Comments for The Athlete within You

Comment on Starting with Why by Is this your first time - The Athlete within You

Is this your first time - The Athlete within You — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:41:54 +0000

[...] level able to pursue their love of the game and a college education. If you read the story about my father (an elementary school teacher) , you’ll understand that I appreciate now the impact I have had on the lives of others. There [...]

Comment on Role Models and Imagination by Learn about sports performance from Albert Einstein - The Athlete within You

Learn about sports performance from Albert Einstein - The Athlete within You — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:01:44 +0000

[...] that one of my major role models in life has been Albert Einstein. I wrote about this last month in Role Models and Imagination. I was thinking about him again today after quoting him to one of my clients, a college soccer [...]

Comment on Mental Training- The Final Frontier by Mental Training is not a luxury, it is a necessity! | The Athlete within You

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:58:35 +0000

[...] I wrote my last post on mental training being The Final Frontier my intention was to close with this statement. “Mental Training is not a luxury, it is a [...]

Comment on I call it bragging rights! by Lessons from the Super Bowl Build Up for Us All | The Athlete within You

Lessons from the Super Bowl Build Up for Us All | The Athlete within You — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:58:26 +0000

[...] if you have read some of my posts I encourage athletes to brag in my office. Sometimes it is important to say good things about yourself. We do not however do it in front [...]

Comment on Starting with Why by It's an Extraordinary Life | The Athlete within You

It's an Extraordinary Life | The Athlete within You — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:12:17 +0000

[...] naturally compete and live their life able to handle stress and adversity. I think it starts with understanding your why. Once you understand your why if you decide that you can live an Extraordinary Life on a daily [...]

Comment on Defining Core Values and Goals for a Team by TAGFEE in Sports | Mike Margolies- The Athlete within You

TAGFEE in Sports | Mike Margolies- The Athlete within You — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 21:29:58 +0000

[...] have written about core values before here. I think they are very important to teams, individuals and businesses. Normally I apply things we [...]

Comment on Old Man Story and the Choices we make by The Old Man Story continues | Mike Margolies- The Athlete within You

The Old Man Story continues | Mike Margolies- The Athlete within You — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 05:38:21 +0000

[...] at the end of August I posted a story in this space called The Old Man, (click on link here). I had done so because I had read about some players poor choices. I wrote that I have told this [...]

Comment on Shame – What We Won’t Talk About by Concussions in sports- Jr Seau's Tragic Death | Mike Margolies- The Athlete within You

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:38:06 +0000

[...] of believing hockey players are tougher than football players. My previous post here was about SHAME. It contributes to the [...]

Comment on About Mike Margolies by Mike Margolies

Mike Margolies — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:44:21 +0000

Ned,
Thank you for your comment. It is appreciated. Please give me me some more feedback if you would or let me know of other sport psychology topics your would like me to write about.

Comment on About Mike Margolies by brainwaves

brainwaves — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:43:35 +0000

I’m really inspired with your writing skills as well as with the structure on your blog. Is this a paid topic or did you customize it your self? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is uncommon to see a nice weblog like this one today..

Comment on Which beast do you feed? by Toni Arcuri

Toni Arcuri — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:26:39 +0000

Awesome article, Mike. I am reprinting on our team website – hope it’s ok.

Comment on All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten by ePub eBooks

ePub eBooks — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:17:41 +0000

+ Hi I value your blog alot. Will share.
Gracias for posting. ^_^

Comment on Momentum- Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Latitudes by Ben Watts

Ben Watts — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:06:50 +0000

Amazing material. Thank you for that, your blog is much appreciated

Comment on Backpacking through a Looking Glass by Fitness classes

Fitness classes — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:21:37 +0000

A very impressive article. Well prepared. Very motivating!! Set off on to way
My website is on Home fitness.

Comment on Breathe to Relieve Stress and Perform Better as Well by Donald Machine

Donald Machine — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:07:59 +0000

I learned a lot from this post, great help for me, thank you!

Comment on The Athlete Within You- Book Proof in Hand by Diane

Diane — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:32:51 +0000

Congrats Mike. Way to go.

