Wow - that’s all I can say. Three days ago I got up extra early on a Sunday to enjoy the Swedish Grands Prix of Motocross. I enjoy the sport and with the internet almost all things are possible.

But that’s not what I’m talking about.

Near the end of the race, about 7:00 AM local time, I clicked on the TV for some unknown reason. And there it was, the Wimbledon Men’s Final - Andy Roddick vs. Roger Federer.  Roddick is a former US Open Champion (2003) and Federer is a multi-time Grand Slam Champion - 15 as of this past Sunday, more than anyone other man in the history of tennis.

The fact that he, Federer, won his 15th Grand Slam title setting him apart from everyone esle is awesome. However what really stands out is the manner in which he won.

The match was one of the longest in history and went to a 5th set. The score was 16 - 14 in the 5th set!!! Roddick had been dominating the match and Federer had not won one game when Roddick served - not one. This endured for more than 4 hours.

The only time Federer “broke” Roddick’s service was in a tie-break situation.  It was just enough to win the tie-breaker and keep him in the game. Roddick was dominant from that standpoint. It was now in the 5th set and at Wimbledon there are no tie-breakers played in the 5th set. It did not look good for Federer and looked like Roddick would avenge numerous finals losses to Federer on grass.

“Roddick looks really strong right now, stronger than Federer in this 5th set.” said John McEnroe. “He just looks like he’s physically more fit.” Maybe, maybe not.

In the end what won the match for Federer was his mental strength.

In my hallucination there was a point in 29th game of the 5th set where you could see Roddick crack mentally. It was enough for Federer to take the game and an advantage in the set and ultimately the 15th Grand Slam title of his career.

Does this mean Roddick is weak? No, not at all. Andy Roddick is a champion and an absolute stud. It simply means that on that day at that time Federer was mentally stronger and that is what won it for him.

These examples are all around us. Tennis, Golf, nearly all sports, kids, Senior citizens, nature, literature, movies, our ouwn lives - everywhere.

You have everything you require to maximize your results and enjoy life to the fullest, it all begins in your mind.

“If you shape it in your mind, you WILL find it in your life.” - David Martin

Remember, the best is yet to come!

David Martin
info@empowermax.com

As we move closer and closer to the July 1st kick off for the second half of the year, I want to remind you of a critical component of goal achievement – Determination.  

The dictionary defines Determination as: Firmness of purpose; resolve. Firmness of purpose, what a great definition. In 3 short words it sums up an entire philosophy toward goals.  

Take a look at what you’ve established as your “Definite Major Purposes” for the remainder of the year. Then ask yourself; are any of these goals the same as past goals?  

If so, what’s different about it now?  

What’s different about the goal?  

What’s different about your commitment?  

What’s different about your determination?  

You may have had strong commitment, but lacked determination, or vice versa.  

Maybe it’s a new goal.  

Either way, it’s time for a check up from the neck up. Time to tune the attitude.  

New start, new goals, new opportunities, new commitment, new determination – New You!
 
The time is now, your better future awaits you. Stake
your claim and get your arse in gear!  

Until next time, be here now or get there soon.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
info@empowermax.com

I will until. Some powerful words aren’t they?

These are words that you surround you when you envision your vision, goals and objectives.

In today’s microwave society, people expect everything to occur immediately. Nothing wrong with that except that should the expected result not appear within the projected nanosecond, it’s dropped and said person moves on to the next shiny “thingy.”

Not the suggested plan for success.

Thomas Edison had the “I will until….” mentality.

Henry Ford had the “I will until….” mentality.

Lewis & Clark had the “I will until….” mentality.

Charles Lindbergh had the “I will until….” mentality.

Walter Payton had the “I will until….” mentality.

Bill Gates has the “I will until….” mentality.

Dan Gable has the “I will until….” mentality.

The Italian Soccer Team at the 2006 World Cup had the “I will until…” mentality.

And the list goes on.

“I will until…” means that you’re committed.

It means that you will do whatever it takes to achieve the goal, no matter what.

As you are preparing to launch into the remainder of 2009 (if you haven’t already), ask yourself how committed you are to your written down goals. If you are going to make a statement about what you want to accomplish, the least you can do is make sure you are completely committed.

Any questions? If so, email me at info@empowermax.com and schedule a consultation.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
info@empowermax.com

Recently I traveled to Mexico City for some meetings with clients and some prospecting. Nothing new there, I’ve been establishing a presence in Mexico for nearly four years for coaching and speaking. A recent post here mentioned just that and the relationship of being open to receive something from a direction that seems unexpected.

This leads me to part deux of that journey - my first ever visit to Venezuela.

Venezuela makes the news mainly because of the HM*IC, President Hugo Chavez. He has a bit of an attitude toward the US of A and it’s “no holds barred” whenever there is a microphone present. His lambasting of former President Bush, and American life in general is well known. I’m not going political today, simply creating a foundation for today’s post.

Many of my friends and associates, even some family members, have given me “constructive criticism” regarding my commitment to venturing into Latin America to do business. Some don’t get it, especially in Venezuela.

“How can you think that blah blah blah?” they ask.

