Getting into “the Zone”

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on January 11, 2010
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“We derive more benefit from the actions we take than the results
we seek.” - David Martin

Chances are you have been in “the Zone.” You know, that place where you played your absolute best, everything just flowed, you felt confident, you were focused, and everything around you was easy.

Chances are you felt calm and quiet inside, you had no worries, and you felt no pressure. 

In “the Zone” you were focused, confident, calm, and in control. You moved easily and effortlessly. You were totally tuned into what you were doing, you were unaware of external distractions, you experienced a sensation of elation, joy and fluidity that was unexplainable. 

It is that place where your mind, your emotions, and your body were totally connected.  Would you like to get there more often?

What is “the Zone”?

“The Zone” is a state of consciousness where all of the body’s senses and functions (sight, hearing, taste, smell, emotions, thoughts, and muscular reaction) act in harmony with each other to achieve some specific task.

When you reach this state of consciousness, you experience what we call in NLP a sense of “Flow.”

You lose conscious control of your senses and functions and perform from a deeper more subconscious level of control. This is the ultimate place; it’s where you want to be to achieve peak performance on a consistent basis.

“Why can’t I get there?”

Most people are not able to get into the zone because of mental, emotional or physical distractions.

Mental distractions occur when you’re unable to block out external distractions like noise, weather conditions, crowd behavior, over-analysis, or just plain thinking too much. 

Emotional distractions are feelings like doubt, fear, anger, frustration, lack of confidence or over confidence. Physical distractions include fatigue, lack of conditioning, injury, or soreness.

Many of these distractions can lead to unforced errors which contributes to pressure and can rob you of your confidence. Playing under these conditions will keep the door to “the Zone” shut tightly.

However, the biggest reason people fail to get into the zone is because they refuse to let go of conscious control of their performance. Conscious control is how they learn and it is the only way they know how to perform.

The only way to get into “the Zone” is to let go of conscious control and let the instincts take over. Essentially, you’ll be getting out of your own way!

It’s time to get ready for the next level.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin

The Making of Champions

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David
on January 4, 2010
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“Champions are not made in the ring, they’re only recognized there.” - Joe Frazier

This time of year marks many championships being achieved - Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, National Championship in College Football, the NFL Playoffs begin etc. However these champions are made through a long arduous process that began months and even years ago. They train consistently with the idea of developing Championship Skills. You can do the same with your life, business, fitness anything. Through the use of NLP, Self-Image Psychology combined with clear cut goals and determination.

Performance Coaching Systems by David Martin includes the same technology used by Tony Robbins and Maxwell Maltz - it can work for you too!

The best is yet to come!

David Martin

Principle of Power

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David
on December 21, 2009
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“Remember: Your focus determines your reality.” - Qui-Gon Jinn

There is a genius inside every man and woman, waiting to be brought forth. It is a simple thought which will allow access to this power. It’s the ability to think that separates us from animals.

Squirrels don’t go to squirrel school to learn how to gather nuts for the winter. They don’t have squirrel unions or squirrel quotas. They can’t decide to take a break from nut gathering. It just won’t happen!

Squirrels born in the spring are already out gathering nuts to for the winter. No other options are available. It’s instinct, its natural process; it’s in their squirrel genes.

You and I, as humans, have the distinct privilege and power of choice. We can choose to be all or be part of what life has to offer. As you use this tool of thought (and I do NOT mean analyze), it’s what you think about that will drive you toward or away from your goals. You must think forward, in the direction of your goals.

If you think about what you don’t want, then that’s exactly what you will attract to your life. You can’t drive forward looking in the rear view mirror.

Be clear on what you want, then focus your energies throughout each day in that direction. Write it down in your journal, on 3 x 5 cards, use pictures, anything you can to keep your thoughts flowing in the direction of what you want.

Many people throw around the words, “Whatever it takes!” I’m not sure they know exactly what that means. It means use all the tools at your disposal. The people, the strategies and tactics, CD’s, books, teleconferences, seminars et al can affect your thinking for the better.

This ability to direct our thoughts places us in the position of creating the results we desire. What you do with this power, is completely up to you.

To have, do and be all you can. The choice is uniquely yours.

The Best is yet to come!

David Martin

The Power of Being Congruent

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David
on December 3, 2009
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“It is the studying that you do after your school days that really counts. Otherwise, you know only that which everyone else knows.” - Henry Doherty

Sometimes a change in behavior does not follow a change of thinking.

Have you ever been in a position where you have done something you didn’t want to do?  Per haps you did it to please someone and then felt you had done yourself a disservice.

Or maybe you made a decision to lead a healthier lifestyle and take up running, aerobics, martial arts or yoga, but when the time came to attend a class or go to the gym you reverted to your previously conditioned bad habit.  It’s at times like these you feel a misalignment.

