How to get FRONT ROW any any show!

This is what (we) did at the Tom Petty show. There is a mental toughness component to it (of course). They don’t give front row seats away, you have to pay for them or win them.

How to get front row at ANY show

A colleague  of mine,  Tom, was part of the group at the show. Our group of 8 people were camped out in the lawn at this concert and near the end, Tom announced, “I’m going down to the front row.” Off he went… Just like that…

Now, before we go further, Tom is blind…. so, actually Tom and his guide dog left to get front row.

After about 10 seconds, I say to the others, “I’m going with him” and run to catch him twenty feet down the path toward front stage.

How to get front row, takes audacity, because there are people employed to keep people from getting down front… Here’s what to do…

Rule #1:  Don’t stop!

I have been front row at many places before, and honestly most places I have been, I probably shouldn’t have. It all stems from employing rule #1.

Here’s how it went:

Row 60-We walked right past the first two set of ticket checkers without any problem to get front row. Now, if it was just me, there may have been a problem, but they looked at Tom and his guide dog and we kept moving….

Row 40-The second set of ticket takers also saw us, asked for our tickets, and we employed rule #1. They also saw Tom and his guide dog and they let us pass. We kept moving…

Row 30- We hit the lower level of seats and now needed to find a new path, we shuffled left and found a row leading us down. The lady checking our tickets actually grabbed us and now I employed the verbal response of “we are okay.” She let go and we kept moving…

Row 20- We were now in Box Seats Land, meaning the guide dog had a better chance of getting us closer than I did, because I was in front of and in-between sets of people (these people don’t dance either, they just sit or stand). I had no place to go.

Row 18- We slipped in with a group of people who looked at us, but did not say anything. Now, the lady who had grabbed us had followed us and was now standing right behind us. I told her we were here for one song and that was it. “Was that okay?” She said “1 song!”

I looked around and during the daytime would have seen the only way to the front row was from the sides not the frontal assault we had chosen. We were stuck.

We stayed until the entire encore was over and left the concert with everyone else…. We were close, 18th row… Now, if I knew the path, we would have made it, or maybe if Tom was by himself, he would have made it. Either way, this is the strategy of how you make it.

In life, whatever you want to accomplish, you’ll have to be bold and just do it.  Don’t stop just because people will try to stop you, just keep moving!

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out all the books on Mental Toughness- 

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Shocking Ways That Goals NOT Deals Will Improve Your Mental Toughness

make goals not deals

Shocking Ways That Goals NOT Deals Will Improve Your Mental Toughness

Click here to receive a FREE FILM On Mental Toughness

At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Billy Mills would make history with his iconic sprint to win the gold medal in the 10,000 meters. He was so unknown, that a Japanese reporter asked him after his win “who are you?”

He is still the last American to win the Gold medal in the 10,000 meters.

However, he was actually going to quit.

Before the last lap, he knew he had third place locked up, so he was going to pull up and let the battle be decided by the other two runners, Ron Clarke and Mohammed Gammoudi.

He knew it was “safe” to pull up, but as he looked into the stands, he saw his wife crying… He couldn’t give up on his goal, NO DEAL!

A runner/cyclist friend of mine was a great athlete who admitted that he could just “show up.” He was skilled enough to compete in basically anything he did.

However, he told me that his game changed once he set goals not deals with himself.

Mental Toughness is all about how we handle, cope, and deal with adversity. Our own mind gets in the way of this, especially when life gets really tough. 

During a race or competition, he used to say to himself, “Keep up with [that guy] until this point and then let him go.” He admitted he wasn’t as sharp as he needed to be mentally. Now, during a race or practice, he’ll set goals, he’ll just say, “Catch that guy.”

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Make Goals NOT Deals

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How often do you make deals instead of goals? 

  • With our children, “Honey, if you pick up your toys, you can get a snack.”
  • With God, “lord, if you get me through this, I will never…”
  • With ourselves, “If you [do this] then you can [do this].”

Making deals is just like a coach who uses sprints as the only means of discipline.

Making deals is just like a coach who uses sprints as the only means of discipline.

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It works, but only for a short while, and the athletes soon grow to tolerate it, and not learn from it. Making deals is effective, but only for the short-term. It gets the job done, but it is not sustainable and it causes really bad habits.

When we make deals, we are limiting how good we can become.

Deals do not build mental toughness.

