Psychology of Performance – 25 “Heart”

There was an interesting documentary on the New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady, called The Brady 6. What made it interesting was the analysis of the six quarterbacks drafted above Tom Brady in his draft year and what happened to them. As you may know, Tom Brady has been the league MVP, won the Super Bowl three times so far, passed for the most touchdowns in one season, and almost led his team to a perfect season. He was viewed as too slow, too small, could not throw a perfect spiral, and coming out of college was viewed with suspicion because his college coach at Michigan alternated him and a younger quarterback early in the year his senior season. Brady had to bail out the coach for this decision on more than one occasion that year. Despite being a winner throughout his career, Brady was not drafted until the sixth round. The rest, as they say, is history.

What the experts missed, according to one football expert, was they did not look at Brady’s “heart.” They missed his ability to deliver under pressure. They missed his personal self-talk that said, “I need to win my position every day in practice.” These are intangibles, so to speak, in the area of the psychology of performance. Brady plays every day as if he might be cut. He embodies the belief that “you are as good as today’s hunt.” How many businesses and employees are coasting, getting by without getting better each day?

Remember, where your mind goes the energy goes. I hope you make the most out of today’s hunt. I intend to.

Robert A. Mines, Ph.D.
CEO & Psychologist

Psychology of Performance – 23 Shanti Bhavan

As many of you know I am functioning as an ambassador of the firm doing volunteer consultation at Shanti Bhavan, a school for very poor children in India who would have very few opportunities in life had they not been admitted to Shanti Bhavan.

I will provide some video/audio of the piano recital put on by the students of our former colleague Allegra Boggess and photos of the first ever Shanti Bhavan chess tournament, plus the two daily martial arts classes.

We had 97 children participate in the chess tournament. The chess boards range from those purchased at local stores to paper boards and pieces that were homemade. In addition, there are some pictures of the tae kwon do and jujitsu classes I am teaching. The classes are taught in the grass for falls and throws and on the clay/rock soccer fields – no mats, no air conditioning, and Frisbees for kicking pads.

From a performance stand point two important elements are represented in these examples.  First, high levels of performance can be achieved with few resources and making the best of those available. Second, enthusiasm, passion, and persistence, along with appreciation for the opportunity, can carry one to heights one may not have dreamed of.

www.shantibhavanonline.org

Namaste,

Robert A. Mines, Ph.D.
CEO & Psychologist

BizPsych Website goes Live

A couple of months ago, we had the exciting opportunity to begin development of the new BizPsych website.  BizPsych works with companies that have experienced difficulty in the workplace from Impaired Executives, to Managerial Hierarchy, and more.  The sister company of MINES, we often work in conjunction with one another to provide a more robust offering for our client companies.

We are pleased to announce the unveiling of that site.  BizPsych.com now includes a series of white papers that will be updated regularly, opportunities to learn more about what BizPsych does, as well as an opportunity to connect with the experts.  We hope that this will give our clients and prospective clients a more fulfilling and enriched experience.

Ryan Lucas
Supervisor, Marketing