Mindset Monday 12/10/12- Constant Improvement

The 3 Pillars that uphold the Z-Fanatical Life Philosophy are Intensity, Consistency, and Constant Improvement. The Japanese word for Constant Improvement is "Kaizen." I would suggest looking deeper how the Japanese apply this to business (big reason their products are as great as they are). For today’s post, I will be using an excerpt from the last chapter of my book The Z-Factor: The Missing Link Between You and the Body of Your Dreams. Application of philosophy to life: … constant improvement should be applied to every aspect of your life. You don’t let a day go by without improving yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, socially, financially, intellectually, etc. etc. Life provides us with enough dimensions and enough levels for our evolution process to last more than a few lifetimes. Since the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement, get started applying fanaticism to every aspect of your life. There it is. Short sweet and to the point. Definitely do not wait for New Years like most people. Begin now! There is always something you can be doing to get better. Stay Fanatical! For more on the Z-Factor book: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236180 Gene Zannetti, M.S. Z-Fanatical Life, CEO Peak Performance Specialist: One-on-one consultation & Motivational Speaking genezannetti@gmail.com

Mindset Monday 12/3/12- Consistency

The past few weeks, I spoke of fueling yourself with optimal fuel. Obviously, you must fuel with proper Exercise and Nutrition, but also Mindset. Your Mindset fuel is your WHY. WHY you want the goal that you set. Your WHY powers all the decisions you make and actions you take. Z-Fanatical endorses 3 Pillars of Fitness. 3 philosophies to live by. 3 WHYs- Intensity, Consistency, and Constant Improvement. Today is the Pillar #2- Consistency. By the way each of the 3 pillars is equally important. In no way do these numbers reflect a rank order. Just as each column of the White House or ancient Greek Temple must be the same size to balance the roof, so too are the pillars to balance Fanaticism. I define consistency as- prioritizing your action plan each day. A priority is like sky diving and making sure you pull the pin to release the parachute. You would not forget to do that or make some excuse to procrastinate until tomorrow, or the New Years (Hint- start today). You make sure you pull the pin. My former wrestling coach John Sacchi once told our team, “If you don’t have discipline, you don’t have a damn thing in this world.” Notre Dame’s football coach was asked in the beginning of the season what he felt his chances were for bringing the Fighting Irish to a National Championship game. He told them, we need to first talk about having a consistent team before talking about a national championship team. Discipline and consistency both have to do with having the same high level of expectation and performance day in and day out. Dabblers work really hard for a short period of time then stop, than pick it up again. True Masters avoid these peaks and valleys (or at least minimize their effect) by taking consistent action. Life circumstances do come up and can derail you from your action plan. But this should not happen more than 20% of the time. If you are not consistent with your action plan at least 80% of the time, these are not extenuating circumstances. They are your lack of to planning ahead. If you get nothing else form today’s lesson, (1) Write down a specific Exercise, Nutrition, and Mindset Plan. Actually put the pen to paper and write it out. DO NOT TAKE THIS STEP LIGHTLY. Reputable psychological professionals will all tell you the same thing- writing things down increase your chances of compliance. Aren’t you reading this to increase your chances of success. Be sure to go all the way with it and write it down. Maybe you are stuck because you are lacking an exercise, nutrition, and mindset plan. Not to worry, Z-Fanatical Fitness has done the work for you. All you need to do now is follow through. Mindset breeds consistency. Get the Z-Factor book today: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236180 Gene Zannetti Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness Peak Performance Specialist: One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker (908) 337-6143 genezannetti@gmail.com www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday-11/26: INTENSITY the 1st Pillar of Champions