Our motivation and focus has changed. We are doing something to gain an immediate result, not long-term success. Making deals also gives us an “out”, a reason not to push further when it gets really tough. When we make goals not deals, it means there is a higher purpose and why behind our actions  and we start to win the mental game. 

Goals not deals means having a plan of action without a fallback.

It’s stating, “I will do this”, instead of  “do this, so you can.” It means keeping the focus on the immediate task at hand instead of focusing on the outcome.

Athletes don’t train for the trophy; they train for the feeling of holding the trophy. It’s not for external reasons or rewards either, it’s for the self-satisfaction.  

“Good athletes practice until they get it right, great one’s practice until they can’t get it wrong.”

 

dr rob bell speakerDr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. 

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“I Was Robbed!”

How many times have we heard in sport or life, “I was robbed of that play “or “that game was stolen?” If we have said it or have been a part of it, then we know the thoughts and feelings that go along with it.

Well, literally, I was robbed!

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During an early morning swim at the YMCA, the aquatics director was soon standing over me letting me know my car was broken into.

Dammit!!

Now, my Mac Book, iPad, and video camera were all taken as part of this smash & grab job. BUT my thoughts immediately went to MY BOOK! Having worked on the book for the past year, it was quite a bit of time, effort, and money.

The Victim

I was upset, felt helpless, and even wanted to blame somebody for what happened. I went to all of these mental places the hours after this took place. But what really surprised me is the “feeling” that stuck inside my gut. I just felt “off.”

Since I help athletes, coaches, and teams perform better, I always want to be a product of my product. “The Variable is YOU.”

The easier part for me about the break-in was getting over it. I could do that!

how does pay day advance work

But, I actually wanted to use this obstacle as an opportunity…I don’t like feeling or acting like a victim. Winners don’t do that.

The only way I could have used this obstacle to improve was to be THANKFUL IT HAPPENED. Could I convince myself that this robbery actually was a blessing? Could I really turn my thoughts into  “why NOT me?”  Did having my car broken into actually save me from getting in a car accident later on? Was it a HINGE moment? 

How many of us get stuck, unable to get over what happened to us?  Yes, it sucks, but don’t stay in the “I was robbed” mentality. Instead, let it go, but more importantly use the experience to mentally get better.

When I was able to make this acceptance a part of my growth as a person, everything changed that day!! Oh yea, we have to practice it on a daily basis. It is easy to be positive when things are going well, but the true test is not where we stand in times of comfort, but during times of struggle.

Turn your obstacles into opportunities.

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness   

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Do Your Worst!

Two years ago, on April 27th, 2011, I faced a very real and dangerous storm. That day EF4 tornados ripped through the state of Alabama and my home of Tuscaloosa. The immense amount of devastation Tuscaloosa and the surrounding cities experienced that day is hard to put into words.

In the wake of immense devastation and tragedy, the spirit and pride of the Tuscaloosa community shined brightly. Immediately after the storm, the entire community united together to help everyone who had been affected. It didn’t matter what the job was, who it was for, or what it took because people were willing to do anything they could to help clean up and rebuild the city. In the days that followed the storm, the Tuscaloosa community taught me that it’s not the storms you experience in your life, but rather how you respond to them that defines you.

Do Your Worst!

My favorite scene in The Count of Monte Cristo is the Birthday Toast. In this scene, the Count of Monte Cristo remarks, “The boy’s reply to all of this was do your worst” as he toasts Albert for his display of courage when he was attacked and threatened by criminals. He then finishes the toast with this statement: “You must look into that storm, just as you did in Rome and say do your worst, for I shall do mine.”

This type of resiliency by a community is not an isolated example. Nearly two weeks ago, a different type of storm took place in Boston when the bombs exploded. This strength shown by the people in Boston made them a stronger city and now more people than ever will try to qualify for next years race. People have seen the worst a storm can do, and now they want to show it what their ‘worst’ looks like.

Life is full of storms and they come at the most unexpected times… We aren’t in control of the storms, but we are in control of our response. Whatever type of storm you may be experiencing, I hope that you respond with the strength and resolve that I witnessed in Tuscaloosa. Look at that storm and say ‘Do your worst’ because you know you can get through it and will be stronger because of it.

This article is dedicated to the victims of the April 27, 2011 storms. 4/27/11 Never Forget

Will DrumrightAbout the Author: Will Drumright is an Associate of DRB. He works with athletes of all ages, especially good one’s. He can be reached at  wcdrumright@gmail.com or twitter  @wcdrummy15

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The Hinge…Page 1

Hinge (definition): Noun–A movable joint or mechanism…that connects linked objects. (v): A circumstance upon which other events depend.

