must have a contract. You must have a final "checkpoint" on your commitment. You must formalize your understanding of the importance of achieving peak performance for yourself and anyone else who has a stake.
Athens 2004 Olympics
The Challenge of Team Peak Performance
The recent Olympics in Athens, Greece, provided all of us who watched or participated with a wide range of perspectives, emotions, and insights. The fact that the terrorist threats did not materialize and that the Games went smoothly and relatively safely is something for which all of us including the athletes, coaches, volunteers, spectators and the nation of Greece can be thankful.Beyond the security issue, the Olympics also gave everyone a chance to reflect on the heroics and performances of the Olympic athletes. What can we learn from these successful athletes and teams? The glare of the world spotlight was intense and the pressure to compete and win enormous. The difference between a Gold medal, any medal, and athletic oblivion could often be measured in thousandths of a second, an inch or a point. Athletes who trained for Olympic glory spent years in preparation for mastery of their sport and success in their event.
Our businesses and organizations, though often not in the same spotlight, are subject to similar financial and performance pressures. Success is sports or business cannot always be predicted, but the possibility of peak performance can be maximized. Several factors can be identified as crucial to business success as well as athletic success. Our businesses and organizations must rely on the ability of our management and employees to achieve the most from the talent available. In order to be successful, each individual in each and every organization must display a commitment and determination just to be in the position to win. All employees must understand that failure is not an option. The goals must be clear and unwavering and they must be have a strong will to master and hone their craft. These characteristics merely put one in the position to achieve success, but do not guarantee it.
When we move from individual to team performance, the equation becomes more complex. As we clearly saw in Athens, successful teams are those that 1) have a meaningful purpose, 2) have a clear sense of their challenge and their future, 3) have a passion for what they do, and 4) identify an imaginable challenge that translates into an inspirational dream and a determined focus. Most importantly, each successful team had sense of togetherness and camaraderie that went well beyond any of the competition. This sense of belongingness was often epitomized in one or two strong personalities around which that the team could rally.
Peak Performance Organizations
World Championship Inspiration
"It's just a very, very unique place. When you're away from it some time you don't realize it. But it certainly hit me at Troy's (Aikman, former Dallas Cowboy quarterback) Hall of Fame induction ceremony --the Cowboys fans, all the people wearing Troy's jersey, just the excitement and energy that's always there with this organization."Norv Turner, former Dallas Cowboy offensive coordinator and top candidate for the head coaching job vacated by Bill Parcells, talking about the Dallas Cowboy organization, during his interview for the head coaching job at Cowboy headquarters.
"It's a very hard, unforgiving business. You've got to be on your toes, and you've got to be flexible, and all that does is give you a chance."
Bob Kraft, Owner, New England Patriots
Inspiros Worldwide researched the most successful sports franchises to discover their secrets. They found that all of these franchises had similar things in common. Is it possible to capture success in a bottle? Inspiros Worldwide's research says yes. Winning organizations such as the New York Yankees, the Chicago Bulls, the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, the US Women's World Cup Soccer team, the Williams Formula One racing team, and the Atlanta Braves were identified as sports teams that have been able to consistently sustain their success and competitiveness for a long period of time. All of these teams have common characteristics that Inspiros Worldwide has put together as a model called Peak Performance Organization Theory. This theory provides a framework that any organization, business, or team can utilize. This sustained state of excellence is based on building an organization committed to peak performance.
Below is a listing and description of those key charactistics.
Defining the Mission and the Vision
Day One Essentials
"The commitment I have to the team is what keeps me going."--Curtis Martin, retired former New York Jet and New England Patriot NFL running back, and the fourth leading career rusher in NFL history.
"From day one we've talked about putting UNLV back on the map. There will be some doubters. Some people will say we were lucky, but we don't really care. We're going to the Sweet 16 and nobody can argue with that."
--Kevin Kruger, UNLV basketball player and son of head coach Lon Kruger, after hitting 4 3-point baskets, discussing his excitement about the 2007 NCAA tournament and the mission of the team. His hot shooting helped the team to upset the higher-seeded Wisconsin Badgers.
