Wentworth....and Winning

Congratulations to Matteo Manassero.

Regardless of how old you are....or how many years you've played, you can still win.
At Wentworth, or anywhere.

Assuming you have the skill at it, that is.

Oh, and you need one more thing.

The.Right.Mindset.

Because when the going gets tough and the pressure is on, your skill might suddenly let you down.

You might want to 'blame' it on your swing not being right, or your short game, or long game, or even your flippin' putting needing some attention.

But the truth is, your skill is NOT the problem, is it?

Your beliefs are driving your thoughts and your thoughts are driving your behaviour.

So if you want to win at Wentworth...or anywhere - GET GOOD at managing what's going on in your head.  No more 'excuses'.

Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach
www.amanawalker.com

And the winner of 'The Voice' IS........

So The Voice and Britain's Got Talent is back on our screens in the UK (as is The X Factor in the USA).

These contests are full of excellent singers - solo and groups, and has it's usual mix of those who cannot and will NEVER be able, to sing.
Even if their mum does tell them they can!!.

But CAN you pick a 'winner' out of all that talent?
There are plenty of people with confidence, and those who have been singing for years - they KNOW how to face an audience and love the spotlight.
Chances are that one of them will win - right?

Well actually, wrong....

The star, and ultimate winner will be someone who is the opposite to that, trust me (I know it's early days and you have my permission to e mail me to tell me I'm wrong, if I am !).

But I know that the person who wins will be someone like this:

- They will lack confidence
- They won't have much stage experience
- They will be humble and doubt their abilities
- They will believe that anyone else is likely to win, except themselves
- They won't believe that people could actually vote for them....

How do I know this? Because that's the kind of person we want to see win.

The winner will be an 'unlikely' star. An ordinary 'girl/guy next door' type .
A total 'non celebrity'.
Someone who has talent - but more importantly has a big dose of 'Ingredient X'.

Watch and you'll see.

Amana Walker,
Straightforward,straight talking coach- Expert in finding Ingredient X.

What do you NEED to win?...Take a peek

Here's a short sample from my book:

'The Power of Ingredient 'X'..

..A no nonsense guide on how to stand out from the crowd.'

(Draft sample chapter)

Let’s take talent.

We’ve all seen it. A talent show where the person with the most talent DOESN'T win!

Because someone else stands out more. They grab us by our emotions. We want them to win because we LIKE them-not because they are the best at what they do.

Funny that . 
But we like them for a reason (or reasons). Let's just say they 'have it'.  
Their own, unique personal cocktail - their Ingredient 'X'.

SO are people with ‘it’, born with  it?

Hell No!
 

It’s true that many people develop their own charisma, friendliness, ‘likeability’ from a young age. But that’s the thing-it often develops over time, and, personal surroundings, family –and circumstances, all play a part.

Ingredient ‘X’ in Sports

 

There are many skillful sportspeople out there who have worked for years to get to where they are at. Best in their team, best in their town, best in their country, Olympic medal winners.

Now, there is no doubting that they are good, and have the ability to win.

But they sure don’t all show their uniqueness - their Ingredient ‘X’, so we don’t become emotionally engaged and fail to connect with them. And that costs. Massively.

‘There is only one David Beckham!’-I hear people say. Not only is he nifty with his feet, he’s sharp when it comes to placing the ball-but let’s be honest-other people can do that, can’t they? ...Only they can’t do it the way David does it.
He has the flair and style to go with it. Ok, he's damn sexy - which is a huge factor for many (and has earned him a few bob). But he also appears to be (perception is everything baby) a nice guy. And he’s a family man. And he seems patriotic. And he does a lot to help develop young kids’ football skills.

.....And before we know it, he has a cocktail of stuff that makes us like him for more than just football.

What about Wayne Rooney? Different style. Hungry, aggressive, young, down to earth, ‘boy next door married to girl next door’ type. Different to Beckham-different cocktail again.

And, Messi?...WHERE do we even  start?!

 

What about football managers?

Jose Mourinhio-driven, dashing, powerful leader, fiery, exciting, self- confident, sexy.

Harry Redknapp-caring, ‘safe’, authoritative, ‘fatherly figure’, motivational, respected.

Both different. Both good. Different Ingredient ‘X’ cocktail mixtures.....

And don't get me started on The Masters...The best will be there, and all more than capable of winning.

But listen to the crowd and you'll see which golfers they are getting behind to win.
.....Ask yourself WHY.

(To read more excerpts follow @coachx on twitter...)

