Why You Need Fear (Not Just on Halloween)!
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From an evolutionary standpoint, fear is useful. If you are in danger, fear triggers your body to release hormones that prepare you for fight or flight to get out of harm's way.
Fear could save your life. When it comes to high performance in a critical moment though, fear can be problematic if not managed properly. Fear of failure may stand in the way of getting started or encourage you to quit. Fear is also distracting. It can take you from the present moment back to a past failure or into a future irrational thought (i.e. ‘This is never going to work out’). Fear is normal in many cases but needs to be managed properly to encourage you to perform your best especially when it matters most. It’s even common for world-class performers to experience fear as well. The difference is they have the (learned) skills to manage their fear and deal with it at a time that is appropriate, not when they need to shine.
Let’s take it...
How to Be More Purposeful
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Whether you consider yourself a world-class performer or not, you have a lot in common with those among the elite either professionally, academically or athletically.
You may sometimes fall off your purpose or lose it entirely. ‘Is this really what I am meant to do in the long-term?’ ‘What is my purpose or the best way for me to make progress today?’ ‘I need to switch gears , so how do find my (new) purpose?’ Athletes retire or get injured, senior leaders switch careers, academics change fields of interest, so they are not immune either! Lacking clarity on purpose can feel like the middle place, and it doesn’t tend to be too comfortable (at least not in my experience). Partly because we are not making progress towards something where we are making an impact for ourselves and/or for others.
The good news is that we can learn from what world-class performers do a little differently to be more...
The First Step to Building an Influential Mindset
NEW! Join the "Live" Mental Toughness Mastery Round Table with Q & A this Saturday Morning
Take a break in your morning to attend the 2nd of 3 FREE round table discussions via Zoom.us this Saturday, October 7th at 9:30-10:00 a.m. PST. I will be sharing Mental Toughness tips, tools and habits on building an influential mindset, and then open it up for plenty of Q & A. Log in details are below, and I encourage you to share with any colleagues, friends or family members you think would be interested in attending.
- Mental Toughness Community Round Table #2: October 7, 2017 9:30 a.m. PST
- Topic: "The First Step to Building an Influential Mindset"
- Video conference log-in: http://zoom.us/j/6860194592
- Or Telephone dial-in：US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 876 9923
- Meeting ID: 686 019 4592
Now to today's topic: The First Step to Building an Influential Mindset
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There is a misconception about influence that it is reserved for the elite...
One World-Class Tip to Control Your Day
NEW! Join the Saturday Morning "Live" Round Table with Q & A
I wanted to let everyone know that I will be hosting FREE round table discussions via Zoom.us for the next 3 Saturdays at 8:30-9:00 a.m. PST (the first one will be September 30th). I will be sharing Mental Toughness tips, tools and habits, and then open it up for plenty of Q & A. Log in details are below, and I encourage you to share with any colleagues, friends or family members you think would be interested in attending.
- Mental Toughness Community Round Table #1: Sep 30, 2017 8:30 a.m. PST
- Topic: World-Class Tips to Control Your Day
- Video conference log-in: https://zoom.us/j/339398229
- Or Telephone dial-in：US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 876 9923
- Meeting ID: 339 398 229
Now to today's topic: One World-Class Tip to Control Your Day
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Have you ever had a week where the sh%@t hits the fan? If so, you are most definitely...
Confidence > 3 Steps to Boost Confidence
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World-class athletes are very deliberate in the way they practice and compete.
There are a couple things that we can do too to help boost confidence and encourage our best.
Here's how:
1). Start with Clearing the Mind:
Sounds simple, but not always easy! One way to begin the process is to do a couple ‘box breaths’ before high pressure or competitive events. It’s simply inhaling for 5 seconds through their nose into their diaphragm, extending their stomach, holding for 5 seconds, exhaling for 5 seconds through their mouth, and holding for 5 seconds. So, in for 5, hold 5, out for 5, hold 5. They should be sitting or standing up straight, be comfortable and in alignment.Here's why it works.
Research has proven that breathing exercises can change the pH of our blood, change blood pressure, and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system which is the one that calms us down. This type of breathing also activates the...
