Overheard in a squash club locker room: Continued…

When we left off in the previous blog post, Jeff and Harry were overheard in the squash club locker room.

Just as Jeff and Harry were finishing their conversation, the door to the locker room bursts open and in walks David Frickin Goggins.

David: Hold on, I thought I heard my name being thrown around in here. What’s all this about a soft b*tch?

Jeff and Harry look up, surprised to see the legendary ultra-runner and Navy SEAL standing right there in front of them.

Harry: Uh, we were just talking about how Jeff was feeling lazy during his match yesterday, and we were saying how you’d call someone a soft b*tch for that.

David: Ah, I see. Well, let me tell you something boys, there’s no such thing as feeling tired, it’s all just a state of mind. If you want to be a champion, you gotta train deliberately, even when you’re feeling buggered. That’s what sets you apart from the rest.

Jeff: That’s exactly what we were just saying, we’re gonna start training when we’re tired, get our heads in the game and be ready for anything.

David: Good on you boys, that’s the spirit. If you want to achieve greatness, you gotta push yourself beyond your limits, get uncomfortable and challenge yourself. That’s what makes all the difference.

Stay hard.

With that, David nods his head and gives them a pat on the back before walking out of the locker room, leaving Jeff and Harry in awe.

Harry: Mate, did that just happen?

Jeff: I think it did, mate. We’ve got a lot more work to do.

Just as Jeff and Harry were leaving the locker room, still a bit bewildered, they were stopped by the ultimate peak performance guru, Tony Robbins.

Tony: Hey guys, what’s this I hear about pushing beyond limits and challenging yourself? That sounds like my kind of talk!

Harry: Oh, hey Tony, we were just talking to David Goggins about deliberate practice and how to be a champion.

Tony: Ah, that’s great stuff. You know, champions are made when no one’s watching, when you’re putting in the work and pushing yourself to be better every day.

Jeff: Yeah, that’s what we’re going to start doing, training even when we’re tired, so we’re ready for anything.

Tony: That’s exactly right. And, you know what they say, “If at first you don’t succeed, train harder and try again.”

Harry and Jeff laugh at the joke, appreciating Tony’s light-hearted approach to their serious conversation.

Tony: But seriously, if you want to achieve greatness, you gotta have a growth mindset and never stop learning, always be open to new ideas and ways of doing things. That’s what sets the greats apart. Like Serena Williams who I worked with to take her mental game to the GOAT level.

A few minutes later, Jeff and Harry were taking a break from their intense training session, discussing Harry’s recent loss in a squash match.

Harry: I just feel down about losing my last match. I can practice well, but it all unravels when there are spectators, a ref and every point matters.

Just then, Brené Brown walks by and overhears their conversation.

Brené: Hey guys, what’s this I hear about feeling down? That’s not like you, Harry.

Harry: Oh hey Brené, I just lost my last match and it’s got me feeling a bit down.

Brené: Ah, I understand. You know, sometimes we don’t do as well as we’d like, but that doesn’t define us. It’s just a moment in time.

Harry nods, appreciating Brené’s words of encouragement.

Brené: And hey, did you hear the one about the psychologist and the squash player? The psychologist said, “I’m here to help you with your mental game.” And the squash player replied, “Great, I’ve been trying to find my racket for weeks.”

Harry and Jeff laugh at the joke, and Brené continues.

Brené: But seriously, it’s important to focus on what you can control in a match and let go of the things you can’t. And it’s okay to feel nervous, it just means you care about the outcome. The key is to channel that nervous energy into your performance, instead of letting it hold you back.

Harry nods, taking Brené’s advice to heart and feeling a bit better.

Brené: And remember, the goal is to become the best version of yourself, not to beat someone else. Keep that in mind and you’ll be unstoppable on the court!

About 10 minutes later, while Jeff and Harry are doing a short, high intensity boast-drive routine with the player at the back volley-boasting to create extra pressure on the driver in front, Dr Marc Dussault walks up to the glass-back court and gives it a friendly tap, catching Jeff and Harry’s attention.

Dr Marc: “Hey, mind if I interrupt and share some tips on how to take your deliberate practice to the next (exponential) level?”

Jerry and Harry nod and invite him to join them on court.

Dr Marc: “First up, don’t underestimate the power of technology, like the Racketware Squash Sensor. It’s like having a personal coach with you, tracking your every move.”

Harry: “Ha! Does it give subliminal coaching advice in your sleep?”

Dr Marc: “That would be creepy! But seriously, also make sure you journal your progress. It’s like keeping a diary, but instead of your crush, it’s your squash skills that will grow.”

Jeff: “Hey, now that’s a great idea. We can compare our progress in a few months and see who’s the better journaler… I mean, player.”

Dr Marc: “And last but not least, the best way to overcome competition nerves is to practice like you play and play like you practice. Schedule some SWAT sessions at the East Coast Squash Academy and you’ll be killing it in no time.”

Harry and Jeff finish their practice session and Harry asks: So what’s next?

Jeff: Well, I say we grab a cold one, relax and recharge. Then tomorrow, let’s hit the court with a renewed sense of purpose and get to work on putting all this advice into action.

Harry: Agreed! And let’s make sure to bring our A-game to the next match, instead of leaving it in the locker room!

(end scene with a high-five and a good-natured chuckle as the two head off to grab a beer as squash players do!)

This blog post and the preceding one were both auto-generated via ChatGPT. In a future post, I’ll explain why this is important for your squash game and acquiring the Mindset Of A Champion.