COACH GELSTON’S ONLY RULE
“Be at the right place
at the right time and
do the right thing!”
My good friend and mentor Dr. Rob Gilbert gave me a plaque with this advice emblazoned on it. I keep it right in my office where I can see it every day. It reminds me to stay focused and on target. Rob Gilbert knows all about staying strong and motivated. He hosts the “Success Hotline” — a terrific free daily 3-minute uplifting message that you can listen to 24/7 just by calling 973.743.4690 (stay tuned for more on Rob’s Hotline!).
Looking at Coach Gelston’s words of wisdom made me think of an article I read not long ago about tennis great Roger Federer. The headline caught certainly caught my eye: “Backed by a Brain Trust, Federer Digs In at Age 29.” I was struck by how smart a move this was on Roger’s part — and how bold as well. With a record-breaking 16 Grand Slam singles titles in his back pocket, the tennis ace could certainly kick back and relax. He’s number 2 in the world rankings after all! But the guy’s still eager to play and improve — and win.
Roger seems to be an intense guy: no wonder he has not one, but two coaches helping him sharpen his game. He said he hired one of them so he could have access to a fresh, experienced voice. Makes great sense, doesn’t it?
As writers aspiring to improve our craft, we can all use help from a “fresh experienced voice,” once in a while. That may mean getting some useful tips from a seasoned writer at a reading, taking a workshop or signing up for a seminar. It can also mean tapping great resources like the Success Hotline. What matters most is that, like Roger, we’re eager to invigorate our games and to push ourselves to the next level. Just one timely tip can make all the difference!