This week I spent several productive days working with a new client.  A professional athlete, he has spent a good deal of time bouncing from performance coach to sports psychologist and back again, in search of, http://www.inner-sports.com/what-is-the-zone-and-how-do-we-find-it/, “the zone.”  It seems to me however, that this player has innocently used these so called experts, and their varying theoretical models, as a crutch- something he could look forward to, and a place where he could unburden himself and perhaps pick up a technique that might help him play better the next night.  Problem is, internally he was struggling and externally he was mired in a pretty bad scoring slump.  A new teammate of his, who had spent a week here last summer, suggested that Inner Sports would be an opportunity for him finally to put an end to his external search.  He was right and, as you will see, I learned a lot over the past few days as well.

Even with the advent of more external approaches and publicity, “the zone” is as elusive as it has ever been.

To be clear, I am not here only to discuss our work together this week.  Much more significantly, I want to reveal what I know to be an extreme flaw in the methodology of ninety-nine percent of the performance coaches and PhDs, who are employed by teams or are working privately with athletes.  That is, it is painfully obvious that when an athlete is at his or her best (in the zone) their experience is one of clarity, freedom, and unbounded effort.  So then, why do these so called experts keep providing external tools and techniques that only serve to rev up, cloud, and bind the thinking of the very players that they are trying to help?

Now, I am not saying that these experts and I disagree with the concept that a player’s level of mental functioning is essential to performance.  Where we part ways is in our distinctly different understanding of what it takes to achieve a high level of mental functioning in the first place.  In fact, I would argue that because of a general lack of understanding, “the zone” is as elusive to the sports world today as it has ever been.  And even with the advent of more external “zone producing” approaches (and the publicity around them), players, who exist at the mercy of these approaches, are struggling more than ever.

The sports world is making success far more difficult than it is meant to be.

Over the past 10 years I have made it my personal mission to interview thousands of world class athletes about their thinking and feelings; upon great play and upon poor play.  To a man or woman, these individuals use words like freedom, ease, effortless, “out of nowhere,” and “no thought,” in describing a high level of performance.  And words like, “bound up”, work, trying, clutter, and “over thinking,” when describing a low level of performance.  Yet, virtually all professional teams promote mind bending and unnatural methods like sticking to a defined routine before a basketball foul shot for example.  Here, players will tell you that they work so hard just to recall the routine that they sometimes miss, and other times that they make shot after shot without even thinking about the routine.  In addition, it is valuable to remember that in athletics sometimes we’ll win, sometimes we won’t, but in either case the opportunity always exists for growth and future success.  Hence, why would any team allow the journey of a season to hinge on external judgments and then temporary relief like affirmations, imagery, or a  pre-shot habit?   The sports world is truly making success far more difficult than it is meant to be!

Performance gurus, who persuade their players to alter their behavior, are sadly encouraging them to become passive victims of life.

It is now time for the athletic community to see that the only answer to enduring performance and internal contentment, lies within an innate understanding that we all possess and the outside world (like these experts) shrouds.  We must look to the resilient truth that success is born from a player’s thinking, ensuing feelings, and his or her level of well being in the moment.  Hence, when an athlete is suffering, the worst thing that he or she can ever do is search for a fix.  Performance gurus who persuade their players to alter behavior, based on temporary successes or failures, are sadly encouraging them to become passive victims of life.  From this viewpoint it’s easy to see why so many athletes believe that the path to achievement rests in a mental exercise, a theoretical tool, therapy, cheating, or even a pill.

It is Inner Sports’ responsibility to initiate a paradigm shift in the arena of athletic mental performance.

So lastly, back to the past few days with our new client.  Lucky for both of us he was at the end of his rope with the “technique of the week methodology.”  After we talked for a while he said, “Coach, I’m at my best when I don’t think or better yet when my thoughts come from God.  Does that make sense?” Now, I am not a religious person but I thought to myself, “How cool is this statement?”  From a moment of clarity and quiet, he was describing an inner recognition of the oneness of life.  That magical level of functioning where intelligence and spirit join together and thus great play is a mere formality.  In truth, this perspective is the exact opposite of any external approach to performance, and for me represents an unexpected new description of “the zone” itself. 

