2 QUESTIONS, 2 ANSWERS

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QUESTION 1:

Dr. Tom:

What is the single best thing for a young player to practice or focus on everyday to develop the best mental game for the big leagues?

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ANSWER 1:

The single best thing for a young player to practice or focus on every day to develop the best mental game for the big leagues is to develop the ability to stay focused on what he wants no matter what happens.

Successful people choose clear targets and stay focused on them.

Less successful people don't. Their focus wanders.

You need to keep your balance emotionally and energetically as you pursue your goal just as you need to keep your balance while hitting or pitching; but keeping your focus on your target is tops.

It's arguably even more important to be able to stay focused on your goal than believing it is possible to achieve your goal.

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QUESTION 2: (I assume he would ask this follow up, I would...)

Dr. Tom:

How do you get a young player to learn to stay focused on his target?

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ANSWER 2:

By putting him in an environment where other kids are doing that.

And where there are "cues" in his environment that light the fire and keep it burning.

"Cues" like photos on the wall of past greats who were once in the young player's place in life, stories of youngsters that have gone on to do great things, people who tell you great things are possible.

And very good coaches.

(Note: Research on top performer suggests that less important than having the first coaches be "great" is having them be loving and supporting. Key is that the player builds his/her self-esteem and feels good about himself. The great coaching can come after the fire has taken hold.)

Jargon from my world for "environment" or what yesterday I called "context" is to be "in the conversation" of success.

Meaning, people are talking about doing great things. They are talking about what you need to do to be great.

And part of the conversation is that all around him the player sees cues and symbols that remind him that great things are possible for him.

I grew up in Moorhead, MN.

We had a strong Legion tradition (Go Blues), but no one to my knowledge ever went on from Moorhead to play Division 1 baseball.

No one.

I had no role model. No "cues" in my environment telling me I could do it.

So I didn't.

I didn't work hard enough as a sophomore or junior to make myself that good (I did as a senior, but that's too late).

Nothing in my environment was telling me "You could do it if you work, Tommy."

Of course it could have just been in me and I could have been the first...

But if my older brothers or my friends' brothers had been star players and gone on to play Division I baseball, do you think it is more likely I would have?

Of course.

The environment is typically stronger than the will of an individual.

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BOTTOM LINE: Whatever you want to grow -- be it yourself or your son or your players -- put it in an environment where that thing grows really well.

Put it in an environment where success is normal.