Amana

Straightforward,straight talking coach.

www.amanawalker.com

NOT achieved your 'thing' yet? - It's time to CHANGE your game.

I coach so many people who are disappointed.

They are disillusioned at work.
They aren't achieving what they'd hoped.
They haven't found the man/woman of their dreams.
They'd hoped that by 'this age'...they'd have so much more.

They look around and wonder why other people have what they want. But 'life' of course hasn't treated them quite so well.

...And all the time they spend thinking about what they haven't got, they are sliding further down the spiral of negativity. The further they fall the harder it is to pick themselves up.
It's no surprise that their friends/family/colleagues....don't want to be around them. They can't 'fix' their life for them.

And that my friends is when the well intended, verbal KICK up the arse is so needed.Yeh really.

Who am I to allow YOU to drag yourself down even further?
Its time to change your game.

Something IS going right in your life (if you cant find it, I flippin' will)
Whatever that is ...build, build and build on it.

How much of this 'disappointment' have you brought upon yourself?.....
..(hold back from lashing out at me - I'm on your side)...we are MASTERS at self- sabotage.
And we are SO good at beating ourselves up.
Listen to your language - how DO you talk to yourself (mentally and openly)?
Until you support who YOU are, very few will be attracted to you. 


And - here's one that might hurt -
..Just how much have you REALLY tried to get what you want in life?
Because when you want something BADLY, you just DON'T STOP trying.
Ever.

For every disappointment, knock, or set back you have - there is a an opportunity for you.
The opportunity is in what you SAY to yourself at that time.
MOST people get angry, frustrated,hurt or worse.

THE WINNERS...say 'so what? - this has happened for a reason, BRING ON the next challenge'.
(or words like that).

The MAJORITY , slide down that spiral even further - and stay there even longer.Because 'luck' only happens to other people.
NO! - you can be as 'lucky' as you TRY HARD to be.

I never said achieving your thing would be easy.
But it DOES depend on HOW BADLY you want it.

Amana,
Straightforward,straight talking coach.
www.amanawalker.com

How do you know when a footballer (or MANAGER) is in crisis?...

....Usually you don't.

 

Until they hit rock bottom that is - then everyone knows because it hits the news.

But that's (arguably) too late.

'Struggling to cope' can be picked up much earlier than that, often there are tell tale signs that build up over a long period of time.

 

Signs such as these:

1. Withdrawal from being around people (including family)

2. Moods becoming inconsistent for no apparent reason
3. 'Lashing out' and shouting at the slightest thing - on and off the pitch.
4. A growing dependence on .......(fill in the gap with: drink, clubbing, sex, drugs etc).
5. A spiralling downturn in performance and attitude
6. Repeated illness/injury/or 'red card' offences


At first it seems like the person is having an 'off day' and no real attention is given.
But if someone did pay closer attention, and looked at the detail in body language - and the stuff that comes out of their mouths (bad language, highly opinionated, denial of truth)..

They'd know that here is a cry for help.

There are many footballers - and managers'/ sportspeople/ celebrities .....(and people like you and me) out there all showing the tell tale signs.

You get to know of course. When it hits the press.
And if you are well known, that makes for juicy news and this magnifies the problem even more.

Bit of a tricky start for you, Mr Di Canio? Perhaps its time to be a good ROLE MODEL to your team.
Honesty, openness and humility is a must if you want to win some respect.
And if you don't, your team will isolate you - and neither of you stand much chance of success.
The speculation will not go away until you change your behaviour.

Many will argue that people in top sport 'get paid enough' to handle it. But at times like these, money is often the root and driver of the problem.

For all the money being thrown at the sports and entertainment business - it's a sad day when not enough is thrown at picking people up when they are down or struggling to handle themselves in the spotlight.


'Championship' and 'Premiership' doesn't seem to apply to the teams' level of care and well being.
Not all good businesses take care of their 'assets'.

...there is far more to winning than scoring goals.

Attitude is EVERYTHING, Mr Di Canio. Get it right.
No one is bigger than the club.

Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach.
www.amanawalker.com

WHY Blame the Ref?

Football is a complicated sport.
The GAME isn't complicated - but the PEOPLE involved in it sure as hell are.

Here's the latest example...Man U vs R Madrid .
It was ALWAYS going to be a big game - just look at the teams involved.
Then look at the star players.
...And then the Managers.

Let's not forget the gazillion fans watching on site and at home. We ALL have an opinion
But no amount of screaming would change the result.(tried that one already)

The debate about whether the ref was right or wrong in his decision will rage on forever. And to some, he will now always be a 'w*nker' (at least).