Comment on Jack of All -Trades –Master of None– Perfectionism by Mike Margolies

Mike Margolies — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:29:19 +0000

Thank you for joining in on the conversation Anthony. We can look at this obviously from a number of perspectives as you can see when you read the comments of others. Perfect practice still makes perfect and that is the goal of course. The issue with practice makes perfect is more that if we don’t seek a high level in practice we will never achieve our goals. If your speed clients just go through the motions, they will get bad habits and perhaps even slow down. If they don’t use their arms, they won’t really get better and it will show on the field. What we have to watch for is that level of perfectionism where the athlete slows down significantly in order to perform a drill. Say you are using a speed ladder and every time someone steps on a rung they slow and become very dogmatic you know something is going on. The task has become more important than the goal. Eventually they may believe that the goal is unobtainable and just stop.

Comment on Jack of All -Trades –Master of None– Perfectionism by Anthony Drago

Anthony Drago — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:52:58 +0000

Excellent post. I can honestly I say you just helped me realize something about myself that I could never put my finger on. So for that I thank you. I train basketball players in speed, agility and quickness and also in the importance of mental toughness. They are absolutely what you call perfectionists and push to get better. I now see how that attitude can be more of a obstacle than a motivator. It is plain to see in my life as I tend to start things, get excited, make some progress and then self sabotage when things don’t go perfectly. I now can move forward, knowing things won’t be perfect and focus on progress and not perfection. As for the saying “practice makes perfect”, how about “practice makes improvement”. Thanks again.

Comment on Jack of All -Trades –Master of None– Perfectionism by Mike Margolies

Mike Margolies — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 04:03:22 +0000

Phil, I do think in many ways you are correct in that we are looking at the same coin. In this age of specificity most people strive to be really good at one thing. Even the family doctor is often listed as something other than a GP as they were a few generations ago. Lawyers practice by specialty and so it goes. I know sports psychologists that specialize in single sports like golf or tennis. for many people this pursuit of being really good at something, as you say sometimes makes it easier to back of and accept less than greatness. In your coaching business people (Provision Coaching) being a JOAT I suggest is something very beneficial. Understanding more than one thing gives perspective and insight in more than a single area. I believe people can be a very good joats. Joat's have gotten a bad rap. We have moved into an era were flexibility is more important than specialization. Someone has to work with all those perfect people that can't tie their shoes after all. (I'm going to steal that by the way, and have an artist friend of mine draw up an animal character called a Joat. A goat like creature I think.), This of course has moved us away from where I started on this topic, but I'm good with that. Let's talk about it more later when I write part 2.

Comment on Jack of All -Trades –Master of None– Perfectionism by Phil

Phil — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:18:48 +0000

I have certainly had bouts with perfectionism, and to this day still edit while I type, but to be honest, it has never really been an issue I deal with. What I have always dealt with was a fear of being a jack-of-all-trades. I’ve always been afraid of not being good enough at something, and that has driven me to specify in certain areas, thus doing my best to kill the JOAT philosophy. The problem is, that it becomes easy to accept failure, because your goal becomes unreachable. I suppose that’s two sides looking at the same coin, but very intriguing to see it from your eyes.

Comment on The Athlete Within You- Book Proof in Hand by sue

sue — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:56:46 +0000

Looking forward to the long awaited book.

Comment on The Athlete Within You- Book Proof in Hand by Mike Margolies

Mike Margolies — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:09:56 +0000

Thank you.

Comment on Jack of All -Trades –Master of None– Perfectionism by Mike Margolies

Mike Margolies — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 03:16:43 +0000

Siren- the pursuit of perfection, of the ideal is Man’s & Woman’s (you may reverse order) ultimate adventure. Our striving to be the best is part of being human. If one says the hell with it. Why should I even try? I don’t think I can get there. If the thought of not being perfect hinders our quest, then it becomes an issue. Now I have worked with many athletes who believed that more is better and in their quest for perfection sustained injury. perfectionism has its costs. Knowing when to push and when to ease off is what becoming The Athlete within You is all about.
I look forward to reading more about your pursuits of perfection on your blog http://sirenofstrength.com/

Comment on Jack of All -Trades –Master of None– Perfectionism by Siren of Strength

Siren of Strength — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:09:59 +0000

“The closer they get, the higher the expectation to be perfect. The harder they work and not reach perfection, the more they fear failure and the unreasonable expectation for success (only measured by perfection).”

