I have mentioned Doug Parsons several times in my blog posts. Doug was really instrumental in my getting the blog launched through his assistance with proofreading and editing recommendations on my early posts. He was a huge help!
Doug and I are both passionate about sport psychology and the mental game often trading books back and forth that we find useful. Earlier this month, he loaned me his most recent find – from a thrift shop no less:
I liked the book so much, that I bought my own copy. This is not a new book! I wasn’t able to find the version Doug had which contained 61 tips – but I was able to find the revised edition published in 2009 containing an extra 4 chapters! The book is a collection of “strategies” presented in short chapters – generally just a page or two each, that, through very relatable stories, illustrate a concept in sport psychology. This is one of my favorite formats in that you can pick the book up when you have just a moment and read a strategy or two in a matter of moments. It’s a great desk top or “bathroom book”!
Is it a coincidence that Doug’s performance on the clays course has improved since he read the book? Doug doesn’t think so! He directly attributes several of the strategies presented in the book to his recent collection of punches! Mindset is a powerful tool! Doug agreed to share with us all some of the strategies he found most useful. He actually sent me pictures of his handwritten notes that he took while reading the book. What follows is a brief synopsis of his comments (the strategy numbers from the original version are listed along with the newer version numbers in parenthesis):
#3 (3) Believing is Seeing – The foundation of confidence is believing you can achieve the results you want.
#5 (6) Focus on Yourself – It is you vs. the course – don’t worry about anything else such as your competitors.
#8 (9) Prepare for Adversity – Success often comes from those who are prepared for adversity.
#10 (11) Take it Slow – As pressure builds, slow everything down. Breathe, take control and stick with the process.
#15 (16) Let go of the Perfection Syndrome – Stop thinking and let it happen.
#17 (18) The Eye’s Have it – Use your eyes properly to see the target line with precision.
#20 (21) See Negative, Get Negative. See Positive, Get Positive – Every round on the clays course can be a great round regardless of the score.
#25 (26) Risk the Pain of Losing – Achieving your highest potential often requires some risk taking.
#27 (28) Let Go of Results – Thinking about results is a pure distraction. Stay focused on the process and the score will take care of itself.
#32 (34) Be Your Own Best Friend! – Never beat yourself up.
#35 (38) Finding the Zone – Aristotle said “We are what we repeatedly do. excellence then is not an act, but a habit”.
#41 (44) Laugh Yourself to Better Scores – Laugh at your mistakes and be kind to yourself. Don’t judge yourself too harshly.
#44(47) Build “Muscle Memory” with Imagery – mental rehearsal will lead to actual success on the course.
#53(52) Try Easy – The harder you try to “not miss”, the more likely a miss will occur.
#57 (61) Practice with a Shag Mentality – Slow down your practice to speed up your learning.
So… my recommendation is to pick up a copy of this book (I found mine used on Amazon) so you can read for yourself these points and the rest of them as well! Doug credits these ideas with his achieving three punches in the last two events! Congratulations Doug! Keep it up! Thanks again to Doug for sharing his notes with us all.