Issue 6
Quote of the month
“You are the only problem you will ever have and you are the only solution. Change is inevitable, personal growth is always a personal decision.”
~
Bob Proctor
Take AIM principle of the month
The Take AIM system for optimal performance came from working with athletes and business professionals who were seeking improved performance. What I found was that these individuals had the “physical skills” to perform at the highest level; they lacked the mental and emotional skills to apply their skills under pressure.
Each month I will introduce you to the key principles of the Take AIM system. This month we are going to cover Assessing the real reason for your result. I am learning a lot by working with up and coming professional athletes and how they perceive their results. I constantly hear about how they are better than what they are showing and they are better then the competition. I listen for awhile before I ask the key question, “Why is the supposed inferior competition beating you?” This is not a kind question and will lead to some soul searching. I only ask this of performers who constantly are looking for outside reasons why they are under performing. Once I get an athlete or business professional to take responsibility for their performance and realize that they control their performance is when the professional will improve. All people get stuck in assessing the wrong areas of why they haven’t achieved their goals. Constantly blaming others or chalking it up to bad luck is an answer for people who will never get better.
Look at your current condition. Do you possess the inherent talent to do the job? This would include physical skills for an athlete or education/experience for business professional. What skills are needed to get to the next level?
Are you currently doing the necessary steps on a daily basis to be better than you were yesterday? This would include physical fitness training, reading up on competition, and other training methods.
Do you consistently evaluate/assess your competition and what they are doing to get ahead? Learning from the best will shorten your skill acquisition stage.
The last and most important question- Is your mindset one of focus, clarity on your target, confidence that you can get the job done, and tough to deal with adversity? The last question is what truly separates the best from the rest. Your mindset drives your behavior, which drives your results. If you consistently look for outside reasons for poor results you need a mindset adjustment. Assessing is about being honest with yourself. Don’t let your ego get in the way of evaluating what is the core problem and the ability to now fix it.
Product of the Month
My long awaited book Golf: The Ultimate Mind Game was just released by Advantage Media. In this book I have synthesized my 20 years of experience both playing and coaching golf into an easy to read plan to improve your mental and emotional skills on the golf course. I write about the many tools and techniques that I learned from both playing and earning my doctorate degree in Applied Sports Psychology. If you want to play great golf now, order at www.RickSessinghaus.com. 
What Rick is up to
Rick is featured in the 2008 Golf Tips Magazine Instruction Annual which is on newsstands until November 5th. Look for Rick on Golf Life TV on Fox Sports Network as he continues his series on golf’s mental game.
Who is Rick Sessinghaus
Rick is a peak performance expert. He is a member of the PGA and earned his Doctorate degree in Applied Sports Psychology. Rick specializes in improving the performance of athletes, executives, and businesses through his coaching and speaking programs. His unique programs allow the client to apply Rick's system and receive immediate results. Check out how Rick can help you at www.RickSessinghaus.com.
Email to a friend who would benefit from performance information.