“Because,” is my response.

Let’s take the people of Venezuela for example. Compared to them, those of us living in North America have a cake walk. There is political tension, there are controls in place that make things difficult (whether they intend to or not), there is the “world economic crisis“, internal economic stress, there is corruption (this is not exclusive to Venezuela), shortage of food stuffs and the list goes on.

However through all this the Venezuelan people are optimistic. They look for opportunities, they engage in commerce, they read, they educate themselves above and beyond secondary and university level.

Seneca said “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist waits for it to change; the realist adjusts his sails.” To them, I’m referring to the Venezuelans, adjusting their sails is their normal mode of operation.

So how about you, where ever you may reside, in what ever corner of the world. Are complaining, waiting or adjusting? That choice is uniquely yours.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
info@empowermax.com

A few days ago I returned from a long trip that included time in both Mexico and Venezuela. One of these beautiful countries I have come to know and love quite well over the past 30 years and the for the other it was a first time visit. An excellent time was had in both.

In Venezuela I had the opportunity to talk about “Transcending Limiting Beliefs” (in Spanish) to a group of executives, entrepreneurs and educators that totaled approximately 225 participants. This was a leadership conference hosted by CATTCO.

The response was amazing. First I was giving a presentation that I hadn’t given in english yet and second because the momentum that was created surpassed even my wildest imagination. It was like harvest time in Venezuela, yet the planting was done mostly in Mexico and Panama. Imagine that, plant here - harvest there.

I made this presentation Wednesday on the Performance Zone training call and had some interesting feedback. One comment was, “How does that happen? Why if you put the effort in one area, would you receive the benefit from another area?”

Before I answer that, I want to be perfectly clear that there has been a lot of benefit in both Mexico and Panama simply due to the effort over the last nearly 4 years. My point was that the quantum leap came from an unexpected source. There have been times in my life when I was so focused on my goal and the end result that I missed the very result I was seeking. Sound familiar?

Let go! Let go of the attachment of the goal. Put your energy into the pursuit of the goal, however don’t squeeze your mind so hard that you close yourself off from the achievement of the goal. Keep your eye on the proverbial prize, just don’t choke the energetic life out of “the prize.”

Be open, turn up your sensory accuity so that when the harvest does come from a varied or variety of sources, you’re ready.

Until then, put everything you have into everything you do.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com

From time to time in pursuit of excellence, you will come across the proverbial ‘bump in the road.” If you’re going to be successful in life, you’d better get used to it.  Many people believe that if they were more successful, they’d be better able to handle their problems. My suggestion is that if they handled their problems better, they’d be more successful.

Ain’t that a kick in the head?

You should welcome the problems and challenges as opportunities to grow.

In physical culture and athletic training muscles must be pushed to the point of breakdown in order to repair themselves and become stronger. The more you push yourself the stronger you get, the more endurance you build etc.

Life provides the same benefit. It will push you to the point of breakdown. It will cause you to re-evaluate your path. At times it will bring you to your knees.

Your muscles don’t have the same option that you do in these situations. Muscles don’t have the option of CHOICE.  They, your muscles, must repair themselves. It’s what they do.

You, however, have the unique and awesome power to either make yourself better from your challenges OR do nothing and slide into the abyss of the non-producer, the excuse maker and the blame-it-on-everyone-else crowd.

Somehow if you’re reading this, I don’t believe you’re in that camp. I believe that you step up to challenge. You head into the battles of life looking forward, not over your shoulder.

Of course there will be times when you don’t want to do what you know you should do. It’s easy to be overwhelmed; it’s easy to be taken over in the moment by seemingly impossible odds.  But that’s only in the moment. Stick to your plan. Take hold of your vision. Don’t get knocked off course by the miniscule thoughts that will lead you astray.  Maintain your focus on the outcome you desire, not to fear that is trying to capture your attention. You’re in control.

So as you continue moving through 2009 toward your goals, make quick work of the obstacles, step over the challenges and breakthrough the barriers. They’ll only make you stronger and better than you were before you encountered them.

Until next time, Shape It in Your Mind, Find It In Your Life!

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com

Here’s a quick thought for the day. Start each day seeing yourself at your best.

Hmmm, not a bad idea is it?

People often ask me how I got started and how I developed my career as speaker, especially internationally. Of course, I go through the list of “things.” People I know, contacts I’ve maintained, opportunities that were presented etc.

Back when I first began speaking, things did not take off for me right out of the gate. The first few months were lean, as the saying goes. I was following all of the prescribed strategies & tactics a new business is supposed to follow.

Then there was my morning ritual of “seeing me at my best.” Every morning, today included, I take a few minutes to see myself in some activity related to one of my goals.

As I would begin my morning, it began with a short 8 minute visualization process of me “experiencing” successfully reaching one of my goals. In this case, I saw myself standing on a stage speaking.

Being that my goal was to achieve an international speaking engagement by the end of December 2004 (I began this in July 2003), I constructed the most complete picture of me “at my best” doing the deed.

I saw myself on the stage.

I saw the clothes I was wearing.

I saw the lights, the cameras and the silhouettes of the audience.

