Train Your Mind for Athletic Success Podcast: Episode #3-Process Attitude
The third episode of my Train Your Mind for Athletic Success podcast focuses on the costs of having an outcome attitude and the benefits of a process attitude. An outcome attitude involves a preoccupation with results, competitive success and failure, rankings, and comparing yourself to others. Contrary to what most athletes, coaches, and parents think, an […]
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Saturday Evening Post column: What it Takes to Get the “F&%# it” Attitude
I forgot to post my last Saturday Evening Post column titled “What it Takes to Get the “F&%# it” Attitude.” A bit irreverent, to be sure, but it has real meaning in our lives.
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Finding Your Own Personal Greatness
I just read an interesting article about what it takes to be great. A different take on the notion of greatness and success and a worthwhile read. I agree with most of it: Being consistent, Doing the work that’s boring, Instant success isn’t the same as greatness, Success is never linear, Before you can be […]
Read MorePay Now with Effort or Pay Later with Poor Results
The summer, and this all-important prep period, is now officially under way. You should now be laying the foundation for your success next winter. making your final push of preparation before hitting the slopes in a few months. Though getting miles on snow is very important (if you’re that fortunate), a key focus of the […]
Read MoreTaylor’s First Self-help Book Just Published about Crisis
I’m pleased to announce the recent publication of my latest book, and my first in the self-help category, How to Survive and Thrive When Bad Things Happen: 9 Steps to Cultivating an Opportunity Mindset in a Crisis. Here’s the book description: Few of us go through life without experiencing some sort of crisis, whether health, financial, […]
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Get the Most Out of Your Summer On-snow Training
Greetings from Stubai Glacier in Austria! I’m here with an outstanding group of PG athletes from back East. My work with them includes both off-snow and on-snow mental training. Though the indoor work is valuable for laying the foundation for mental training, the on-snow work is the most directly powerful (and the most fun!) because […]
Read MoreStrengthen Your Mental Muscles in the Gym This Summer
When you read the title of this week’s post, you’re probably wondering what the heck I’m talking about. You condition your body in the gym, not your mind, right? Well, yes, the gym is where you get your body stronger with hang cleans, squats, bench, core, and many other strength exercises. But here’s the really […]
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More Evidence That Early Specialization Doesn’t Lead to Later Success (Not Just in Sports)
I just read a fascinating article by David Epstein, the author of The Sports Gene, that further supports my position that early specialization in sports (or any achievement area, for that matter) is not the path to later success. He recounts research and anecdotes in which children who didn’t specialize early went on to have […]
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Raising Young Athletes Podcast: Episode #3-Athletic Identity
Episode #3: Self-identity of my Raising Young Athletes podcast explores how the role that athletic identity plays in the development of children’s overall self-identity. Topics to be discussed include early specialization, values, the pressure parents feel to “keep up with the Jones,” balance, and the struggles parents have to take the good road for their […]
Read MoreMental Imagery is the Foundation of Your Summer Mental Training
One of the most indelible memories I took away from the 2018 Winter Olympics was from the start area of the alpine events (and, in fact, every ski and snowboard event). Time after time, we saw the best ski racers in the world with their head down and eyes closed, moving their hands and their […]
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