But stop.
Haven't we seen teams with only 10 men win games before? Hell yeah.
In the face of mounting pressure, some teams have played better than they would have played with
11 men on the pitch, and won the game.

But not this time.
That's football.

Passion for the game gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the stuff we're made of.
It also gives us the opportunity to demonstrate that we're a complete pr*ck.


Alex is too distraught to talk about the result (is that good leadership? - just sayin').

Jose says the best team lost (what must HIS team , who WON the game, think?).

Ferdinand dis's the ref to his face (what example does that set to his team, colleagues and young fans the world over?)

Other players joined in and ranted at the ref at the end of the game - no doubt shouting and swearing. (but its over. sad, frustrating. And over).


So WHY blame the ref?
He didn't lose the game for Man U, and he didn't win the game for Madrid.
He had a job to do and he did it.

BOTH teams are , and will carry on being, GREAT teams.

Sadly, some individuals (in the heat of the moment no doubt) have just lost some respect, and have damaged their reputation in front of millions of young kids watching.
That's our future.

Its easy (and lazy) to blame...it's more of a challenge to turn a problem around.

Perhaps we need to pay them more money to do that?

If money is tight, give the players to me, and I'll quickly make their attitude control the best in the world.
No messin' around.

Until footballers (and managers) can master their mind , they will NEVER be as good as they COULD be.

Football, it's all in the head.

Amana
straightforward, straight talking coach.

www.amanawalker.com
www.walkahead.co.uk




. 

You,Social Networking...and Being A Celebrity

Social networking sites? Oh yeah, they are potentially..... bad news for us.

 

Facebook, Twitter and the rest are meant to help us stay connected to friends, build new relationships and enhance our lives.

But in some instances.... the opposite is happening.

Ever had a negative comment from a photo you've put up of yourself?

How about when you've read something a 'friend' has written about you ...that touched a 'nerve'?

Does it ever feel like other people's lives are SO much better than yours?

What about when you look at pictures of celebrities (and even your friends) and in your eyes - you look a total disaster compared to any of them?

Yep, I KNOW you have.
Because I see it, hear about it, and help people overcome the anxiety that goes with this ALL THE TIME.

The power of social networking is strong. So your belief in yourself - and all you have going for you - HAS to be even stronger (read - sh*t hot!).
If not, you are in danger of being the biggest bully in the world - TO YOURSELF.


So what can you do about it? - here's a few ideas:( and if you want some more. Just ask.)

1. Whenever you have a camera pointing at you :

Think of something funny that will make you smile naturally.(c'mon that's easy).

Focus your mind on what makes you feel good.
If you think 'hell!... I look awful today', or 'I hate having my picture taken' - then THAT'S EXACTLY what will show up on camera. So DON'T do that to yourself.

2. Find that you are comparing yourself to others?

Remember that everyone has little 'gripes' about themselves - but the ones we hear the most (and loudest) are our very own. Tell the negative voice in your head to NAFF OFF, and bring in a voice that only focuses on what is GOOD about you.
We ALL have some kind of XFactor - find YOURS.

Beware...
All is not what it seems. Celebrities have 'demons' and insecurities too - and often they are played out in public which magnifies their issues even more. At least we have a degree of privacy - be grateful for that.

3. Read something hurtful about yourself?

Stuff is often said in the heat of the moment - and in hindsight is regretted. So don't ALLOW a hurtful comment to linger in your head. It could drag you down unnecessarily.
Laugh it off - (at least someone is thinking about you).

Remember you are likely to make the situation worse if you join in and 'hit back'. Is it really worth it? And aren't you BETTER than that?

4. You are in charge of YOU

That's right. You are the boss of you.
So YOU determine how you feel. YOU decide what actions you will take.
And YOU can make yourself feel absolutely flippin' AMAZING.
YOUR CHOICE.
Just saying.

5. If you want a number '5' .

...Get in touch and say 'Amana, gimme some more'.

So stay connected for the right reasons, have fun, and remember that you have a 'voice', so you use it wisely .

You get back what you give out in life. It's cheesy. But true.

Everyone has a life behind the image - and no ones' is perfect - so don't be fooled by the image you see.

And - Believe. In. You.

Look for and focus on your BEST INGREDIENTS. Everything else just isn't important.
...and any social network can be your friend for life.
 

Trust me.
I'm a coach (an AMAZING coach).

Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach.
www.amanawalker.com
www.walkahead.co.uk