As a former athlete, I understand what makes the biggest difference in performance is your mental game. My senior year in high school, I clearly remember being seeded #2 in the Maryland State Tennis Championship tournament. I knew I had an opportunity to win, but I needed to prepare. To assist my mental preparation, I hired a sports psychologist. She took me through exercises such as visualization, positive affirmations and ways to anchor my focus during a match (I use techniques I use with my clients). With much preparation, I won the Maryland State Tennis Championship!

That was a great victory for me, that I will never forget. It wasn’t just the fact that I won but more so, I was so mentally prepared, the tournament was easy for me. I had a game plan and strategy which allowed me to have a strong sense of focus. My attitude was calm and confident. I knew what I wanted and I achieved it!

What allowed me to perform at my highest level, was the support of my coaches. Without their belief in me, knowledge and encouragement, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to accomplish as much as I did in my tennis career.

Watching the Olympics, brings back those memories of the days when I would compete. While I had lots of successful times in my tennis career, I also had times that were incredibly challenging and heartbreaking. As a former nationally ranked tennis player, it taught me so much about myself and life. Great athletes learn how to handle adversity, anything that comes their way and keep their cool. 

One of my favorite parts about the Olympics is watching these incredible athletes interact with their coaches. Olympic athletes spend countless hours working on their conditioning, speed, form and technique. They expose themselves to the world to compete and perform – taking the greatest risk to perform their personal best and be number one in the world.

What does every Olympian have in common? A coach. All professional athletes use coaches to make sure they are as good as they can be.

Coaching isn’t just for sports. The coaching model, helps you eliminate blocks that prevent you from achieving your life and career goals. Individuals and professionals who desire to find their passion, improve relationships, lose weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, overcome anxiety and conquer less than desirable habits and behaviors, can benefit from coaching. Without a coach, you might end up squandering and falling short of your personal best.

1. Have a Coach
Having support and an outside eye is one of the performance and seeking higher levels of performance cannot be done without a coach.

2. Plan for Success
Create measurable goals with timelines that are realistic. Write down your daily, monthly, and yearly goals.

3. Visualize Success
If you can imagine it, you can achieve it! Champions understand the importance of mental imagery and visualization.

4. Never Give Up
When setbacks arise, Champions stay focused on results. Champions have a mindset that gives them the opportunity to continue to move forward.

5. Believe in Yourself
Confidence, optimistic and a positive attitude is a key success factor. You must believe in yourself, if you expect to succeed. Champions know that with proper preparation they will play their best, and thus they can rightfully believe they can come out on top.

“Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and other people’s criticisms, carry out your plan.”
– Paul J. Meyer