Last week I spoke of fueling yourself with optimal fuel. Obviously, you must fuel with proper Exercise and Nutrition, but also Mindset. As I have said, your Mindset fuel is your WHY. WHY you want the goal that you set. Your WHY powers all the decisions you make and actions you take. Z-Fanatical endorses 3 Pillars of Fitness. 3 philosophies to live by. 3 WHYs- Intensity, Consistency, and Constant Improvement. Today is the Pillar #1- Intensity. Intensity is performing at the highest level to which you are capable of RIGHT NOW. This is likened to the idea of always seeking the challenge. Compete with people or situations that are at or slightly above your present level. This will push you forward toward growth and expansion. You are always faced with the decision, Am I going to go all out, or am I going to hold back? Consistently decide to go all out. Err on the side of being gutsy. That is what life is all about. Not taking it easy and just getting through things. You only go around once, so you might as well go hard when it is your turn. Or, you will probably be sorry you didn’t. Few people get old and say, “ I shouldn’t have gone for it so much” or “I should’ve taken it easy” or “I should have played it safe during the game.” Compete a grade level above yourself in sports, don’t play video games on Easy for long, volunteer for more responsibility at work or school. Set all standards a little bit higher. (Best yet, don’t let others standards impact you at all- set your own mark and enforce it!) Remember that this is all a game designed for your improvement. So do not take wins or losses too seriously. You objective is improvement- so you must be INTENSE. Do not put yourself in too high of a level. Failure and success are both important. Failure is important to keep you humble and continually seeking improvement. Success is also important for confidence. This is why you must compete or participate in the highest level you are presently capable of performing- you will experience both success and failure. I must add here that PASSION for what you do & Desire to Improve are prerequisites for all goal attainment. You will not have proper perspective of success and failure if you do not love what you do or want to improve. If you are not looking to improve, you may want to participate at lower levels to ensure success and good feelings. But, if you have a goal, then you must always push yourself to your threshold or risk becoming stagnant or moving in the opposite direction of your goals. There is no substitute for Intensity. You gotta go hard. You gotta be Fanatical. Stay tuned for the next few weeks where I will elaborate on each of the other 2 pillars. Or, if you can’t wait- purchase the ebook “The Z-Factor” for under $10 at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236180 Gene Zannetti Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness Peak Performance Specialist: One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker (908) 337-6143 genezannetti@gmail.com www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 11/19- Know WHY You Want To Achieve!

You may have heard the saying, “if you can find a big enough WHY, you will figure out HOW.” You just won the lottery and bought a high performance sports car. What kind of fuel do you put in it- Regular, Diesel, Premium? The fuel you use to power your vehicle will certainly have an impact on how efficiently it runs. You may want to win a drag race, but it is not enough to have a goal if you are going to disregard the fuel you will use. What does this have to do with YOU? Your WHY is the fuel that will empower or disempower you en route to YOUR PERSONAL GOALS. Your WHY must be clear and sound. To win OR be the best OR beat someone else CANNOT be your main WHY. Why? ;) Because your orientation is based on outcomes and others. Your WHY must be internal. Process oriented, Self directed. Some good WHYs for achieving your goals: -You love what you do -You want to be the best you can be -God asks for your best effort These are the equivalent of Premium fuel for your sports car. They are PROCESS-oriented and SELF-directed. It is okay to want to be the best at something, to win, and to beat someone else. Competition can bring out your best. But this should not be your primary reason to achieve your goals. Outcome and Others Orientation often fail people during times of adversity. We all feel good when things are going well, but things quickly change mentally when times get tough. I am splitting hairs with this because you need emotional and mental immunity for these tough times if you want to persist and become a champion and ultimately achieve your goals. Z-Fanatical endorses 3 pillars of Fitness, which are very clear and sound WHYs: (1) Intensity (2) Consistency (3) Constant Improvement. These pillars or WHYs are excellent philosophies to live by enroute to any GOAL. Stay tuned for the next few weeks where I will elaborate on each of the 3 pillars. Or, if you can’t wait- purchase the ebook “The Z-Factor” for under $10 at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236180 Stay Fanatical! Gene Zannetti Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness Personal Trainer, One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker (908) 337-6143 genezannetti@gmail.com www.zfanatical.com

GREAT MINDSET VIDEOS

Putting it on the line with Ben Askren Dont take losing personally with 2x State Champ Andrew Flanagan Concept of Risk with Kendall Cross Mike Tyson- The closer to the ring, the more confident I get Keeping PRE-GAME fun and light with soccer legend Diego Maradona Philosophy and constant improvement with Tom Brands Sakuraba, a real free-wheeler, getting after it Cockiest boxers. You gotta have a little of this in you

PERFECTIONISTIC WRESTLERS GET MORE NERVOUS BEFORE MATCHES…and the role parents play in this

The Full Master’s Thesis of Gene Zannetti

Mindset Monday 4/30/12- What happiness has to do with your success in wrestling, finals, and interviews