Beautifully written and incredibly to the point. I try and remain committed to being a perfectionist-in-recovery, but it is often so difficult to stay aboard the wagon. Truthfully, the “pursuit of perfect” has been the hallmark of my every endeavor. As a law student, I studied film of every round of every competition I entered. For any final round or regional competition I not only rehearsed in front of a mirror, but I had my hair, nails and make up done professionally so that a hair out of place or chipped polish wouldn’t distract the judges. I kept a back-up suit in my locker, complete with an extra pair of shoes, just in case I dribbled coffee down my blouse or broke a heel. I won 13 of 14 rounds in which I competed. Despite the fact that my partner had an incident of complete brain freeze and forgot everything he planned to say when it was his turn to present, I blame that final loss on the fact that when he froze, I panicked – and momentarily put my head in my hands in front of him, our opponents, and worst of all, the panel of judges. I wonder: had I remained stalwart, would he have come around sooner? Perhaps we could have made up enough ground to win.

Although my “pursuit of perfect” has been less intense since leaving the legal industry (a playground where every opponent seeks out your failings the way Bard the Bowman fatally searched Smaug’s belly for a missing scale) I will admit to using both cosmetic surgery and a protractor to prepare for my debut a figure competitor. Further, while injury has derailed that pursuit this year, I am now spending hours each week in physical therapy to ensure that when I make a second run next spring, my contest preparation and workouts will be…. nothing short of perfect.

I look forward to the second installment of this article, as well as to your future posts. Thank you for your wisdom, my friend.

Comment on Memory is a Funny Thing by Mike Margolies

Mike Margolies — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:16:18 +0000

Thanks Randal, I appreciate your visiting my site. I’m looking forward to reading your new blog.

Comment on Memory is a Funny Thing by Randal DeHart

Randal DeHart — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:38:49 +0000

Hello Mike,

I enjoyed reading about your experiences. Sports are wonderful for those who follow it and as it happens, I never got into it. However, your story applies well to all industries, mine included.

There have been a few engagements I did not accept when times were good due to the travel involved. Anything over 30 minutes driving time is not good…LOL! Now I am taking on clients with greater than 30 minutes driving time.

Warm Regards,

Randal

Comment on Memory is a Funny Thing by Doug Snider

Doug Snider — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:37:35 +0000

Hi Mike!

If you’re reading this you can forget about our discussion right after the bloggers meeting this afternoon.

I really enjoyed your blog because, as an over-the-hill athlete myself, I can identify. Somehow that single in the bottom of the 7th inning my sophomore year of baseball has turned into a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th. At least that’s how I’m remembering it now.

Regards – Doug

Comment on Memory is a Funny Thing by Mike Margolies

Mike Margolies — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:25:24 +0000

Peter- People don’t have to be athletes to embellish their past. You may have memories of fixing a computer that no one else could fix. You did all of these steps to get it back. Then there was the little button that said on that you pushed and bam it was back working. If you didn’t go through all of the steps, you never would have known to push the button. There are lots of things in our lives that we can choose to remember well or we can also create a bad memory. I would rather have people focus on good things and even make them a little larger than life. The opposite for a bad memory. Let it go and fade away.

Comment on Memory is a Funny Thing by Mike Margolies

Mike Margolies — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:20:31 +0000

Doug- Thanks for the comment. Things do tend to become embellished over time. But it is also a part of our experience that brings us joy. As long as someone doesn’t completely live in the past your Grand Salami servers as a marker for your youth and that is a great thing.

Comment on Memory is a Funny Thing by Peter

Peter — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:51:39 +0000

Hi Mike,
This was a great article about memory; unfortunately, I dont have any great memories of being athletic, because I wasnt.
So, if you like I can make up something; I have a vivid imagination, just no athleticism.