The Greenbrier resort in White Sulpher Springs, WV, housed a secretive bunker that was built in the early 1960s. Located about five hours from Washington D.C., this

The Greenbrier

The Greenbrier

underground bunker actually became a part of U.S. defense. It was built to survive an indirect bomb strike, relying on the secrecy of its location and the West Virginia mountains for protection. If needed, it would have housed the entire Congress as a fallout shelter. This secret bunker lasted for 30 some years, only to be revealed in 1992.

The Bunker possessed three massive, blast-proof doors, each weighing over 20 tons. The doors were about fifteen feet high, thirteen feet wide, and 20 inches thick. Despite the enormity of these doors, it only took about fifty pounds of pressure to open and close them.

The reason one person could easily close these enormous doors was the hinge. The stronger the door, the more important the hinge, and the hinge used for the blast doors weighed 1.5 tons. Without the hinge, the massive doors would have been unmovable.

TILLAMOOKCHAMBER.ORG/CAMPOAMOR/

How often have we felt like that door? We felt confident, in control, at ease, and self-assured of what we are doing. We were as strong as the 29-ton door with amazing hinges. Other times, we have felt the opposite. We have been discouraged; lacked confidence, focus, or burnout from our passion. The door has not changed, it has remained strong. What has changed is the hinge…

The hinge is so integral to any door, cabinet, table, or bridge that, without it, these items become useless. The hinge is also crucial to our anatomy: hips, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles. No matter how strong our legs are, if we have a torn ACL, our legs are useless.

The hinge connects. We need the hinge. Connection is why we are here…

The hinge is real. The hinge connects. And it only takes one.  The hinge is moments or opportunities that make all the difference. We are the door, but a door without a hinge is a wall. Since we can’t know when a hinge will connect, it is our role to have mental toughness.

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Two Mental Toughness takeaways from the 2013 Masters

The Mental Toughness takeaways from 2013 Masters were from the two Aussies, Jason Day & Adam Scott.

Jason Day made three consecutive birdies on the 13th, 14th, & 15th. His tap-in birdie on the 15th captured the lead (momentarily) by 2 shots. What happened next were tough back-to-back bogies on 16 & 17.

Jason day

www.golf.com

He was honest afterwards and admitted that the pressure got to him. Pressure gets us out of our normal, automatic routine. If we even think “do what your doing, stay relaxed, etc.” we are already doing something different.

Lender Online

In golf, pressure makes fast players slow down and slow players speed up.

Jason Day, a fast player, became very deliberate in his pre-shot routine that he slowed down. You could now see him focused on his breathing and really visualizing his shot. He got out of his normal routine.

Adam Scott, the first Aussie winner of the Masters, provided the other mental toughness example. He made nothing with the putter all day long. His lone birdie at the 3rd was the only birdie with his putter all day. He kept hitting great shots, and missing the putt.  Twitter even began to blow up with the jokes about his putting.

Never forget it only takes one! 

What he did however was he kept himself in it, hanging around, giving himself opportunities. He then made it when it mattered the most! The birdie putt on the 72nd hole was iconic, and the birdie during the playoff on the 10th was the finisher.

Adam Scott

www.radiosport.co.nz

Dr. Rob BellThe Hinge-The Importance of Mental Toughness Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology coach. DRB & Associates based in Indianapolis works with athletes, coaches, and teams building their Mental Toughness.  His 2nd book titled The Hinge: The Importance of Mental Toughness was recently released. Follow on twitter @drrobbell  or contact drrobbell@drrobbell.com

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Caddying on the PGA Tour

Sport psychologist caddying on pga tour

A caddy is the closest thing to being a sideline head coach. It provides amazing insight into the game that no one else can get, and caddies save a professional golfer, in my opinion, about one shot a round. Here’s my take, since I loop a few tour events each year for my clients that I help coach with the mental game.

“Keep up, clean up & shut up”

Caddying is all about timing. The best have an awareness of when to speak up and when to stay silent. They often know what their player is thinking and can even anticipate a response before a question is asked. Most importantly, a great caddy isn’t afraid to make a mistake.

“There is a reason why their name is on the bag”

A caddy is still perceived like a head coach because he/she is only as good as their player. But two of the absolute best that I know are Paul Tesori and Joe Skovron. They have played golf at the highest level, have caddied for winners on tour, Rickie Fowler & Webb Simpson, and prepare better than anyone else.

