About Dr. Jim Taylor

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So far Dr. Jim Taylor has created 1435 blog entries.
19 08, 2013

In Sports, Think Now, So You Don’t Have to Think Later

By | August 19th, 2013|Categories: Sports|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I just returned from Europe where I spent a week working with a group of highly ranked U.S. athletes during their off-season prep period. After a few days, the feedback I was getting from them was that I was really getting into their heads and causing them to think a lot, in fact, to a few of them, think a bit too much. This wasn’t a surprise to me as I hear this frequently. Between my mental skills work with athletes during practices, one-on-one sessions, team talks (in which we discussed a relevant sport topic each evening), and daily imagery sessions, the athletes were getting their minds stuffed with the mental side of their sport. I was definitely making them think more than they were accustomed. But that is, in fact, my job: to get the athletes I work with uncomfortable, push them outside of what they are used to, and think about things that will take them to the next level. Yes, admittedly, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but after a few days, they got used to it and figured out how to incorporate my approach into their usual training regimen.

12 08, 2013

Mental Training Begins in the Gym

By | August 12th, 2013|Categories: Sports|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |2 Comments

Most sport psychologists work with athletes on the mental side of their sport in an office setting (usually one hour per week), providing them with mental tools that they can use during training and competitions. This approach makes about as much sense as a coach offering their athletes technical instruction and then telling them to go out onto the field, course, court, or what-have-you and work on it in practice. In either case, the transfer from inside to outside isn’t very good. I have found the most productive work I do with athletes is during their actual practice sessions. I’m able to go to training with athletes and show them how to incorporate mental skills, such as intensity, focus, imagery, and routines, while they’re actually practicing. But, over the last few years, I have discovered an even better setting in which athletes can begin to develop their mental skills: the gym. Yes, using mental skills as a part of your physical conditioning program is a great way to begin to ingrain those skills that will be of such benefit in the quality of your training and when you compete.

8 08, 2013

Latest News: Watch My Psychology of Cycling Lecture

By | August 8th, 2013|Categories: Latest News|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

A few months ago, I gave a lecture on the Psychology of Cycling as part of The Medicine of Cycling -- Mini Medical School for the Public series sponsored by the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. You can view the 45-minute presentation here.

5 08, 2013

The New Demands of 21st Century Leadership

By | August 5th, 2013|Categories: Business|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Perhaps the most frequently asked questions these days in boardrooms, corner offices, and business school classes is: What is leadership and how has it changed in the 21st century? There is little doubt that the business landscape has changed in the last two decades driven primarily by two forces: globalization and technology. Not surprisingly, these two market influences have directly impacted how heads of companies lead. The most notable change has been in what skills are believed to be necessary to lead a company. In previous generations, business leaders were chosen for their specific business acumen including their business-related knowledge and skill sets such as finance, marketing, or strategy. Pedigree and education also played a role in who was placed on the top floor of a company. In recent years though, there has been a shift toward less-tangible psychological, emotional, and people skills as prerequisites for leaders. Of course, the hard skills are still important—leaders still need to know the nuts and bolts of their business—but these knowledge sets have become, in my experience, necessary but not sufficient, for getting the key to the executive washroom. I have identified four such areas that have gained prominence in my work with senior management of companies around the world during the last decade.

26 07, 2013

Build a Positive and High-performing Sports Team Culture

By | July 26th, 2013|Categories: Sports|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

Some sports are ready made for a discussion about the influence of team culture on individual and team performance. Team sports, such as basketball, football, and soccer, require that time and energy be devoted to building a culture that will lead to success. Without this discussion, the chances of a team being successful are small. Individual sports, however, often don’t give much attention to team culture despite the fact that most individual sports are built around a team structure, for example, track and field, ski racing, and tennis. The fact is that, for individual sports, the influence that individual athletes can have on a team, whether healthy or toxic, is just as important as in true team sports. Nor do we often think about how an individual sports team can have a significant effect on the performances of its individual members. Yet, have you ever been on a “downer” team? I’m talking about one that is permeated with negativity, unhealthy competition, and conflict. It sure doesn’t feel good and it can definitely interfere with your performing your best. Whether you are an athlete on a team or one of its coaches, you can have a big impact on how your team gets along, functions, and performs.

25 07, 2013

Latest News: Taylor to appear on Fox Business News this evening

By | July 25th, 2013|Categories: Latest News|Tags: , , |0 Comments

I'm going to be the lead interview on "Cavuto" on Fox Business News this evening at 8 pm Eastern Time. I will be discussing why people are afraid to get back into the stock market after the Great Recession.  

22 07, 2013

Is a Media-filled Life Leaving Your Children Unprepared for Real Life?

By | July 22nd, 2013|Categories: Parenting|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Beyond the specific areas in which you need to prepare your children for this crazy new world and, as I have shown, in which popular culture and technology is not helping you, there is an overriding way you can best ready your children for what lies ahead. You need to prepare them for life. You [...]

17 07, 2013

Ski Racing: Think Now, So You Don’t Have to Think Later

By | July 17th, 2013|Categories: Ski Racing|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I just returned from Zermatt where I spent a week working with a group of highly ranked U.S. tech skiers. After a few days, the feedback I was getting from them was that I was really getting into their heads and causing them to think a lot, in fact, to a few of them, a [...]

17 07, 2013

What it Takes to Get the “F&%# it” Attitude

By | July 17th, 2013|Categories: Personal Growth|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I introduced you to the “F&%# it!” attitude in my last post. As I indicated in that post, if you can adopt this somewhat “out there” perspective, you will free yourself to pursue your life without fear or inhibition. But I have to tell you that the “f&%# it!” attitude doesn’t come easily. The fact [...]

8 07, 2013

“F&%# It!”: Get the Attitude that Will Set You Free

By | July 8th, 2013|Categories: Personal Growth|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

In my last post, I introduced you to my notion of “mindblocks,” a portmanteau that plays off of the psychological nature of these issues and the term roadblocks. In this post, I will describe to you the attitude that can help you free yourself from your mindblocks and liberate you to create the life that [...]