Keep Your Eye on the Ball
October 5th, 2009 Posted in Newsletter
I’ve recently become addicted to tennis. I was glued to the television during the US Open and try to play every chance I get. Originally I was forced to play by my wife, who needed someone to practice with, and my son who at the age of 9 has decided he wants to be the next John McEnroe. But now I love the game and my goal is to be the first unranked 40+ man to win the US Open. 
In my pursuit of greatness I’ve taken a few lessons and when playing I try to implement what I’ve learned. I tell myself:
Keep the racket low.
Move the feet.
Bend the knees.
Rotate the hips.
Low to high.
Follow through.
Don’t pass out.
One day I thought I was doing everything right and yet I still wasn’t hitting the ball well. What am I doing wrong I asked myself in frustration? I thought of all the advice I had shared in Training Camp, and laughed as I realized I had overlooked the obvious.
I was doing everything but keeping my eye on the ball. I was so caught up in trying to do everything else that I forgot the most important part of the game.
I know I’m not alone. I see it happen all the time in businesses, in schools, in sports, and in life.
Distractions cause us to lose our focus.
We allow the trivial to get in the way of the meaningful.
Busyness and stress keep us from developing the relationships that are crucial to building a winning career and team.
We fret about the past, worry about the future and take our focus off of the present.
Bombarded by information and distractions we forget what is truly important.
We focus on the outcome instead of the process and wonder why we miss our targets.
We focus on everything else except the ball.
Today I want to encourage you to keep your eye on the ball. Get back to the basics. Focus on the fundamentals. Remember what really matters. Identify the simple principles and actions that are crucial to your success at work and at home.
Simplify, Focus, Execute.
I played tennis yesterday for three hours. My body was tired and the blisters on my feet were killing me. But I kept telling 
myself keep your eye on the ball.
I played the best I’ve ever played.
Keeping my eye on the ball helped me take my game to a new level. I know it will help you do the same.
How do you keep your eye on the ball? What does the ball symbolize for you? Share your thoughts on our blog.
- Jon
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Tags: focus, john mcenroe, jon gordon, process, success, training camp, us open
14 Responses to “Keep Your Eye on the Ball”
By Amy on Oct 5, 2009
Hi Jon, Thanks for another great newsletter. Your words seem to come to my inbox at just the right time. I was at Daybreak yesterday to hear you speak. As a member of the church and former staff member - who was on staff when Wes took us through the Energy Bus - I new that we were going to hear some inspiring words. I was right! The line that stood out the most to me - and was EXACTLY what I needed to hear, was when you said we have a choice between fear and faith and that both have to do with something that hasn’t happened yet. Fear - a negative prospect and Faith - a postive prospect. If neither has happened yet, why wouldn’t we choose to go with faith?! I struggle with that daily. Thanks for the reminder. I am repeating that to myself whenever I feel the fear creeping in. Along with “Be Still and Know that I am God.” I also wanted to tell you we purchased Training Camp yesterday. You signed it to my oldest daughter Lauren (12) “You’re the best!” As I started to read it last night, I couldn’t believe how perfect the book was for her. She is a soccer player - and has always been the shortest, smallest one on the team. For years, that has never stopped her. Recently, she played a couple of tough games where she was knocked down and hurt in a tournament. Her coach took her off the field, didn’t play her much after that, and emailed us that she was worried about Lauren because of her size and concerned that with her small size she wasn’t having as much “impact” on the game because of the larger defenders. I am proud to say that my daughter took these comments to heart, worked very hard, and came back the next weekend to receive “player of the week” honors for her intenseive play - scoring the only goal of the weekend. As I read your book yesterday, it was like you had written the book just for Lauren. I can’t wait to have her read it. It will reinforce her choice to show what she is made of and give her so many important things to think about as she moves forward both in soccer and in life. Keep up the great work Jon. As my girls and I prayed for you last night, we said that God has clearly given you a gift and that we are so thankful that you are willing to put it to such great use. May your impact on people for Him continue to grow every day. Thanks for being willing to be used by Him to touch people like me and my family. God Bless.
