Mental Edge

Newsletter Issue March 2010

Mind Strength. Become Exceptional.

Championship Time for Seniors

Shaun Goodsell, MA

President and CEO of Mental Edge

Playoffs for the winter sports season are either happening as I write or about to happen. Teams all begin the playoff run with hopeful expectations, and optimism about their chances for a title. The reality is that more will watch as observers while a few compete for the chance at a title. This article is going to focus on those seniors that will have their seasons, and for some, their careers come to an end. This is always a splash of cold water directly in the face that nobody can really prepare for. For that reason I want to give those that experience this some tips as you grieve the loss of the experience of participating in a sport that you have invested countless hours and sacrificed beyond belief for.

First, take some time and go over your career. Highlight quality moments for yourself. See if you can come up with a couple of your favorite times and carry those with you. In our society we do not take enough time to reflect on periods of time in our lives that provide us stepping-stones for transition and change. I am quite sure that during reflection you will realize that competing has left a mark on you with life lessons and values that will help you create success the rest of your life.

Second, create your sports résumé. If someone were to ask you what your accomplishments were as an athlete be prepared to turn your sports experience into working capital in life. For example, what kind of commitment and work ethic did you bring to your sport? What did you learn about yourself as a leader? How did you respond to adversity and what have you taken away about the value of intentional and focused practice? These are all skills and values that not only translate to success in your sport but other interests as well.

Third, think about what the next activity or interest you are going to invest in. I believe that investing our time, talent, and passion is important as we dedicate ourselves to learn about ourselves and look to master skills, work cooperatively with others, and set goals for ourselves that challenge us. There is much to be said about reinvesting ourselves.

In life it is important to transition from one thing to another without regret or resentment. Celebrate your successes and use them as springboards to your next stage of life. For all the seniors that have had seasons and possibly careers end this year, thank you for your commitment. I have watched and been inspired by many of you. I wish you well as you move to your next stage of life.

If we can help you take your sports experience and turn it into success in life let us know, 763-439-5246. It is true that success leaves a trail.

Shaun

The Bonds of Battle

Justin Johnson, Performance Coach

As March approaches many teams enter there play-off seasons with high expectations and thoughts of success. Systems of play have been practiced; roles and starters have been defined. Coaches and assistants review their plans and feverishly work to prepare their team for success. A long season of ups and downs, challenges and breakthroughs will soon come to an end. A select few will finish this year with the joyous celebration of victory, plenty more will experience defeat, and it is in those moments that I watch for the bond.

I have experienced this bond, as does every athlete, who has participated in team sports to varying degrees. I've won a Consolation Championship in high school and National Championships in college with men I would run through walls for. With men whose personal success I felt a contributor to, as they did in mine. Men who sacrificed for themselves and each other for which they received their reward, victory. It is easy to see the bond of battle in watching a victorious celebration but the more intriguing part is watching the bond of battle in defeat.

You see I've also been a part of teams who lost in those moments. And, as it goes, in winning there are always many reasons why you win and many reasons why you lose. But this year I came across an answer to a question that I've had since my early days of high school athletics. My junior year I was in a locker room with a group of young men who, with the exception of a handful of guys, I'd never played with. A bond had yet to be formed and although many us gave what we could we found ourselves on the losing end of a section game; dashing our hopes for State that year. As I sat in the locker room I watched guys cry, and others console each other. On the other side of the locker room I watched guys laugh, and hurry out of their equipment and talk about where they were going to party. In that moment I was both furious and confused. I felt robbed. You see all year long I worked under the impression that we, as a team, had a bond and were striving for the same thing. What was reality is not everyone was willing to have that bond.

What I learned this year is that a team who fails to address the building of this bond will never achieve lofty goals. The countless drills and hours of practice are a house of cards that is quickly swept away when those participating could care less about the members of the team. What I learned this year is that you can teach this bond; you can teach young people how to develop quality relationships. Relationships built with generosity, vulnerability, accountability, and honesty at the foundation of them. When we teach young people these relationship skills then the ability to achieve whatever goal we seek in competition becomes possible. I also know that when we teach these skills to young people you never truly lose.