Designing the Peak Performance Organization
Selecting Right and Coaching Well
"We want people with good football temperament. We want people who have a great work ethic. We want people that are dedicated to team goals. We want folks who can conduct themselves as professionals. We have a program whereby we try to identify the guys that fit best for us. That's ultimately where Tony (Dungy) and I become involved. We've been fortunate.""Norm Pollum, who was a mentor of mine in Buffalo (where they went to four Super Bowls in the 1990s), had a great saying, 'There are only two things that count, finding good players and coaching them well'."
--Bill Polian, President, NFL Indianapolis Colts, discussing his thoughts about building a winner, prior to the 2007 Super Bowl.
"He's not afraid to use the people around him, is highly intelligent and does not have to motivate through fear."
--Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach discussing the leadership style of head coach Tony Dungy.
Inspiration & Employee Engagement
The fuel for Peak Performing Organizations
"You're going to fail. You'll be taken advantage of, be disappointed by people you trust, disappoint yourself, run out of resources - almost every day you're going to encounter a good, solid, logical reason why you ought to give up. Without passion, you just might." -- Zig Ziglar.Full engagement is about having a vision and purpose that goes beyond the immediate and the short-lived. It is about being inspired to perform and contribute. It is about being mentally focused and prepared (head), emotionally involved (heart) and physically capable and energized (hands) to perform at the highest level.
According to the Gallup Organization, only approximately 25 percent of American workers are described as being fully engaged at work. Only one- quarter is enthusiastic and put themselves into their work. Fifty percent describe themselves as "not engaged", while another 25 percent, consider themselves to be "actively disengaged". Simply put, one-quarter of the workforce is "totally turned off by their jobs". They are unhappy at work and regularly share those feelings with colleagues. A staggering fifty percent of the workforce describes doing "just enough to get by." They show up, do what is expected, but they don't typically go the extra mile. Their creative juices are not flowing. So, they are not inspired to create or sell great products or services. Most of them experienced a "disconnect with their immediate supervisor" and feel that the organization does not care about them. If those figures are accurate, imagine the lost productivity and the effects on profitability on businesses in the US.
Now, imagine an organization full of people who come to work enthusiastically, knowing that they will grow and flourish, and are intent on fulfilling an organizational vision. Imagine an organization in which there is an ease, grace, and effortlessness about the way things get done. Imagine work that flows seamlessly among teams, departments and functions. Think of an organization in which people take pleasure and pride in every aspect of the business. What if communication was open and honest? What if people felt respected for their opinions and input? What if people felt influential and that their actions mattered? What if those fifty per-centers wanted to go above and beyond? What if they really wanted to be an integral part of the company's success? What if organizations, business and the people in them could get in the zone consistently?
Icons
Inspirational Players, Coaches and Symbols of Excellence
"Pat's why we're all here. And this is why we all came here. People said we had guys who were cancers and all that, talking about myself and some of these other guys. And you all were wrong. We were 15 strong from the first day until now."--Antoine Walker, Miami Heat player talking about his head coach, Pat Riley.
"After 18 years and after chasing you keep chasing it. You keep chasing it, you get tired. This gives me a sense of absolute freedom from having to chase it, desperately chase it."
--Pat Riley, Miami Heat head coach, discussing his fifth NBA championship and his relentless drive to win and succeed.
Peak Performance Theory suggests that all peak performing organizations have inspirational players or coach who symbolize their vision and communicate commitment. Often, their success is promoted by an icon who is seen as a leader or role model. Success is viewed through the lens of a hero. Insprational players are able to establish an organization's reason for being, their purpose. Examples include: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Michael Jordan.
The Dream
Without the dream, the path is irrelevant
"I was just a kid who grew up loving football and wanting to play real bad, who saw a movie about Crazy Legs Hirsch and got a vision in his mind about being a professional football player, who happened to end up in Baltimore in the time of Unitas. This is not your average experience. It defies all of the odds."--NFL great split end of the Baltimore Colts, Raymond Berry, talking about his vision and bond with another NFL great, quarterback John Unitas.
Championship journeys begin with a vision. A dream is established, and, then the path becomes clear. Winning championship organizations and teams have a laser focus and mental image of what they want to accomplish. The dream brings people together for a common purpose and make them want to belong. It may be recognition for excellence, like a trophy or award, but it creates pride and worth.
