Tiger Woods - Master of the Game

I am ferociously curious about what it takes to be a champion at the highest level. That is why I am always looking to read about the best of the best in sport to find out what makes them tick. I look for autobiographies, articles, interviews and whatever I can find to learn more.
I just read "Tiger Woods entering a zone where few have travelled" on nydailynews.com by sportswriter Hank Gola. Hank describes Tiger's amazing ability to repeatedly come from behind in golf tournaments and raises intrigue to how he has mastered this.
If you could only model one athlete on who to base your mental mindset, Tiger Woods would be the chosen one. From my own readings, I undestand his work with his sports psychologist, Dr Jay Brunza, has enabled Tiger to play in a hypnotic trance. Milton Erikson said that all people are living in a trance, one of disempowerment. When we can awaken within and use that trance state to one of empowerment, then we can truly succeed at any level, at the level of Tiger Woods perhaps.

Creating success through emotion

I am at the FIVB Beach Volleyball championships in Adelaide working with a team and it was wonderful to watch them utilise their new skills to produce a winning result. I am so proud that they decided to switch on to a new level when they were down 9-12 to lift their game and the results showed. From then on they constantly chose how they wanted to be emotionally and stayed in control of the game. They won and they qualified - the main competition starts tomorrow.
Many athletes wait for results to show before they get fired up. In contrast I watched another team play - fellow Aussies so I wanted them to do well. It was as if they were waiting for something to happen before they could play well. They definately didn't show up to win. The commentator urged on the crowd to get behind them, to fire them up. But you can't wait for someone or something else to do it for you. Only you can fire yourself up, and you can do it now. You can do it before you step on to your court, your track, your field - whatever sport you participate. You CHOOSE how you want to be from beginning to end. The Aussies lost. That thing they were waiting for to fire them up never happened. Don't let that happen to you. Make sure that you yourself be responsible for showing up to win.
You can find out more about mastering your emotional state in the latest copy of Spike Magazine or go to www.annetteffect.com.au to find out how you can achieve sporting success.

Olympic Torch lit in Ancient Olympia - ignite YOUR flame

I was sitting in the airport in Bangkok yesterday when they were showing live the lighting of the Olympic flame. Despite controversy with protestors requesting boycott in respect for Tibet's conflict with China, the flame was lit in preparation for it's journey to Beijing.
To me, the Olympic flame is symbolic of an athletes burning desire to compete and achieve. I was reminded of the time of the lighting of the flame in the cauldron in Sydney 2000 ignited my fire within - here I was ready to play at my very best amongst the best. I had never been so hungry and inspired to perform as I was at that point in time. The flame was anchored into my psyche, from the time I had first dreamt of becoming an Olympian - at the age of 10, when I was inspired by the feats of Nadia Comaneci.
What inspires you to be the best you can be? Are you doing all you can to reach your dreams? I realise now that I could have done more, that I could have aimed higher. I realise that I could have asked for help to give me a further edge and to go beyond my limits. I wish I had and I wish you do too - invest in your own dreams and seek out the assistance you need to be the best. Whether you need to be better physically or mentally, find a coach so that you have all the skills. Keep the fire burning.

Congratulations Tamsyn Lewis

Congratulations Tamsyn on a World Title at the Indoor Championships in the 800m. A demonstration of persistence and focus. If you believe in yourself you can do anything, regardless of the past and past performances.
For those reading this, be inspired - if she can do it, you can do it!
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Specificity in your Goals - do you need to use numbers?

In a newspaper article yesterday Libby Lenton denounced the need for the Australian Olympic Committee to set specific numbers on how many Medals would be won at the Beijing Olympic Games. She felt there was no need for 'pressure' for athletes to live up to certain expectations.
I disagree on two counts.
1. Pressure is something we place on ourselves by how we direct our thinking. Putting a figure on a desired outcome can have one person thinking 'towards' that goal with a sense of possibility - I/we CAN win x medals. Contrast that with another person who thinks with 'away' motivation and feels a sense of necessity - I/we HAVE to win x medals. This is often associated with an underlying question - what if I don't? or an underlying fear - what if I can't?
2. A specific and measurable figure gives one a specific target to work towards. If one doesn't reach that figure, it doesn't have to mean 'failure'. If Australia win 7 Gold rather than a projected 8 Gold in the swimming pool, it is still a success. By going for the specific figure an individual or a team has something on which to guage performance. How do you know how hard to train, how much work to do unless you know what you are aiming for.
Magic can happen too when you start being more specific. Think of your unconscious mind like a 7-8 year old child who needs to know EXACTLY what it is you want to direct you towards results. Do you want to be successful? How successful? What does that mean for you? You can find out more on how the unconscious mind determines your results at www.annetteffect.com.au

Think your Way to Sporting Success

Do you beleive in your dreams and goals? Does part of you want to win and be a champion, and the other part thinks that it's too hard, or not possible for you? Our mind is a wondrous thing, and whatever you do think about your ability is generally true. It has been said, whether you think you can or think you can't, you are correct.
Results Coaching and neuro-linguistic programming is an effective way to blast through limiting thought patterns and set you on the way to your Sporting success. For example, a coach can see whether you are thinking about the results you want to create or the results you don't want. Are you motivated by the joy of winning or by the fear of losing? These are two very different motivations and while the fear of losing might work for a while, it doesn't produce the same consistent results that can be achieved when you are motivated to win.
When you go out to play or perform, what pictures do you create in your mind? This will give you some idea of whether you are motivated towards pleasure, or motivated away from pain. Start to pay attention and see what works better for you.
You can find out more on this tip, and others in my new e-book 5 Keys to Think your Way to Sporting Success. Get a free copy when you register for the next teleseminar at http://myoptinpage.com/?pid=3569995