Being nervous, anxious, worried, or scared has a predictable affect on your mind. Tunnel vision sets in. You revert to your most rehearsed behaviors for safety. You become literal-minded. Have you ever tried telling a joke or being sarcastic with someone who is in this state of mind? Notice how they don’t quite get what you are talking about right away. These people have difficulty understanding even semi complex material. Creativity and flexible thinking go out the window. Creativity and flexible thinking are absolutely essential in a sport like wrestling where there is no set routine. On board course corrections become necessary. How well do you think a wrestler in this mindset will make appropriate adjustments in the middle of competition. Again remember, we tend to revert to our most rehearsed behavior while nervous. Now think about taking a final exam. Many tests are difficult because the teacher/professor asks you to apply the knowledge that you know. Multiple choice and fill in the blank questions may be easy if you studied adequately, but what happens when you are presented with familiar material and you are asked to do something novel with it? This often trips people up. Typically when the teacher goes over the test, after the fact, we see the simple adjustments and application that should have been obvious to us beforehand because we did, “know the material.” When you panic, creativity and flexible thinking are out the window. Imagine now you are on an interview and the interviewer asks how you would react in a novel scenario. How might your nervousness affect the quality of your answer? Keep in mind, this phenomenon occurs regardless of your skill level. Panic, fear, nervousness will block you from achieving your potential. You can still perform well despite this feeling, you can succeed, but wouldn’t you rather bring out the you that you know is within you- your potential? Here’s the remedy- happiness- being in a good mood. The next time you feel nervous, begin to act the opposite way. Fake it till you make it if you have to. Better yet, fake it till you feel it. Keep the “tense” atmosphere light-hearted. Joke around. Smile. Pre-plan ways to make yourself smile and laugh during these situations. Some coaches and teachers may not like this because they think you are not taking the situation seriously, but they just don’t understand this important lesson. This is crucial to your success, especially in situations that require you to make adjustments and react in novel ways. Get good at laughing at yourself and mistakes. Stop taking yourself so seriously. Most people don’t care about you, they’re too busy thinking how they look. Practice how you will look and feel before, during, and after a competition, or test, or interview. See yourself smiling and enjoying yourself out there. You will be surprised how well you perform when you stop taking yourself so serious, let go, and have fun. Flexible thinking, adapting, creativity will be open to you from now on.

Mindset Monday 2/20/12 - Taking Risk in Sports

A word about risk from Kendall Cross 1996 Olympic Champion:

"If you want to sail the high seas, you got to be willing to step offshore"

http://www.flowrestling.org/speaker/5508-Kendall-Cross/video/206428-Kendall-Cross-Explaination-Of-Techniques


In many instances in life it is beneficial to play it safe. Don't text and drive, look both ways before you cross the street, practice safe sex, and say no to drugs. Failing to abide by these rules could get you in serious trouble, if not killed. This is REAL RISK.

When the stakes get high and a big competition comes up. We tend to avoid risk. We err on the side of doing less. Play it conservatively. Try to be perfect.

What we forget is that sports is just a game. It is play time. We can take risk and not be in any REAL danger. In sports, taking risks is fun and often very rewarding.

When I say RISK, I mean Calculated risk. We should know the difference. Technique that succeeds. We know what to do, but we second guess ourselves. What I am really taking about is attacking your moves and technique without fear. We tend to get so afraid things may not work out if we go after a move. So what? You will live to see tomorrow. That is a comforting thought.

Avoid life threatening risk like I mentioned before. In sports, you must embrace the unknown and approach your goals. Do not shy away. It is fun to play hard and go after moves. That sure beats hanging back and waiting for something to happen.

If you are afraid of making mistakes, you will probably not make much of anything.
Get after it. Go all out. Get Fanatical

Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Peak Performance Specialist: One-on-one consultation & Motivational Speaking
genezannetti@gmail.com
908-337-6143
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 2/13/12- Entering the Post-Season

When entering the post season, many athletes make the same tragic flaw: they lose sight of why they do what they do.

It is easy to get caught up in the significance of an event. Just pick up a newspaper, go on a forum, and talk to some of your friends, family, and coaches. The focus will quickly turn to winning, or even worse, not losing.

Athletes begin demanding more from themselves as the post-season approaches. They try to do more than they usually do. They make the upcoming event "special." Everything is important, nothing is special. Once you make something special, you put the performance on a pedestal, and this adds a tremendous mental weight for the athlete to carry, as if the athlete was not dealing with enough physically.

We learn from sports movies and media the wrong way to think about the post-season. "This is it, now or never, do or die." "This is all that matters, what you have been working your whole life for" etc etc. You get the picture. People hype it up. This is great for selling movies and maybe 10% of the athletic population, if that.

Watch the Olympics or World Series or Super Bowl. Listen to those interviews. they will likely tell you a very different story than Hollywood. Real athletes talk about consistency and staying within themselves. Doing what they do every day. Not focusing on the event, but on effort, attitude, and execution of skills (technique).

A great way to separate yourself from the masses you will be competing against is remembering what you love about your sport. I would assume you are playing the sport you are because at some level, you enjoy it. Enjoyment is the base of the pyramid to feeling the Flow State of being In the Zone, where you just cant miss. Most athletes recall being in this Flow State at some point in time. To get back to it, you must enjoy what you are doing. You won't achieve a Flow Mindset if you are frustrated, annoyed, upset, or angry. The sport must be it's own reward.

Activity of the week: Create a long list of everything you enjoy about your sport and read it multiple times a day. If you are looking for that Flow State in the next few weeks, you better do the things that will facilitate its occurrence.