The organization must take on the "greatest imaginable challenge" and strive to be the best it can be. This challenge is the dream taken shape. It is tangible and measurable, and undeniable. To be effective it must be exciting and important. It is what focuses the competitive spirit of the individuals and the team.
You pick your destination and set your journey's path. Reach high and reach far, but reach clearly. Only then, can the trophy be yours.
The Winner's Manifesto
The Quest for Commitment and Sacrifice
This document was sent to the New York Knicks basketball team:"What we are asking you to do is not easy. If it were, everybody would do it. There will be nothing in your life-time that can compare to the challenge you are about to embrace. Some of you won't make it. Some of you can't take it. There will be some of you who will try to hold the others back because you don't want to pay the price."
-Isiah Thomas, President, NBA New York Knicks
(Former NCAA Champion and NBA Champion)
Quentin Richardson recalled a day in training camp last October when Isiah Thomas, who feuded with Brown and then replaced him on the bench, set the tone for the season.
"He told us, 'I don't care what nobody else says about us.' Everybody else doesn't matter. What matters is what's in this room and if we believe. I'm telling you right now, we got what it takes. We just got to believe in each other and put in the work.' "
--Quentin Richardson, talking about what Isiah Thomas, said to the team that was the catalyst for improvement in the New York Knicks attitude, internal cohesion and team play during the 2006-2007 NBA season.
Team Chemistry
The Intangibles
"The difficult thing to factor in is basketball is more of a collaborative, chemistry sport than baseball. Obviously, you need star power and great players. But a tremendous amount of your success is dictated by your interplay and synergy with the team -- continuity, chemistry, feel for each other, those type of intangibles, which are very difficult to quantify."--Chris Wallace, NBA Memphis Grizzlies' General Manager.
Renewing the Challenge
In the championship mix, year after year
"He who stops being better stops being good."--Oliver Cromwell
Great sports teams keep raising the bar. They know that their competitors are hungry and are working hard. Great teams must change. To do so, they must stay innovative by renewing the challenge to stay competitive and at the top of their field. They must be open to whatever rule changes are allowed. They must anticipate, respond and react quickly. Often they are at the forefront of changing the rules or changing the structure or entity that enforces the rules. They may change the team or the players on the team. Finally they may change the game itself, through innovation and creativity. Nevertheless, they stay in motion to adapt to a changing environment.
Great teams make incremental improvement. They value ideas and allow them to flow naturally. Risk-taking is allowed and encouraged. Progress is made through experimentation, as there is always a better way. An environment is established where creativity is fostered through calmness and enabling a cross-fertilization of ideas. Peak performing organizations pay attention to every detail, and most importantly, the last detail.
Through this process, the organization continually resets for higher challenges and standards. Improvement is inevitable.
A great example is the Dallas Cowboys, they remained at the forefront of the NFL for two decades by developing the multiple formation offense, the shotgun offense, and increasing the size of the typical NFL playbook. They drafted for intelligence as well as athletic ability and provided innovations that remain in the league today.
Raising the Bar: Good vs. Great
Continuous Improvement Mentality
"We're going to talk about the challenge of repeating and what it's going to take, that we're going to have to play better. Peyton (Manning, Super Bowl MVP) talked about it. We can't come in and think that we can just do what we did this year. We've got to improve if we want to stay where we are."We will be the hunted next year and we understand that. It will be a challenge and a challenge I look forward to helping the guys through."
--Tony Dungy, talking about complacency and raising the bar immediately after winning the Super Bowl, wishing to avoid a let down and responding to a question about retirement.
"We'll enjoy this. Once the first day of weightlifting, which will be March, comes, we'll be in there working. For me as a player, I want to be a better player next year than I was this year."
--NFL Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning, the day after the Colts win, discussing his plans to repeat next year and how he will fight complacency.
"Good is the enemy of great. Your ability to focus on being better than you are will enable you to move on successfully. If you're content with being good, you can never be great."
--Marty Schottenheimer, former head coach, NFL San Diego Chargers
Peak Performing Teams
Putting it all together
"It starts with a great head coach who keeps the player egos in check and keeps the priority on unselfish preparation rather than a win streak."--Rebecca Lobo, the senior leader of the 1994-95 Connecticut NCAA women's basketball team that was 35-0 and won a national title.
