Remember the 1983 Donna Summer classic “On The Radio?”

I found myself singing that song today thinking about this Sunday.

That’s because I am going to be on ESPN Radio.

I am a guest on the only national golf talk radio show.

Not just the only national golf talk show, but the only show controlled by a PGA TOUR event, The Honda Classic.

Here is what the host of the show, Russ Evans has to say about this South Florida based show:

The Honda Classic and IGP Management took a seasonal golf radio show, previously running only seven months a year, and brought it up to a completely different level as part of the tournament’s long-term branding plan,” Evans said. “The local golfing community now has a 52-week program with PGA TOUR insiders perspective, while The Honda Classic has a platform to raise awareness for the tournament and its surrounding events to the South Florida community.” The show features coverage of tournament play on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours, frequent interviews of touring pros and television analysts, and discussions of local golf events.

While I don know the exact time I am scheduled for, the show airs from 9AM-11Am EST.

I will be discussing the common traps most golfers fall into, and how to get out.

Here is a link to more information about The Honda Classic Golf Exchange Radio Show

It’s 12:58pm.

Your tee time.

You have been on the range loosening up.

You sank a few putts.

You feel like you’re ready.

Nervous, excited, but ready.

REALLY?

As you draw to see who will hit first in your group, your number comes up first.

Now a little more tension sets in.

Now a few random thoughts come into play such as ….

“Alright, don’t make a fool of yourself out here right now.

Don’t slice into the next fairway.

Just make sure you hit the ball with some good contact, and

Whatever you do, don’t completely miss it!”

Did YOU know that OVER 97% of golfers are unprepared to effectively play a round of golf.

Why?

Because there are certain things YOU MUST DO, if YOU ARE SERIOUS about PLAYING YOUR BEST.

Today, I am going to focus on first tee jitters and your thought process around them.

What do you think goes into being prepared to hit YOUR first shot with confidence?

It’s very simple.

Being 100% READY.

What is being 100% READY you ask.

A big part of being 100% READY means having a strategy going into YOUR round.

An overall message that you can relate to for 18 holes.

A message that gives your entire round meaning, regardless of performance.

A message that resonates WITH YOU, specifically for YOUR ROUND.

Stay with me on this one….. it’s REALLY IMPORTANT.

If an army was going into battle, don’t YOU think they would have a strategy?

You know, a big picture plan.

Something EVERY infantryman, EVERY colonel, EVERY paratrooper and EVERYONE ELSE could relate to.

Let’s say the strategy was this ….

CAPTURE THEIR LEADER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So if you are in the midst of the battle with bullets and grenades flying all around, YOU know what the strategy is.

If you are jumping out of a plane into an enemy infested forest, YOU know what the strategy is.

IF YOU ARE THE LAST MAN STANDING, YOU know what the strategy is.

While YOUR situation may seem really bleak at times, YOU will ALWAYS REMEMBER what the strategy is.

While YOUR situation may seem really bleak at times, staying true to your STRATEGY, does this.

It Keeps YOU focused

IT Keeps YOU confident

It Keeps YOU calm

It Keeps YOU HITTING TARGETS

It Keeps YOU PLAYING YOUR BEST

I understand that golf is just a game, and in no way compares to the insane seriousness of war, but it is a battle.

It’s a battle of your knowledge, your courage, your discipline, your ability, your stamina, your fight, your tenacity, your emotions, your thoughts, your ego, your will and so much more.

I don’t know about you, but if I’m in all those battles, I want a strategy.

So why does a strategy matter to being more confident on the first tee specifically.

That is the time when you need confidence the most.

It is the first shot of the round.

It means a lot to YOU, and ….

Of course YOU want to get off to a good GREAT START !!!

YOUR strategy is dependent on the nature of your round.

If YOU are out with friends or clients, your STRATEGY might be this.

“FOCUS ON THE POSITIVES IN EVERY CONVERSATION”

If YOU are playing a practice round before a big match, your STRATEGY might be this.

“FOCUS ON MY TARGET ON EVERY SHOT.”

If YOU are playing in the biggest match of YOUR LIFE, your STRATEGY might be this.

“TELL MYSELF I AM THE GREATEST PLAYER ON THE COURSE TODAY.”

Don’t YOU feel more confident already?

The next time you are called for YOUR tee time, I WANT YOU TO BE ….