I could hear my voice, the content of my presentation, the laughter and the applause of the crowd.

I could see, feel and hear myself in this situation, achieving this goal…enjoying this success.

I was watching myself perform at my very best. THAT my friend is an awesome experience.

Now why am I telling you this?

Simple answer – because I achieved this goal, not in a year and a half. I achieved this goal in less than 6 months. By the beginning of December 2003 I spoke at an international conference to an audience of 435 people. One year ahead of schedule!

And the most important point of this experience was not the achievement, but the habit of visualization and the way “seeing me at my best” made me feel about me.

Each day I was conditioning my mindset for success. Every thought, every feeling, every picture supported the belief that I deserved that goal. So when the inevitable challenges arose, I wasn’t knocked off course.

I invite you to experience “seeing yourself at your best” each and everyday. Pick one goal and focus on it first thing every morning, no exceptions. Not only will you start off each day feeling powerful, you’ll have a lot of fun too!

Until next time, put everything you have into everything you do.

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com

With all of this Hullabaloo circulating in the press and the internet about how horrible the world is, do you feel it would be beneficial to you to understand how to take those images and feelings and make them work for you insteadof against you?

If the answer is “Yes” (and I know it is) then join me tonight as I’ll be covering a simple process tonight in the Performance Zone at 10:30 PM Eastern time. You can participate by dialing in to:

212-990-8000
PIN 1522#

Tonight’s topic - “Turning Frustration into Flexibility”

Show Up, Suit Up & Step Up!

The best is yet to come,

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com

Today we live in a microwave society, at least here in the states. Canada is not far behind and many other emerging nations (read burgeoning economies) are following along the lead set by the “Gotta have it now!” people.

Keep this in mind. There is always a consequence to whatever action you take.

The possibilities are endless and dependent on actions etc, so I am not going to make specific statements as to what will or will not happen. That’s for another email.

But you can’t have something for nothing. There is an opposite action – always.

For you academic types, for every action there is equal and opposite reaction.

For the Zen philosophers it’s called the duality of nature; the Yin and the Yang.

You know positive/negative, happiness/sadness, good/bad, day time/night time, winter/summer, black/white; all the usual suspects apply when it comes to examples of opposites.

So when you make a decision in your life, it either moves you closer to your goal or it doesn’t. It’s that simple. No Virginia, there aren’t any that do both.

There are also consequences, both positive and negative to our decisions. These consequences, although at times barely perceptible, are very, very real.

Sometimes, because we live in the aforementioned microwave society, people tend to ignore the consequences of their decisions. Sometimes because they don’t appear until down the road, sometimes it’s because they seem small. But it will have an effect, not always pleasing.

It’s just getting what they want with little or no regard for the effects.

Not a good strategy.

Does this mean that you don’t make decisions quickly? Not at all, it means that if you make decisions quickly you’ve done so with consideration.

What does that mean? Consideration?

It simply means you’ve looked at the possible outcomes both good and bad, positive and negative, of your actions. And remember, there is always an outcome, always.

Remember, we’re coming into a time when the world is becoming a very small place. Technology allows us to do business in multiple languages simultaneously at light speed, to travel in hours to anywhere in the world, obtain information about virtually anything we require immediately.

And, the rest of the world is here to stay in this economy of the new millennium. Latin America & Asia most importantly in my opinion.

So you can choose to be all or choose to be part. You can choose to create your future in advance or you can choose to allow someone else to create it for you. You can choose to put all you have into all you do, or you can choose not to.

Each has their own set of consequences and their own set of rewards.

So, here’s a choice for you. Choose to design four vision and get started on your better future. You can make it your gift to yourself.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com

Great point in Mr. Bremer’s quotation, n’est pas?

Directing your self-talk is an important part of your pursuit of excellence.

Why? Because you communicate more with yourself throughout each and everyday than you do anyone or anything else – computer/internet included.

One of the main emphases in todays communication training is that we only communicate 7% through the words we use, 38% via tonality, tempo, pitch etc and 55% through body language. That’s true – when communicating with others.

However the words we say to ourselves are taken literally, 100%, no interpretation whatsoever. Our brain doesn’t try to figure out what we meant. It (the brain) processes our words directly.

Here’s a simple example: when someone asks us, “How’re you doing?” and we respond, “Not bad.” a few things occur.

First, the message transmitted to the person asking the question is dependent on the factors mentioned above. Could be good, could be otherwise.  Next, and more importantly to the person responding, “Not bad,” is the message sent to the 70 trillion cells in the body. The message is that the person is bad, just not overly bad.

In other words the cellular email blast to your army of 100 trillion cells contains negative programming that will not move you in the direction you desire. Combined with emotional intensity the results can be disastrous.

Now, the good news is that if it can work against you, it can also work for you.

Pay attention for to your language for the next 30 days. If you catch yourself using disempowering language, stop, take a deep breath, say “Cancel”, and then make an empowering statement. The easy way to determine what would be an empowering statement is simply the opposite of the disempowering one.

It’s your communication with yourself that is the platform from which you can launch major changes in your life immediately.

It’s your life, isn’t it worth living on your terms?

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com