"The running back position is one in which you want as many touches as you can have. But what's most important is to find guys who want to win, whether it's 5 carries or 25 carries."
--NFL New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, talking about his team concept and his use of his two star running backs, Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, during their successful 2006 season and subsequent playoff run.
"We weren't the most talented team in the league last year and we weren't the best team, but we played the right kind of football and didn't panic when adversity hit. That's the mark of a good team."
-- Bill Cowher, 2005 Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers head coach
When asked how he defined "most valuable player", Alex Rodriquez of the New York Yankees and 2005 Most Valuable Player of the American League said, "Just someone who comes out every day and helps your team win. Whether it's offensively or defensively, I want to be in the middle of a win, somehow. That's all that matters."
Great teams develop a singular mind-set. Their focus establishes the direction and priorities. Practice is crucial and defines actions, creates the environment and puts in the foundation for success.
Great teams share a dream and communicate the dream consistently throughout the organization. Everyone knows what the dream is, knows what their role is and understands the importance of their contributions to the team. The symbols, the pennants, the trophies emotionally connect the people to the dream. Anything is possible. The organization is designed for the long haul. The infrastructure is developed for the future. The organization is committed toward establishing a tradition of excellence and winning.
Finally, great teams create a family atmophere where the environment creates mental calm and confidence and facilitates people exceeding their individual best. Excellent people are attracted, recruited and selected for common characteristics. This family atmosphere encourages excellence.
For more on Peak Performing Team visit my Squidoo weblens, The Team Pulse, at http://www.squidoo.com/valdes4
Creativity
Inventiveness and fluidity: Enabling the flow
"We Brazilians are accustomed to having to improvise, to being creative when we are in a tight spot. It's the foundation of our music and art, too, and that intuitive ability to sidestep the rules and improvise on the spot is what distinguishes the great player from the excellent."-- former Brazilian soccer great, Tostao discussing the development of the successful Brazilian style of play in the World Cup.
"The less tension and effort, the faster and more powerful you will be." -- Bruce Lee
Performance Psychology Information
Great Resources
These Peak Performance resources will give you useful information about Performance Psychology from a variety of places. Check it out.
- Lance Armstrong Coming Out of Retirement
- This New York Times article announces why Lance Armstrong is coming out of retirement. Cycling is his passion.
- Preparation for a Round of Golf
- Bill Pennington on Golf in the 8/11/08 New York Times looks at the science of preparation and self-talk in golf. He discusses the mental aspects of preparing for your first stroke.
- NFL Franchise Players: The Best of All-Time By Team
- A poll of ESPN Nation by ESPN.com establishes the best of all-time by NFL team and provides profiles and highlight videos. See if you agree!
- Pitching With Purpose
- "Self-discipline is a form of freedom. Freedom from laziness and lethargy, freedom from expectations and demands of others, freedom from weakness and fear - and doubt."
--H.A. Dorfman, sports psychologist.
David Brooks' Op-Ed piece in the New York Times of Tuesday, April 1, 2008, summarizes the art of self-discipline, focus, simplicity, rituals and mindset through the eyes of H.A. Dorfman, a sports psychologist who wrote the book: "The Mental ABC's of Pitching." - Breaking the Big Papi Code
- This article looks at the Boston Red Sox' David Ortiz and his ability to get in the zone as a highly productive designated hitter in the major leagues through the use of video tapes and behavioral rehearsal, simplification, and mind-set.
- The Academy of Achievement
- This website chronicles the past achievements of some of the most successful individuals of our time.
- Roger Federer's Game
- This New York Times article from August 20, 2006 discusses Roger Federer's approach to his tennis game as a visual and mental thing of beauty.
- Game-planning the Bill Walsh way
- This link is a quick summary of how former San Francisco 49er Head Coach Bill Walsh revolutionized game-planning and preparation in the NFL.
- More About Game Planning and Play Calling in the NFL
- Read this interesting New York Times article from October 27, 2006 about the evolution of NFL head coaches use of play calling tools.
- The Killer Instinct
- This Tennis magazine article discusses the importance of having a killer instinct on the court and how to achieve it.