100% READY.

What do YOU need to be 100% READY for? A tee time, a dance rehearsal, a BIG meeting with a BIG client, or perhaps just tomorrow? Whatever it is, I would love to help.

Email me at greg@indaregolf.com to schedule 30 minutes to chat, TOTALLY FREE.

I WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO ACHIEVE

100% READY.

HAVE YOU EVER ….

Hit YOUR funny bone (not so funny is it) ?

OR

Hit a baseball off the inside of a wooden bat (on a cold day)?

If YOU never experienced the sensation of a shank in golf, these are examples of similar, yet awkward types of feelings.

A common thought when a golfer hits a shank is….

“Uh-oh” …OR…. “oh no” ….OR…. “yikes” ….OR …

What the heck was that !?!?!?!?!?

It is a very uncomfortable feeling because it feels like the club is reverberating in your hands for a split second.

AND, the best part, is this…

The ball, if you’re right handed, flies directly to the right in an almost impossible to replicate flight pattern.

When it happens, the A.N.T.s (Automatic Negative Thoughts) go into overdrive and YOU say things such as …

“I JUST HIT A SHANK”

or

“I HAVE THE SHANKS”

or

“I CAN’T BELIEVE I JUST SHANKED IT.”

Soon afterward, here is what happens:

#1 – YOU proceed to hit another one (or several), depending on how much “air time” YOU give it in YOUR MIND.

#2 – YOU want to take out a full page ad in USA TODAY and proclaim to the world “I HAVE THE SHANKS.”

#3 – YOU call YOUR local teaching pro, immediately, and say “Please help me, I HAVE THE SHANKS!!!”

ARE YOU NOTICING A PATTERN HERE ????

YOU are repeating the word over and over and over, and reinforcing the fact that YOU have a problem.

Before I share a great video on how to eliminate the “S” word, let me ask YOU something.

When YOU do, or say the wrong thing in a meeting, do YOU immediately tell all of YOUR colleagues?

When YOU roll through a red light, do YOU stop YOUR car, and tell all the other drivers on the road?

If YOU failed (or scored poorly on an exam), do YOU run and tell all YOUR classmates “I failed my exam?”

OF COURSE NOT.

What do you do instead?

YOU quietly ignore it, as if NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.

That’s it !!!

END OF STORY.

OVER.

DONE.

FINISHED.

ON TO THE NEXT THING.

THEN WHY, when the shanks occur do YOU have this burning desire to dwell on it, as if …

in some really bizarre, weird way, YOU’RE actually proud of it?

While I do not know the exact answer to this question, I do know this…..

WE ALL HAVE NATURAL TENDENCIES TO FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE.

‘Focusing on the Negative‘ is what Dr. Daniel Amen identifies as category #3 in the nine categories of A.N.T.s, in his best-selling book called “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.”

One of the main reasons we “focus on the negative,” because that is what everyone else does.

We are predisposed to it.

We are surrounded by it.

We live it.

We breathe it.

We experience it.

We embrace it.

It is an epidemic, everywhere.

Growing up, my dad used to say …

IF YOU DON’T HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY ABOUT SOMEONE, DON’T SAY ANYTHING.

Here is my challenge to YOU.

The next time YOU feel the need to say something bad, or gossip, about someone else …

STOP.

SHUT YOUR MOUTH.

SAY NOTHING.

GO ABOUT YOUR DAY AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.

And the next time you hit a shank ….

GO ABOUT YOUR ROUND AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.

But before all of that happens, watch and listen to what PGA Member, Gary Occhino and I have to say about STOPPING THE SHANKS.

Here’s the video

Enjoy

This Thursday I want to tell you about a golf company from Buffalo, NY that is ready to take the golfing world by storm, and what’s in it for YOU.

STAY TUNED FOR SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS !!!

I love to paint.

Of the four houses I have owned, I have painted 90-100% of the rooms in each of them.

Since moving into our new home three months ago, I have been painting off and on ever since.

As I was painting the front porch this past weekend, I had a thought.

What if every time you did something, there was someone watching you?

Would you be more cautious?

Would you do better?

Would you try harder?

Would you be more thorough?

Would you try to show off, or would you be nervous?

After thinking about this, it sent my thoughts into overdrive.

For me, if I painted with someone always watching, I would be excited to show off my talents!!!