By Gena on Oct 5, 2009
Jon, I wanted to share something with you that happened this weekend relating to your book. A dear friend of mine shared at our ladies Christian retreat about how your book has impacted her life. She connected it with scripture and the results were life changing. You’d love it! Anyway, I wanted you to know that you are changing lives and if you ever want to add to your presentation and go to churches, I’ve got her info.! LOL!
Sincerely,
Gena from OKC
By Randy on Oct 5, 2009
Jon,
Excellent post. But…blisters? I was reminded of a Coach John Wooden maxim(paraphrased)that first you have to teach them how to put on their socks and tie their shoes correctly — no one can play well and perserevere with sore feet! THEN, you can keep your eyes on the ball!!
By Marnie Black on Oct 5, 2009
very helpful
By Shelby on Oct 5, 2009
Jon, I am responding to your newsletter regarding, “keeping your eye on the ball.” This means to me that I have the most power in the present moment. In order to hit the ball you have to be in the present. Thanks for reminding me that my power to change and to make adjustments hangs on my ability to be in the moment. If your thoughts are always in the future or the past, you will always miss the ball, (you will miss the present and your ability to act in that moment). Thanks for again.
By Mike Cheravitch on Oct 6, 2009
Jon, you are spot on, keeping your eye on the ball is often talked about but is one of the most challenging things to do especially in today’s environment.
For my team and me keeping our eye on the ball means staying focused on the “behaviors and activities” and remaining consistent and diligent to them, and eventually the results/outcomes will happen!
By Felice Lam on Oct 6, 2009
As a former collegiate tennis player, I can relate my entire life to tennis from preparation to being in a match.
In my opinion, before even being able to keep your eyes on the ball, you have to start with visualization.
It takes years of practice to become excellent in tennis or in whatever area of life you’re trying to master.
Glad that I stumbled onto your MSNBC article today and now, onto your blog.
Thanks for sharing such great information.
By cheri on Oct 6, 2009
Great advice! I keep my eye on the ball by staying in the present moment. Two quotes that help me to do this, one is “I know when I worry I am thinking about the future, and when I am sad, I am thinking about the past. Stay in the present.” And second: “Worry is trusting your fears more than you trust your God.”
By Jeff on Oct 6, 2009
Jon, as usual your thinking aligns with mine. I enjoy tennis and find that when playing well I am in a zone of thinking about nothing else but the current point and yes eye on the ball. Used some of your approaches during a teaching moment tonight with 12 year old who was worrying about tests he has two days from now and test problems in the past instead of focusing on the studying at that moment for the test tomorrow. Got him zoom focused and ended the evening confident he will do well. Thanks
By Gabriella Van Breda on Oct 6, 2009
The goal of resourcing others - nothing is more powerful! It is the life blood of success. Interesting thought - tennis and the ball! Have we ever realized how reciprocal the game of tennis is? The best fun is had when the ball comes back to you and you are able to return it. It is a back and forth motion kind of like giving and receiving. If we don’t give we won’t receive. A mentality of scarcity will have us hung up on what we don’t have or what we’ll lose. When the focus is others and we remove the self serving blinders,we see the game as it really is.
By todd on Oct 7, 2009
It’s amazing how the simple things can elude us so easily. That is important insight and was very eye-opening today. Therein lies the sollution to a lot of discouragement. Thanks for the posting.
By Jan on Oct 9, 2009
My task list is my focus. I make it up every day and it keeps me thinking about what I have to do. Each time I accomplish something, then I highlight it and at the end of the day, I feel like I have accomplished something.
By Rita Foster on Oct 11, 2009
To stay focus on the goal of training students, I ignore the negative and focus on the positive. there are always people who are reluctant to change and continually complain regardless of what you do to resolve their problems.
I place emphasis on positive things beause the negatives are very stressful and will take my mind off of my goal.
By Kay on Oct 28, 2009
Put a thin layer of vasoline on your feet to prevent blisters- between toes and on heels and tops of feet- works for walking and running! Love, K