- It Is In The Head
- This article from US News and World Report Online from October 8, 2006 discusses the increase in the use of personality tests and psychological profiling in business and industry.
- Rafael Nadal's Head
- This New York Times article suggests that Nadal's mental game, his zeal and his belief in himself, needs no work after his defeat of Roger Federer in the 2006 French Open.
- When "Great" Teams Fail
- This June 2006 Fortune magazine article delves into the demise of dream teams and what creates failure.
- The Heart of the Game
- This ESPN story focuses on the documentary that has everyone buzzing. The Heart of the Game is the movie chronicling a girls' high school basketball team as they struggle to work together as a team. This is a great documentary that I recommend to everyone who not only loves sports, but loves a great story.
- Shoe Wars
- Read about the little known family feud that has affected both Adidas and Puma for over 25 years, and perhaps, why they have never approached Nike's success.
- Tiger Woods vs. Michael Jordan
- Harris Poll suggests Tiger Woods is now the most popular athlete, passing Michael Jordan along the way.
- Relaxation: Getting "in the zone"
- This article from the New York Times (10/2/2008) discusses the importance of relaxation for peak performance and getting in the zone.
- Headshots: Why can't Shaq hit a Freethrow?
- This is an article in the May 10, 2006 issue of the Miami Herald about free throw shooting. Read about Shaq's attitude toward free throws and contrast that to a master free throw shooter, NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry. Throw in some comments from sports psychologist John Murray and you have a very informative and enlightening article.
- Inspiros Worldwide
- Inspiros Worldwide provides inspirational leadership development services to the chief executives and leadership teams of iconic organizations.
They create value for their clients by assisting them to imagine a new inspirational Purpose and by inspiring them towards the achievement of sustained peak performance.
The company's work derives from research for the international best selling business book Peak Performance published globally by Harper Collins Business, London in February 2000 and by Texere Publishing, New York in December 2000. Paperback editions were published in 2001, and 2002. They continue to develop Peak Performance theory through an ongoing research agenda.
They believe that business can contribute towards making the world a better place through the use of Peak Performance principles. - Duke's Coach K
- Great reading! This article is a short and sweet look into the Coach K system and his approach to individual and team success. Take a look.
- John Wooden's Pyramid of Success
- This is the official link to John Wooden's website. The Pyramid of Success is the basis of his coaching and the success of his UCLA Bruin basketball dynasty.
- Tiger Woods on 60 Minutes
- "The biggest thing is to have a mind-set and a belief that you can win every tournament going in." - Tiger Woods. Watch the Tiger Woods interview with Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes. Hear what Tiger says about his career and his motivation. This website also catalogues more 60 Minutes interviews with other sports legends of the last few decades.
- The Art of Failure
- This link contains an article by Malcolm Gladwell (author of the books "The Tipping Point" and "Blink") about why some people choke and others panic.
- Enhanced Performance Systems
- This link will provde you with information about Robert M. Nideffer and his firm. Dr. Nideffer has done extensive research into the assessment and measurement of the attentional and interpersonal skills of high level performers in sports, business, sales, and the military. He is the developer of the The Attentional and Interpersonal Style (TAIS) personality inventory.
- Carmichael Training Systems
- This is the website for Lance Armstrong's trainer and his company Carmichael Training Systems, established to provide world-class coaching and camps to cyclists, runners, and other athletes.
- Video Games as Training Tools
- The article from the NY Times from 6/4/06 discusses the value of using video games and video game technology to assist in developing sports and other skills.
- Mind Gym
- This link with hook you up with some useful information at Sports Assist about the book "Mind Gym" and applications of the concepts associated with the book.
- Perfection in Athletics
- This New York Times article by Bill Pennington from 2/3/2008 discussing the notion of perfection in sports and the mindset that the successful athlete has to achieve greatness.
- The Physical Genius
- Food for Thought!! This article takes the view that Wayne Gretzky, Yo-Yo Ma,and a brain surgeon all have some crucial things in common.
- The Talent Myth
- Read Malcolm Gladwell's article in the New Yorker about the misceptions about intelligence and how smart people can run amok.
- The Learning Curve
- See what the rookie pro quarterback has to endure and learn to develop as a signal caller in the NFL.