While I am not the best painter in the world, I am pretty good at it.

It would be helpful if people were watching me, because it would make me even better.

Ultimately, it led me to this thought.

Are you showing off your talents?

Do you know what your talents are?

Do you like the idea of showing off, or are you too shy?

Do you get nervous performing in front of others?

How about on the course, imagine if every shot you hit, during practice and during a round or match, someone was watching.

How would that impact you?

For most, it would make them more nervous?

Why?

Because the A.N.T.s (Automatic Negative Thoughts) would come into play.

WHOA, STOP RIGHT THERE.

Let’s reverse that negative energy and think about showing off your talents.

As opposed to getting nervous in front of others, I want you to think about getting excited.

You are excited because you have an audience to perform in front of.

An opportunity to showcase your talents and have fun.

Now I want YOU to think of anyone who is watching as your biggest fan, and they want to see you perform!!!

They want you to hit that great shot so they can cheer you on.

With that mindset, the situation changes.

You went from nervous to excited,

OR

Fearful to confident (and READY) !!!

If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know that I had a crippling fear of public speaking.

I used to get so nervous before a presentation that I would hope to get into an accident on the way there (sad but oh so true).

Not exactly what I would call an optimal mindset.

It took me a while to reverse that energy and turn speaking into my passion.

The main point to what I am saying, is this.

If you are constantly in the mindset of peak performance, performing under “pressure” becomes easier.

If you are always performing under pressure, you will welcome new opportunities.

If you welcome opportunity, your entire life can change.

SHOW OFF YOUR TALENTS TODAY !!!

Let’s chat. Lenny J. of Rochester, NY started the last day of his club championship last weekend with a triple on the first hole. However, since he spent 20 minutes with me the week prior to the tournament, he created a strategy for each round and stayed committed to it. As a result, he finished in third place. Congratulations Lenny and keep up the good work !!!

Are YOU READY to spend 20 minutes discussing how to improve your game or your life, email me at greg@indaregolf.com. It’s FREE, it’s FUN and it WORKS!!!

In Freudian psychology, the pleasure principle is the concept describing people seeking pleasure and avoiding suffering (pain) in order to satisfy their biological and psychological needs.

I have been very aware of this concept recently and wanted to share how it applies to golf and our everyday life, and why it matters.

Let’s use your golf game as an example.

Did you ever wonder why you see people on the range pounding balls as opposed to working on their short game?

It is because there is way more pleasure associated with hitting your driver (or irons) long distances than hitting sand shots out of a bunker (painfully boring for most).

What is interesting though is that the majority of our shots come from within 50 yards or less.

To the casual observer of the game, it is common sense that you would spend more time on your short game, simply due to statistics.

Now let’s take a look at life.

Does it make sense to spend time working on the things that you want as opposed to avoiding what you do not want?

I think so.

Do we?

Not most people.

Most people discuss all of the things that give them pain such as …

their job
their personal relationships
their business relationships
their financial situation
their weight
their neighbors
their car
the weather
their misfortunes
their golf game, etc …..

I had some pretty extreme pain in my foot on Sunday that forced me to do my stretching exercises to relieve it.

Now I know I am supposed to stretch regularly, but have not, and I paid for it, physically (shame on me).

The simple reason I stopped doing them was because I felt relief for a while and thought I could get away without doing it I guess (sound familiar).

How about you?

Are you avoiding pain or seeking pleasure in your life?

Are you spending time working towards what you want or are you trying to maintain the insanity?

If you are unsure of your own response, answer these simple questions.

#1 – Do you know what you want?

#2 – If yes, how much time do you spend on it each day?

#3 – What specific actions are you taking to get there?

If you know what you want but are doing nothing about it, write down one thing you can do today to get started.

If you have taken the time to identify what you want, and are taking the appropriate actions, you are in the 3% category of achievers.

For me, one of the major things I want in my life is freedom.

I cherish my health, my family and all of my relationships, but I want to spend more quality time with all of them.

How do I know I want the freedom (time) to do more?

Because I took the time to identify it.

It is amazing how your life takes on way more meaning when you know what you want.

If you want to bring more pleasure into your golf game or your life, I can show you how to identify it.

It’s easy, it’s fun and it’s quick (about 20 minutes).

 To schedule your FREE 20 minute call today, email greg@indaregolf.com.