Issue 7
Quote of the month
"Growth means change and change involves risks, stepping from the known to the unknown."
~
George Shinn
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 Implementing new habits. In the last newsletter I wrote about honestly assessing why you are not getting the results you want. Once you assess properly it is clear on what needs to be changed. Implementing the change is the difference between those that think and those that do. The ones who take daily action to change will in the end, succeed. Start with being clear on what is replacing the old habit. Too many focus on not doing the old habit, yet haven’t shifted to focus on the new positive habit. Once you are clear on the new behavior you will need to implement a system to make the behavior a habit.
- Create reminders in your environment that will keep you aware of your desired change. I use post it notes, reminders in my Outlook calendar, and pictures that represent the new behavior.
- Visualize for a couple of minutes a day seeing yourself with the new habit. As you see yourself making the change it creates confidence and trust that you can follow through.
- Use a support system to leverage the change. I will tell my wife to make me aware if I go back to an old behavior. This reminder will change my focus and get me focused on replacing it.
- Write in a journal and enter how each day went as it relates to making change. You can learn what was challenging and how you dealt with those challenges. Some days will be easy and by writing about it you will improve your confidence that you can do it.
- We want to create an environment of positive momentum. Many studies suggest that it takes between 21 to 30 days of focused action to change a habit. Make it a goal to take action for 30 straight days and utilize techniques such as visualization, journalizing, and support groups to push you along.
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 on the GolfTipsmag.com website with two new video tips. You can also see them on YouTube. Rick’s book will be featured in the February issue of Golf Tips Magazine with additional video content to be added to the site in the coming months.
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.
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