- The Frozen Gaze of Tiger Woods
- This editorial in the New York Times on 6/17/2008, the day after Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open in a 19-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate, looks at the ability of Tiger Woods to focus unlike no other athlete.
- Sprinter Speed is About Preparation
- Here is a vintage 1995 article from Outside magazine. The article chronicles the 100 meter sprinters as they prepare for the 1996 Olympic Games.
- Most Likely To Succeed by Malcolm Gladwell
- This New Yorker article (12/15/2008) by Malcolm Gladwell discusses the process by which NFL teams select quarterbacks and suggests that we might use a similar process to remedy the shortage of effective teachers.
Hey! What about Poor Performers!
The Losers in Your Organization
These links discuss how organizations deal with (or don't deal with) poor performers.
- Research on Poor Performers
- This article from Leadership IQ discusses the impact on low performers in your organization and how turnover is affected by low performers.
Peak Performance Resources
All the best materials about Peak Performance
Read and see what the experts say about Peak Performance. Learn from the best and the brightest.
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Athletes Fire Back
See What Top Athletes Say About Their Success and Failure
Athletes Sound Off
"As a team, collectively, we have no heart, we have no energy, we have no drive. The pride and passion that you have for this game makes you want to win. It's not about the money. It's not about looking the part. It's not about standing on the field so everybody can see you on TV and you look good. It's about pride and passion. If you have those two, if you win or if you lose, you're going to look like a football team.""
--Kris Jenkins, NFL Carolina Panthers defensive lineman, after an embarrassing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an early 2007 football game.
"My head wasn't in the game really as well as it has been. It's just one of them things when you get in those situations. You got to be fully involved. Mentally, I wasn't completely there. I wasn't 100 percent dead on like I usually am.
"I'm just saying I wasn't 100 percent locked in like I usually am. It's just like you. Are you locked in every day at work? No. There are going to be days where you go in and you, not to say you go through the motions, but you go to work and it just ain't like a normal day."
--Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox relief pitcher, discussing his performance in a late season loss to the New York Yankees in 2007.
Until the September 15th loss, Papelbon had not botched a save since July 28 and had not yielded a run in 16 2/3 innings. He has 35 saves in 38 opportunities in 2007.
"You take the good with the bad, bro," said Papelbon. Papelbon spoke after surrendering hits to three straight batters, more hits than he had given up in the last 49 at bats, to erase a three-run lead on Friday.
"As a team, collectively, we have no heart, we have no energy, we have no drive. The pride and passion that you have for this game makes you want to win. It's not about the money. It's not about looking the part. It's not about standing on the field so everybody can see you on TV and you look good. It's about pride and passion. If you have those two, if you win or if you lose, you're going to look like a football team.""
--Kris Jenkins, NFL Carolina Panthers defensive lineman, after an embarrassing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an early 2007 football game.
"My head wasn't in the game really as well as it has been. It's just one of them things when you get in those situations. You got to be fully involved. Mentally, I wasn't completely there. I wasn't 100 percent dead on like I usually am.
"I'm just saying I wasn't 100 percent locked in like I usually am. It's just like you. Are you locked in every day at work? No. There are going to be days where you go in and you, not to say you go through the motions, but you go to work and it just ain't like a normal day."
--Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox relief pitcher, discussing his performance in a late season loss to the New York Yankees in 2007.
Until the September 15th loss, Papelbon had not botched a save since July 28 and had not yielded a run in 16 2/3 innings. He has 35 saves in 38 opportunities in 2007.
"You take the good with the bad, bro," said Papelbon. Papelbon spoke after surrendering hits to three straight batters, more hits than he had given up in the last 49 at bats, to erase a three-run lead on Friday.
- Phil Mickelson Talks Back
- See what Phil Mickelson says about his approach to the game, his failures and his style.
- Elena Delle Donna Leaves UConn Women's Basketball Team
- This New York Times article from October 19, 2008 discusses Elena Della Donna's decision to leave the UConn women's basketball team. Della Donna was a super recruit and expected to be a star.
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Luis F. Valdes, Ph.D.
Founder and CEO
PerformanceVertical Consulting
404-357-7335
e-mail: luisfvaldes@yahoo.com
http://www.performancevertical.com
Work and play with heart!!
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