Therefore, I realized in a minute that once we cleared up some learned misunderstandings, this player would be well on his way to uncovering a new outlook on the path of his career.  I also felt, and continue to believe, that it is incumbent on me and my partners to keep writing and speaking about these types of encounters.  For, with every new day I clearly see that it is Inner Sports’ responsibility to initiate a paradigm shift in the arena of athletic performance and we hope beyond… To the world out there for an even greater good. 

We often hear it from successful athletes at the conclusion of an awesome performance: “Man was I in “the zone” today.”  And while “the zone” seems to be this magical place that spawns great play, I am not sure if I have ever heard it clearly described or demonstrated.  Since so many athletes have recently come to Inner Sports in search of this elusive state of mind, I am going to take a shot, in this blog entry, at putting this hard to define viewpoint to words.  I say hard to define because like the concept of Truth, with “the zone,” I believe that we are actually trying to explain the unexplainable.  Words can never mimic the feeling of “the zone,” so as you read along here, the best we can both do is to use the words as an echo of that feeling.

“The zone” is not about some heightened state of focus or concentration, it is the heavenly place where external limitations cease to exist.

Let’s start off by explaining what “the zone” is not.  “The zone” is not the intellect.  When an athlete is in “the zone,” the last thing he or she cares about is thinking or analyzing.  “The zone” is not about trying hard.  When an athlete is in “the zone,” there is no conscious effort or grind.  Lastly, “the zone” is not about some heightened state of focus or concentration.  When an athlete is in “the zone,” there exists such clarity and vision that focus becomes a mere after thought.     

The word then that I believe is most synonymous with the notion of “the zone” is…freedom.   When an athlete operates from a perspective of freedom, they don’t think for they know, they don’t grind for they allow, and they don’t focus for the feel.  Freedom truly means that an individual is performing with a complete and utter understanding that external circumstances have zero ability to regulate his or her life.  So moved, an athlete exists at the height of consciousness with the perceptual field wide open.  From here, the outside world can’t touch a player and thus it becomes impossible to fail.  “The zone” is the heavenly place where external limitations cease to exist and regardless of any outcomes (as labeled by the outside world), an athlete is free to get on the field and just let go.

The only way to find “the zone” is to understand that there is nothing actually required on your part.

Now, finding “the zone” is a whole other matter.  First, it is essential to understand that once you believe that there is something you have to do in order to find it, you are lost before you start.  I have often heard coaches instructing players to be more intense or to concentrate, only to watch their performance go straight down hill.  I have also spoken to many athletes who say that on days when they aren’t in “the zone,” they try so hard to get there that they ultimately trip over their own two feet.  Believe it or not, the only way to find “the zone” is to understand that there is nothing actually required on your part.  Just think for a second about the best performances, or experiences of any kind in your life.  Did you truly try to focus, grind, or exert willpower to find this mystical place?  My bet is a resounding no.

“The zone” exists in the depths of every athlete’s soul.

Therefore, at the risk of touching on the spiritual side of sports, to all players who are out there searching for “the zone,” my heartfelt suggestion is simply to stop.  Realize that your search is truly leading you further away from what you seek.  “The zone” exists in the depths of every athlete’s soul, and will only emerge from clarity, quiet, and the free will that we all possess.  “The zone” is athletics’ version of Truth or even Spirit, a level of awareness where all is right in the world, and thus the game and life just flow. 

So, while I know that my words here have failed to do it justice, I simply hope that the feeling is enough to give all athletes a glimpse of “the zone’s” capabilities, and what we must understand, and not do, in order to find it. 

I was listening to a discussion on a sports radio station the other day, pertaining to the rule that a player must be 19 years of age, or one year removed from the graduation of his high school class, to be eligible for the NBA draft.  The dual hosts of the program were debating the issue, but in the end agreed that the rule was unjust.  For, “there is life changing money out there, so players should be allowed to go ‘grab’ it when they are physically able to do so.”

In truth, money has zero ability to change a person’s life.

Now I am not here, like the radio hosts, to debate the NBA rule.  I am here to provide a different spin on the entire argument.  In particular, to respond to frequently made comments like the one above.  First of all, in light of all the young athletes who experience personal turmoil upon accepting inflated contracts from leagues like the NBA, I wonder why anyone would positively describe the chance to earn big money as life changing.  In truth, money, fame, or adulation has zero ability to change a person’s life, and broadcasting this errant perspective only serves to distort the crucial understanding.  To be clear, money can satisfy external wants like a house, a car, or even a trust fund for your family.  Life however, is an unwavering constant for us all.  And until this lesson is clearly imparted and understood, to me the question of the appropriate age to enter the NBA is actually moot.

The leagues are contributing to the erroneous thinking of the individuals they are trying to protect.

Secondly, let’s talk about the “entry programs” of organizations like the NBA and the NFL, created to counteract the wayward choices commonly made by rookies.  Leagues have hired behavioral experts and security details to guide players as they embark upon their professional journeys.  Now, on the surface these types of policies sound sensible, and I applaud the leagues for considering the welfare of their young stars.  Problem is the leagues are actually contributing to the erroneous thinking of the individuals they are trying to protect.  Why?  Because this type of program mistakenly demonstrates that the surrounding “temptations” of professional sports, actually have the power to regulate one’s thinking and ensuing choices.  In other words, why teach young athletes how to manage behavior and thus encourage them to become passive victims of life? Instead, why not provide the understanding that you need not be controlled by your circumstances in the first place?

Dictating to impressionable young minds about how to behave only exasperates the quandary.

So back to the title question of when is it the appropriate time to leave school for the bright lights of big league sports?  Well, as alluded to earlier, the time is only right when a player deeply understands that one’s life situation has no ability to regulate one’s life.  In truth, this message is what the talk hosts should be broadcasting and the NBA and NFL, teaching.  Dictating to impressionable young minds about how to behave or when to leave school only exasperates the quandary by fostering outer dependence.  Our message here at Inner Sports is simple.  Life as a pro athlete is sure to have its ups and downs.  If during the downs, a player understands simply to look inward (not to expensive external vices and not to the crutch of a program) and see that the opportunity always exists to create the proper path from the current situation; he has then found the freedom, security, and wisdom necessary to make the most of a glorious opportunity.  From this perspective, it is easy to see that money, fame, or outer temptations have little to do with the decision, hence the time is now right to “grab” it! 

Like most of the world, I sat and watched Tiger Woods speak yesterday as he embarked upon the quest to “overcome” his personal failings.  My opinion is that he did the best that he could possibly do at this moment in time.  Much more significant to me however, is what we can all learn from Tiger’s “transgressions,” and also from the wide range of reactions that followed his first public appearance in about three months.

When Tiger’s state of mind is low, he is not capable of seeing life clearly and he is prone to lapses in judgment.

First, as I initially discussed on December 4^th: http://www.inner-sports.com/okay-my-take-on-tiger/, the time is now for Tiger to understand that errant thinking and its ensuing impulses, signal “out of bounds,” not a call to action.  As Tiger indicated yesterday, it is indeed necessary for him to address the pain inflicted by his errant behavior, but it is far more critical that he understands its source.  Believe it or not, the temptation to stray is actually not the real issue here; a failure to realize that one’s state of mind determines one’s ability to regulate urges… is.  Trust me, when Tiger’s level of well being is high, the thought of betraying his wife, comes and goes.  When this level is low, he is not capable of seeing life clearly and he is prone to serious lapses in judgment.  Thus, he has no choice but to succumb.  Just reflect on the mistakes you have made in your own life.  I guarantee that your faulty judgments, and resulting poor behavior, were far less about the situation you were in than about your level of well being the moment you encountered the situation.  

Without the free will to choose, Tiger lacks the resources necessary to draw upon personal insights and move past errant emotions in his own way.

In addition, unless Tiger comes to see that he can only look within himself to find enduring answers, I am certain that this deviant pattern will manifest itself (perhaps in another form) yet again.  While therapy or even Buddhism might set the wheels in motion, without the free will to choose, Tiger lacks the resources necessary to draw upon personal insights and move past errant emotions in his own way.  In other words, relying on the judgments and guidance of the external world, in order to solve internal quandaries, can only work for so long.  Instead, the answer solely lies in understanding how our own thoughts and state of mind, in the moment, affect the reality that we create for ourselves.  It actually is this simple, and once understood Tiger will find it impossible to misread his internal feelings.  For, they are perfectly designed to steer each of us away from trouble in our own individual manner.

How we view an external circumstance has nothing to do with the circumstance itself, and here lies the key to navigating smoothly through life.