In a period of time where all your opponents are stressing out and worrying about a future challenge or potential loss, remind yourself why you love doing what you do. Your mind will make an immediate shift, and the results will likely follow your good feelings.

Gene Zannetti
Z-Fanatical Fitness
Peak Performance Specialist
www.zfanatical.com
genez@zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 1/30/12- The Key to a Quiet Mind Before Competition...and how to get it!

The key to a consistently high performance and mental quiet before competition is a solid Pre-Competition Routine. After developing and intensely practicing your routine, it will become a safe place you can live by, compete by, and train by. Your routine will become home. You will no longer get pulled physically and mentally from idiosyncratic occurrences and random thought before competition because your sole focus will be on performing actions that are designed to specifically bring out your optimal emotions and thoughts.

Take out two blank pieces of paper. On the first paper, write down your three best performances (leave enough room for equal spacing). What were you thinking before the performance? If you feel your best performances were in practice, that is fine too, simply write them down. Specifically, what were you thinking? How warmed up were you? Were you speaking with anyone, or were you to yourself? Who was around? What specific thoughts were going through your mind and what specific emotions were you feeling?

Label the second paper, three worst performances. Follow the same instructions as above.

Most people find there to be a major contrast between their mindset and physical warm-up when they are at the top of the game versus the bottom.

You now have a baseline for your mindset and physical state before you compete. You will benefit from returning to this mindset regularly if you would like a consistently high performance.

Over the next few weeks we will be discussing this topic more and more in depth. In the meantime, put the idea of a pre-competition routine and what it will entail for you personally into your mind. Stay tuned…

Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Personal Trainer, One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 1/16/12- 4 Mandatory Mental Attitudes for Sports

I posted this message on my previous blog, but it is worth revisiting.

Pre-Competition

1. I don't care who I go against, I want everyone. I go after the tougher opponent. I live for the challenge.
The best defense is a good offense right? Same thing with your mindset. If you seek the challenge and look for tougher opponents, you're not worried about competing against someone good. You want them!

2. I'm good enough to beat this person, or anyone else for that matter.
Confidence Plus is a Must.

3. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now. I live for this. I love it!
Present, In the moment. Devoted 100% to the experience you're having.


Post-Competition

4. This is the best thing that could have ever happened to me.
Learn from everything- wins and losses. Learn lesson regardless and move on.


Note- If you are missing ANY of these mindsets, it is important to rethink your mental game and take the steps necessary to change them to the ones above.

Gene Zannetti
Z-Fanatical Fitness Owner
Mindset Mastery & Fitness Instructor
888-804-1819
genez@zfanatical.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 1/9/12- Jordan, Tiger, Gable, Ali, Arnold, & Phelps on Mindset HERE

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU PUT INTO YOUR MINDSET? Maybe the greats will convince you to work as hard mentally as you do physically-

Arnold Schwarzenegger
“The Secret is to make your mind work for you, not against you.”
(Arnold’s approach to bodybuilding was more mental than physical)
http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_60/69_fitness_tip.html


Michael Jordan
Michael's biggest strength was his mental game. Jordan held a decisive mental edge over his opponents throughout his entire career. It was his mental toughness... Jeff Janssen, M.S.
http://www.teamarete.com/ificouldbe.html


Wayne Gretzky
…he (Gretzky) was not very strong physically, but he made up for that in the mental edge he held over opponents.
http://www.lycos.com/info/wayne-gretzky-hockey.html


Tiger Woods
Tiger's biggest club is his mental strength –USA Today
His mental game is every bit as good as his physical game. –Bob May
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2004-02-10-tiger-toughest_x.htm

there’s another quality even more important than skill. It’s his mind, and that very well could be his greatest weapon.
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/09/sports/sp-mindgame9


Michael Phelps
His strongest asset is relaxing & focusing in competition. He can take himself mentally to a place. That’s what separates him from his competitors. –Coach Bowman
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/bowman-on-phelps-mental-strength/3003143297


Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali was a master of psychology…his mental toughness played a great factor in many of his fights. There was no one stronger mentally then Muhammad Ali.
http://greatestofalltime.homestead.com/muhammadali.html

Dan Gable
“Mental Toughness is the key of all keys…Mental Toughness is the foundation.”
http://www.briancain.com/articlesbybriancain/Dan%20Gable%20-%20Brian%20Cain%20CBN.pdf


Coach John Wooden
“I am constantly trying to make players realize the mental side.”


Coach Vince Lombardi
“Mental Toughness is essential for success.”
He was always working on both the minds and bodies of his players. The guy was a beautiful psychologist. – Jerry Kramer (former player)


Coach Bobby Knight
“Mental toughness to physical (toughness) is as 4 is to 1.”

Learn How to Train Your Mind with Evidence-Based Techniques taught by:

Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist at Z-Fanatical Fitness
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com