Focus > World-Class Habits for Teens: The Pre-Game Ritual
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Pre-game rituals are tools that help world-class performers to be calm and focused during situations that are important to them.
The great thing is: You don’t have to be an Olympic hopeful to use Rituals to help you do your best, especially when you are under pressure and the outcome matters.
Here are a few tips, so you can set up a ritual that helps you rise to the occasion:
1. Fuel Up.
Do you have a favorite pre-game snack or meal? If there is something that you eat and/or drink in the morning or before you compete that sits well with you and gives you good energy, try making that part of your ritual.
2. Look Sharp.
Do you have a favorite article of clothing? If so, having it ready to go before an important test or competition can help you to get ready to perform your best.
3. Get Focused.
Think about listening to music, journaling, or anything you can do to be calm and focused before an event. Be sure to set a positive intention...
Emotional Control > 1 Epic Formula to Manage Emotions When the Stakes Are High
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Being able to manage emotions is a tool that can come in handy during important events at work, at home or in competitive situations.
Since emotions drive behavior, this is an important skill to understand and master, so all your hard work can pay off. Once it’s game time, it is time to trust yourself. In other words, trust that your desired result will happen (even if you are not so sure!)
World-class athletes perform their best when they are calm, carefree (of the outcome) and focused (on the most important thing to do their best). In other words, they trust and believe in themselves. Not being able to manage emotions is distracting, and the consequences can be significant and frustrating.
Keep this formula in mind, and you too will be able to champion your best results:
Emotional Control + Trust = Success.
Here’s how to get started with managing your emotions, especially when the stakes are high:
1.) Recognize when...
Focus > 2 Focus Hacks So Teens Can Crush It When It Matters
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Whether teens are getting ready for the upcoming ACT or if they have an important competitive event coming up, being able to Focus is important.
Many teens know this, but they don’t know how. For example, a sixteen-year-old equestrian practiced years to qualify for a national show jumping competition. She was at a distinct disadvantage because her horse was not as talented, nor as well trained as those of her competitors. Regardless, she eventually reached her dream and qualified to compete. Unfortunately she went off course in both of her classes and was disqualified. She felt as though her four years of hard work were erased in five minutes. What happened? “I was consumed by issues I had no control over, and I just lost focus on what was important,” she later reflected.
Here are a couple tips to help teens focus, especially when it matters:
1) Have a pre-game ritual.
It can be very simple, but needs to be consistent...
Confidence > 1 Confidence Hack You Can Start Right Now
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You work extremely hard to prepare for high-pressure or competitive situations, and it’s incredibly frustrating when results do not measure up to your effort.
There is one thing you can do to help boost confidence and encourage your best when it matters: Set Intentions.
Here’s how:
Intentions are things that you can or will do empower you to focus (that’s a bonus!) and believe in yourself. This increases your self-efficacy (your belief about your capability to produce designated levels of performance that exercise influence over events that affect your life.) For example, “At 4:00-4:30 p.m. today I will spend 30 minutes compiling research for a presentation.” So, the outcome of the presentation is uncertain, but there is certainty surrounding your preparation and execution.
Why it works.
Setting Intentions gives you control over what’s important to being able to do your best. It’s also an...
Emotional Control > What No One Tells Teens About the "F"-Word (... It's Not What You Think)
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I’m going to address the “F” word right away so I don’t get in trouble. The “F” word is “Fear.”
Emotions can propel us to greatness, or they can paralyze us, bringing creativity, productivity and motivation to a screeching halt. I sure prefer the later for moments that really matter and for long-term ambitions.
Let’s talk about the Emotional Wheel and “F”ear, as well as how your mindset may affect how you plan and how you perform under pressure.
The good news is that you can learn the tools to dream big, do small and crush it especially when it matters. Zone Performance is not just for the elite few, it’s for you too!
Green area means that you likely have a deep awareness and understanding of what emotions you experience, which ones serve you, which ones don’t as well as how to manage your emotions for optimal performance and optimal long-term thinking.
Yellow...
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