This state of misalignment is what is known as “incongruence.”  The behavior doesn’t match the level of desired or stated change.  Deep inside you want to act a certain way, but when the time comes you resist the inner urge and say something like, “not this time” or “maybe next time.”

This is incongruence; it is not something that success thrives on. Success requires congruence and this means alignment on all levels from purpose, right down to behavior. 

Only then can affect your environment in the way you really want.  This is the process of building self-confidence – knowing that you have executed a change of mind and acted accordingly.  Being able to recognize when you are being incongruent is the first step in making your desired change happen.

The feeling of incongruence doesn’t have to stem from a major life realization – it can happen during the course of a business meeting, a sales presentation or in a conversation with a partner.  So whatever you’re doing, it pays to be able to be able to recognize feelings of incongruence.

When you take a close look at the times when you are being successful, chances are you are also feeling happy and confident.  Of course you can imagine all sorts of bad things happening if you choose to, but when you’re engaged in the act of doing something superbly well is when you’ll be at your happiest.

There is an old saying, “if you have to ask yourself if you are happy then you are probably not.”  Happiness is a state of mind, and you arrive at it through being congruent in your actions.

So now you know what comes next.  It’s time for you to Show Up, Suit Up & Step Up!

The Best is yet to come!

David Martin

Hiding in Plain Sight

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David
on December 2, 2009
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“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Thoughts are things! And powerful things at that, when mixed with definiteness of purpose, and burning desire, can be translated into riches.” — Napoleon Hill

In one instant I went from not seeing something that I wanted, to finding it right in front of me the entire time I was looking for it. This is common in our pursuit of excellence as well.  Often times we can miss achieving a goal simply because we don’t recognize it. We’re looking too hard.

Don’t be so intensely focused that you miss what it is you’re looking for.

Keep the above in mind as you begin your review of 2009 in preparation for 2010.  You have all the tools you require to achieve great things in the coming year.  How you choose to use them is uniquely up to you.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin

Redirect Your Focus, Part Deux

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David
on November 28, 2009
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“The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here is the video follow up to today’s earlier post. When I mention NLP or Tony Robbins, or Self-Image Psychology or Maxwell Maltz, some people think it’s all new age, airie fairy, foo foo BS. Well, Performance Coaching is about results. If it works - use it. Watch this at your own risk, it may just make you think. Enjoy:

As is the case stated in the video, put everything you have into everything you do because the best is yet to come!

David Martin

Redirect Your Focus

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David
on November 28, 2009
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“Do not live in the past, do not live in the future; concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha

Ok here’s the deal - I received an email from a friend on a recent post I made on the Spanish language blog at Evolucion Personal. It took me a day to respond because I respect this guy and the wisdom he has gained over his years on this planet.

That being said, his response to my post was a bit surprising. It addressed the global crisis - the banking, the real estate, the stupid politicians and the corrupt politicians, the corporations etc. My impression was that he had lost hope.

I’ll post a video later today however right now my message is this. Stay STRONG! KEEP YOUR FAITH! STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR VISION!

There are many things to address on this theme and i’ll address them shortly via the aforementioned video.

Until then, remember to keep putting everything you have into everything you do.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin

Dumbo & the Magic Feather

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David
on November 22, 2009
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“We change the world not by what we say or do, but as a consequence of what we have become.” — David R. Hawkins

Dumbo was the elephant with the big ears that flew his way into our hearts thanks to Disney. Whilst it was a fun movie and one the kids enjoy thoroughly, there is also a number of hidden gems in this animated feature film. I trust you’ll enjoy my ramblings:

As Tony Robbins says, “Repetition is the mother of all skill,” then I will say again, put everything you have into everything you do because the best is yet to come!

David Martin

Converting the Negative to Positive

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David
on November 20, 2009
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“The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” - William James

Happiness/sadness, daytime/night time, good/bad, success/failure, yin/yang…..you get the point. Without the downside or “negative” we would have a concept of the “positve.” Watch the video for more:

And remember, no matter what you think you are, you are always more than that.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin

Midnight Brief

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David
on November 19, 2009
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“The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The following video is actually about 24 hours old. It was recorded after the weekly Performance Zone Training Call. In a synchronistic fashion Nathan Nowak of Trinity Fitness in Atlanta “Just happened” to so send me a message on Facebook prior to the call. We both agreed that this was a sign he was to address the Performance Zone attendees.

Nathan has been a personal coaching client, an associate, a peer and most importantly a friend. The call was based on the concept of “Finish Strong.” This is one of Nathan’s core principles. So he shared his story from the last 30 + days. It helped put things in perspective.

The bottom line, feed your mind and when you do be sure to feed it good stuff. The end results will be a more productive and a more effective you.

You have 41 days remaining, put everything you have into everything you do.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin