Marcus Aurelius was Emperor of Rome in the 2nd Century, ruling from 161 to 180 A.D. He is counted among the “Five Good Emperors,” and his reign marked the end of the Pax Romana, a two hundred year period marked by peace and stability in the Roman Empire. Unfortunately for Marcus, his reign wasn’t a […]
read moreCan you remember the last time you let your emotions get the best of you? The last time you lost your composure while under pressure? Our emotional reactions towards tough challenges can lead us to act in ways we shouldn’t and prevent us from performing at our best. But, facing down adversity is an inherent […]
read moreI have been fortunate to know some great coaches and great people in my life, and the guest on this episode of the PerformanceXtra podcast is one of them: Jerry Albrikes. Jerry is a man of good character, and he brings that to all of his interactions on the court whether that is as a […]
read moreIn competition, you are always building toward some end, some culmination. It might be the end of a tournament, the end of a match, or the end of a performance. The present moment is almost never the end itself, but this is where things can get confusing. What you are doing in the present moment […]
read moreOn this episode of the PerformanceXtra podcast, I talk to Amy Hanson-Kuleszka, a figure skating coach in the Boston, MA area. Figure skating is an incredibly difficult sport, and Amy is one of the best coaches around. But Amy is more than a figure skating coach. She’s a valuable mentor for her students, and she […]
read moreNote: Even though this post is written from the perspective of tennis, it applies to any sport in which the action can be broken down to the next play, the next pitch, the next possession, the next 1-on1 battle, the next move, the next moment, the next whatever. It’s always about what comes next. When […]
read moreOne of the great paradoxes of striving for improvement and mastery is that we expend a lot of energy avoiding situations that will make us better. We avoid adversity. We avoid obstacles. We avoid challenges. But the reality is that all of these things are normal. Adversity is normal. Challenges are normal. Trying to avoid […]
read moreAlex Johansson is the Director of the New England Tennis Academy at Longfellow Natick (MA), and is one of the best tennis coaches in the business. He has spent the last 16 years in junior tennis development, and has helped more than 40 players to reach their goal of playing college tennis. Before becoming a […]
read moreWhen I think of the most powerful mindsets that a competitor can have, this one stands out: You have to LOVE to learn more about your sport. The best competitors in the world are great students of their game without exception. Are you? Do you have a love for learning in your sport? The Learning […]
read moreIn Episode 2 of The PerformanceXtra Podcast, I review the Clemson vs Alabama National Championship Game, and how questionable decision making played a part in the result. Listen below and please share your comments. Follow PerformanceXtra
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