There is one other related concept at work here and it has little to do with Tiger Woods the person.  I know that it is quite obvious, but isn’t it amazing how many different judgments exist on the varying elements of Tiger’s speech?   In the immediate aftermath I heard comments like, “he was genuine” or “he was arrogant.”  “He spoke from the heart” or “it was an infomercial.”  I mean, we did all watch the same broadcast didn’t we?  Then this morning, I heard the identical sportscasters who offered opinions yesterday, offer different opinions today.  Well, doesn’t this paradox illustrate just how neutral the outside world (in this case Tiger’s plight) really is?

In truth then, we are all no different from Tiger in that how we view an external circumstance has virtually nothing to do with the circumstance itself.  It is all about our own state of mind at that particular moment.  And the sooner we come to understand this uncomplicated truth, the easier it will be for all of us to navigate smoothly through life…. Here lies the true message to Tiger, and to the masses, in this whole sad mess.  I just hope that for his family’s benefit, the experts counseling Tiger are insightful enough to allow him to see it.

I just finished reading a “Yahoo Sports” article, “Pursuit of Gold Medal Moves Burke Forward,” http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/ice_hockey/news?slug=dw-burke021610&prov=yhoo&type=lgns, written by columnist, Dan Wetzel.  In this poignant writing, Wetzel talks about the U.S. Olympic hockey team’s general manager, Brian Burke, and how he is coping with the tragic death of his youngest son Brendan.  Wetzel astutely alludes to Burke’s courage, strength, and desire to provide the proper leadership for both his family and his team.  For at this moment, and in spite of his misfortune, Burke is hard at work spearheading the efforts of his young American players and coaching staff.  There is one error in the valuable story however….the title.

Wetzel is making the innocent mistake of confusing inner fortitude and wisdom, with outer goals and diversions.

Quite simply, it is not possible for the pursuit of a gold medal to move Brian Burke forward.  Only a deep understanding for how life is designed, and with it a resilient faith, can be utilized for this purpose.  I cannot overstate my belief that Wetzel is making the innocent but impacting mistake of confusing inner fortitude and wisdom, with outer goals and diversions.  Don’t get me wrong, I am well versed in the positives of immersing oneself thoroughly in a project.  But this type of placebo will never help Burke put (as he says in the article) “one foot in front of the other” and continue on.  If we are to take Wetzel’s title at face value, then what will become of this valiant man if the U.S. team fails to win the gold?  I, for one, give Burke far more credit than placing his ability to persevere in the fate of an eager group of athletes.  In spite of the fact that we are rooting for both, the G.M. and the team, in a big way!  

Understanding that the opportunity always exists to find purpose through heartbreak is what will ultimately carry Burke through. 

Moreover, allow me to try to paint a clear picture of the above understanding and how it serves families, like the Burkes, when this type of calamity occurs.  As previously mentioned: http://www.inner-sports.com/beyond-the-joy-or-sorrow/, everything that occurs “out there,” every failure, every mistake, every loss, occurs to illuminate our path, not to obscure it.  Hence, when faced with what looks like an unscalable tragedy, our calling is to look inward and allow ourselves to find its true source and meaning.  As opposed to sequestering emotions through external escapes, understanding that the opportunity always exists to find purpose through heartbreak, is what will ultimately carry Burke through.  Not trying to alter his focus by in Wetzel’s words, “plowing into evaluating hockey teams” or any other external resource for that matter.

From what I have been told about Brendan Burke, he was the model of clear thinking, compassion, and trust.  Hence, we need to remember that while death remains an eternal mystery, if it is allowed, this young man’s spirit will forever endure and show us the way…. It is my bet that deep down, Brian Burke comprehends this unwavering truth, and perhaps he has felt a faint flicker of hope already.  So, let us applaud his resilient example and at the same time offer unconditional support.  But again, we must not shroud Burke’s (or anyone’s) resolute thinking and place solace where it can never truly rest- in the diversion of a gold medal pursuit, and thus the illusionary comfort of the outside world.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1166082/index.htm

Early this past week, I watched an interview in which former NY Mets general manager and ESPN broadcaster, Steve Phillips, bravely discussed his four week stay at a clinic in Mississippi.  He talked about his condition, the bad choices that he made, and the pain inflicted on his family.  I truly felt for him, his wife, and his children as I watched and I applaud him for trying to help others.  I also heard Phillips mention that at the clinic, counselors discovered some unresolved pain from the past that contributed to his errant behavior.  Unfortunately, at this point the interview went south for me. 