So as many seasons come to an end this March, join me in watching for the bond forged by the battle of sports and see what you find. If you don't like what you see please contact us to help.

We have a bond-building experience that forges the type of quality relationships most kids and teams are missing and hungry for today. If you would like the Mental Edge to bring this one of a kind experience to your team/group and help you be a part of teaching young people how to develop quality relationships, call us now! 763-439-5246

Justin

Who is YOUR Simon Cowell?

Brady Greco, Performance Coach

One of the most frustrating issues when dealing with athletes is their unrealistic expectations and goals. I am not an advocate of crushing an athlete's dreams, however there comes a time when athletes need to shake their head and come back down to earth. I understand that every athlete striving to make it to the next level has goals they want to achieve, however these goals are often way too far-fetched. It is very tough to blame the athlete for having such high aspirations, but they must hold themselves accountable for how they came up with their goals in the first place. The majority of the time, these goals were set when the athlete was very young. I say this because for many of these athletes, they were told from their parents, grandparents, and even coaches that, "You can do or be anything you want to be". This is a true statement, nevertheless, for this statement to ultimately be accurate the athlete must realize and understand the strong work ethic, dedication, and discipline that involves achieving their athletic goals. An athlete cannot just say, "I want X, Y, and Z to happen" and then feel they are entitled to it. More importantly, when X Y and Z does not happen, the athlete should not feel as if the carpet was swept from under their feet and/or begin to make excuses for why they did not accomplish their goals.

Lets take for instance Simon Cowell, a premier executive music and television producer, who is widely famous for his role as lead judge on American Idol. Cowell is often ridiculed for his candid, blunt, and straightforward critiques of the contestants. But isn't Simon Cowell in fact doing the contestant a greater favor by telling them the truth about their performance? He understands what he wants and knows exactly what he is looking for. Therefore, he is not going to beat around the bush with a contestant who is mediocre at best. All too many times, parents, friends and coaches do not want to play the 'bad guy', so instead of delivering accurate direct feedback, they stroke the athlete's ego and tell them how good they are. The feedback from Cowell may be difficult for the contestant to hear at first, but in the long run, Simon's feedback will be much greater than any bias feedback the contestant continues to receive from any of their friends, coaches, or parents. In fact, those individuals who continue to fill the contestant's head with false or fabricated feedback are doing a huge disservice to the individual because they are the ones who remain guilty of setting their friend or loved one up for huge disappointment and failure in the future.

If you are an athlete who struggles consistently with attaining the goals you set for yourself, it is time to reconstruct your goals from a more objective and unbiased perspective. If you are an athlete who is constantly wondering "why?" it may be time to look yourself in the mirror, stop making excuses, and accept reality. Here is a quality strategy that will help athletes begin to become more successful by executing the goals they set for themselves:

1) List your objectives. Make your objective clear (set your sites on clear objectives).

2) Make your goals specific and clearly understood (this makes them easier to hit, when you know exactly what you want it is easier to plan ways of getting it). Should you stray off course along the way you will be able to recognize it and readjust quickly because you know exactly where you are going.

3) Create some affirmations. Talk to yourself in a positive way. Speak statements affirming what you want as being possible. Make positive statements about your goal. Tell yourself you are succeeding. Use affirmations to counteract the negative thoughts that cross your mind. Also use positive self-talk to combat the negative statements that other people use against you. You don't have to say anything to the people who put you down, just talk to yourself in a supportive way.

4) Visualize success. See yourself successfully accomplishing your goal. Get a picture of your goal as if it where already achieved. Focus on the picture as you work. Never lose that vision. Visualize every benefit that you will receive upon hitting your goal. Visualize yourself enjoying those benefits. Use all of your emotions as you do this exercise. Make it real. This prepares you for success. A strong, positive expectancy level will keep you focused on solutions rather than problems. Maintaining a clear visualization of hitting your goal will compel you to strive harder to achieve your objectives.

Are you an athlete that struggles to achieve your goals? If so, let the Mental Edge be your "Simon Cowell" and guide you in reconstructing your goals from a more objective and unbiased perspective! Call us at 763-439-5246

Brady