A great caddy is like a sponsor in A.A. It is built upon a mutual relationship of trust and is also 100% confidential. The best aren’t afraid of calling out their player if they are not preparing the right way, abandon game plans, not committing to shots, or getting in their own way. 

“We shot 66, he shot 74” 

The bags are never heavy shooting a 66, but they can get weighty when the player is not playing well. In fact, the toughest part is often removing oneself from the actual score and not getting caught up in what the player is doing. The player himself can ride an emotional roller coaster, so staying positive, calm, in-control, and un-emotional at all times is huge.

“Every shot counts”

I am constantly reminded the importance of every shot! But, once my player 3-putted the last hole of a PGA tournament, which cost him a top-25 finish and $21,000. Ten percent of that amount, my cut, is more than I have ever attempted at gambling in my life.

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness   

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The player who makes the fewest mistakes usually wins

Ben Hogan once stated, “golf is not a game of good shots, it’s a game of bad shots.”

If you really want to play consistent golf, manage your game by managing your mistakes. After each round, you should look at your statistics a bit deeper than your typical fairways or greens hit, but not as deep as strokes gained putting, that gets too be too much in my opinion. But hey, if that type of over-analyzing works for you, go at it.

2012 US Open champion, Webb Simpson, and his caddy, Paul Tesori, have a specific system that examine their own play. It’s quite simple; they look at four statistics that show where they are making mistakes….They know that the person who makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.

After every tournament, they look at the following four statistics:

1)   Three-putts

2)   Bogeying any par-five

3)   Bogey from the fairway <8 iron

4)   Double bogey

They have deemed that any of these mistakes is like giving 2 shots back to the field that they cannot afford to make. Assessing their play in this fashion also helps direct their practice, and/or game strategy.

If the goal is consistency, are you managing mistakes in your own game?

Dr. Rob Bell is the author of Mental Toughness Training for Golf, an AASP certified Sport Psychology consultant, and caddy on tour. He consults with athletes, coaches, and teams at all levels helping build and enhance their own mental toughness.  His website is www.drrobbell.com and you can find him on Twitter @drrobbell,

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How to know your effectiveness as a consultant

In early 2000’s, Ken Ravizza was doing one of his impromptus, yet standing room only, presentations at the national conference of the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. He was working with the Anaheim Angels at the time and one of his messages was “don’t ask for gear.”

In essence, if the team and coaches enjoy your work, they will freely offer you team gear and swag. I LOVED IT! I have lived by this mantra, although I thoroughly enjoy fresh warm-ups, lids, and jackets. I have a passion for supporting and helping the various teams I work.

Here’s the deal, if you want to know your effectiveness, let the coach get your size and outfit you. I have come to associate that a coach that freely gives you “gear” means he/she wants you to be present and a part of the team. It is a small, yet important, token of appreciation and a rite of passage.

You’re receiving monetary compensation as well (you should be if you’re not), so it doesn’t necessarily mean a coach that doesn’t “outfit” you appreciate you, but it does go a long way.

What are small ways that you feel a part of the organization or team that you work with?

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Have you played the game: I Love You More?

Have you ever played the game— I love you more? Choose from the following three choices, which relationship most describes you.

1) Your partner loves you more than you love him or her.

Or

2) You love your partner more then he/she loves you.

Or

3) You love each other equally, but it’s boring.

Now, if you did not pick an answer that says something as well. But, the question, if answered honestly, tells us more about our sense of control, more so than our actual relationship status.

If we pick answer #1, we want to be loved MORE than our loving the other person. It means we value control. The person we are closest too physically, emotionally, and spiritually, we still want just the slightest bit of control.

If we picked answer #2, we sacrifice control over the relationship, knowing what ultimate love really feels like. It involves complete trust, because we believe that our emotional needs will still be met, and it means we are willing to be vulnerable. We are completely exposed, and if your heart has ever been broken and you can honestly pick #2, you’re stronger than you think.

If answer #3 was your choice, you either weren’t honest or you are really boring. Maybe that’s a good thing. It means you avoid all or nothing thinking! The older I’ve gotten, the more I actually take this choice.

We confuse and spend too much time on the things we can influence, rather then focusing only on the things within our control. The only things inside of our complete control are our attitude, preparation, and our hustle. We control the door, not The Hinge.

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness   

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