Last Sunday night, I watched the New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl.  I listened intently to virtually all of the Drew Brees interviews.  He talked about his brutal shoulder injury, being released from his previous team, and the pain of his arduous rehab.  I had tears in my eyes as I watched.  I then heard him mention that when the Saints took a chance on him, he honestly didn’t know if coming to New Orleans was the right move and in the moment he deeply questioned his faith.  At this point, the Brees story really caught my interest.

Drew Brees knew better than to play victim to his low level of thinking.

Like Phillips, Tiger Woods, Plaxico Burress, and Gilbert Arenas… to name a few, Drew Brees suffered.  Unlike the rest however, Brees somehow knew better than to play victim to this low level of thinking.  As a result, he found the answer to his seemingly insecure situation and created the appropriate path for himself, on and off the field.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that it was easy for him.  I am saying that easy or not, at some point Brees looked within and realized that the solution did not rest in the quick fix of the outside world.  Clearly, the immediate gratification of straying, the doomed self protection mechanism of weaponry, or other external escapes were always available to Brees.  Yet as opposed to the others, he was deeply aware that the errant feelings that accompany these types of options were a sign to pull back, not a call to action.

A seemingly unresolved issue of yesterday has nothing to do with erroneous thinking of today.

It is also essential to understand that, in contrast to the discovery made by those trying to help Steve Phillips, Brees was able to find clarity of thought and persevere because he resolutely refused to focus on his past.  Again, I really feel for Phillips (and all well intentioned counselors), but the past is merely an illusion carried through time and has zero ability to regulate his life now.  A seemingly unresolved issue of yesterday has nothing to do with erroneous thinking of today.  And until Phillips realizes this truth, he will always fall prey to life itself.  Phillips, Woods, Burress, and Arenas must understand that all human beings exist, from moment to moment, at varying levels of psychological functioning.  When this level is low (sometimes for no tangible reason) we view life though a dirty lens and are prone to deviant behavior if we act.  So, understood, you see that navigating smoothly through life doesn’t have to be so complicated, and has nothing to do with a history of any kind.

All the good that Brees and his teammates have done for the city of New Orleans, is not an accident at all.

There is one other related principle at work, in the case of Drew Brees, that we should not overlook.  To me, Brees represents the epitome of a creative based thinker.  With all the talk these days about “The Secret” and the Law of Attraction, Brees clearly understands that the ability to make things happen rests in one place only- his own soul.  In spite of so called hardships, Brees sees that the power to fashion the appropriate destination lies in his own attitude and actions, not external circumstances, fate, or laws.

Lastly, it is also worth mentioning that all the good that Brees and his teammates have done for each other and for the city of New Orleans, is not an accident at all.  For, when we make what we want less about us and more about the good that we want to create …the freedom necessary to achieve greatness truly becomes possible.  Case in point: a Super Bowl Championship and a huge boost towards the ongoing revitalization of a grand American city.

I have never received as many emails, texts, and calls, regarding a blog post, than I have in the wake of last Thursday’s entry on Willpower:  http://www.inner-sports.com/why-willpower-wont-work/.   Several readers have stated that if not for willpower, they would never be successful.  One new client said that he found the post quite revealing but still feels that when he is not focused during a game, it is his own willpower that he uses to overcome it.

Many players insist that “force of will” is what averts bad games and prolonged slumps.

Well, I am really psyched that I have caused so many of you in the sports world to take a step back and reflect on the topic.  So, allow me in this writing to answer the above presumption offered by a very successful professional hockey player…. Yesterday, after receiving his text message, I thought about it for a bit and then called back with the following question:  “On days when you are a little lost out on the ice and use willpower to successfully find yourself, tell me about your internal feelings?”  He responded that just the other night for instance, a game started out poorly because he felt that he and his linemates weren’t focused.  Upon this realization he said to his linemates, “Let’s stop worrying about concentrating, and just skate our butts off.”  He then proceeded to score two key goals in his team’s victory, because in his mind, his thoughts and then words made him feel better.  He then insisted that it was his own “force of will” that averted a bad game and the possibility of a prolonged slump in performance.

In spite of appearances to the contrary, insight and not willpower is what leads to effort.

What this player fails to see however, is that the turnaround was a result of a personal revelation, not the result of trying hard.  In fact, he later told me that while his linemates were attempting to ratchet up intensity, it intuitively occurred to him that since his head was somewhere else, “ I’ve got nothing to lose, so why not just go out and hustle like there is no tomorrow?”  Thus, in spite of appearances to the contrary, insight and not willpower is what paved the way to a heightened (and freeing) effort level and his subsequently awesome performance. 

So, my message to those of you who are still caught up in your own thinking about what it takes to succeed on the field, court, or ice… is to quiet down and (in your own mind) contrast the feeling of willpower with the feelings of ease, clarity, and responsiveness.  Again, in the above example, I am positive that the player’s perceptive recognition could never have come from force of will of any kind.  In truth then, we must recognize that buying in to the outer world’s definition of “how we overcome” (grind, focus, and willpower) will never lead to the answer to any apparent roadblock or shaky start.  For, while “skating your butt off” may indeed be the way out, only if the notion comes from the ease of an insight and not from the force of an athlete’s will, can we be 100 percent certain.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703630404575053551039526156.html

In this blog post I want to talk about a common habit among many of the successful athletes that we are lucky enough to work with here at Inner Sports…. When things are going well on the field of play, we often don’t hear from them.  When things are going poorly, they constantly touch base.  And while on the surface this tendency might seem to make sense, and is the accepted practice of many performance coaches and sports psychologists, it is truly unproductive on several fronts.

Your performance on the field and your life, are not one in the same.

First, an athlete must understand that it is absolutely impossible for their level of well being to be affected by the current state of their career, as defined by the outside world.  That is, your batting average, free throw percentage, current point streak, or even physical condition, has no ability to regulate your level of happiness or self worth.  The fact that a player would reach out when he or she is not scoring goals for example, is a sign that (while it is certainly admirable to want to pick up the scoring) external circumstances and not inner wisdom are running the show.  I often instruct players who are blurring this line that we don’t need to work on ways to perform better; we need to develop an understanding of how the mind and life are truly designed in the first place.  In other words, why learn to cope with limitations, when you can understand the principles behind not being encumbered at all?  Now, am not saying that a player should ever be pleased about striking out, missing an open net, or being hurt.  I am saying however, that your performance on the field and your life are not one in the same.  And until this truth is deeply uncovered and understood; a player will never live up to his or her potential in either department.

Far too many athletes buy into the myth that until performance suffers…keep all the same.

In addition, I often caution players about falling into the external, and all too common, trap of superstition.  Again, far too many athletes buy into the myth that until performance suffers… keep all the same.  To the contrary, the real secret is to continually deepen one’s understanding of the principles behind performance, and in turn allow consciousness to grow.  Here, a player is so absorbed in the flow of the game or life that not scoring doesn’t even look like a setback or problem, and in turn no external “fix” is ever required.  Remember too that deepening ones understanding need not be forced.  For when an insight about our work together unexpectedly comes over an athlete, then we both know that we are really getting somewhere.

At Inner Sports we simply advise athletes to look deeper than the scoreboard, and thus allow amazing feats to unfold on and off of the field.

Lastly, in case you’re not quite sure where I am coming from, let’s go beyond the joy or sorrow, win or loss, to paint a clear picture of what the above understanding looks like.  Everything that occurs “out there,” every failure, every loss, every missed point or even injury, occurs to illuminate your path, not to obscure it…just ask Drew Brees.  In Arabic for instance, the word for problem is translated as “another view.”  Hence, when faced with an apparent predicament, your calling is to look inward and allow yourself to uncover its true source and meaning.  So too with apparent joys or successes.  When we understand that external victories have no influence over internal contentment, we see that winning also obscures a deeper message, and we need not be tempted by the ego’s willingness to settle for second best.  At Inner Sports we simply advise athletes to look deeper than the scoreboard, and thus allow amazing feats to unfold on and off of the field.  Therefore, I fondly suggest that players remember that yes, we are always here to help.  But you will have a far greater chance of finding enduring happiness and success, if it is your current state of mind that leads to the call to us…..not the current state of the score sheet.