MESSAGE #10 - THE ONE TEST YOU MUST PASS

Every night you take a test. You take it right before you fall asleep. It’s called THE PILLOW TEST. When you review your day and look back on all that transpired, what do you say to yourself?

If you say things like, “I’M GLAD I DID.”
You pass the test.

But, if you say things to yourself like, “I WISH I HAD.”
You fail the test.

You take this test every day whether you know it or not. Some days you take it consciously, other days you take it unconsciously.

There are no make-ups and you take the test by yourself so it’s impossible to cheat.

The more “I’M GLAD I DID”s you have — the more you achieve and the more you succeed.

If you have more of the “I WISH I HAD”s, you’re in trouble. Reading this blog will help you turn that around.

When Roger Bannister trained to break the four-minute mile he passed the pillow test each and every night. (See message #8)

Ed Ferraro, during his 37-day trek across America, passed the pillow test every single night. (See Message #9)

How about you?

Did you pass The Pillow Test last night?

Do you pass The Pillow Test most nights???

High-achievers and peak performers consistently pass this test.

There’s no compromising here —

YOU MUST PASS THIS TEST EVERY NIGHT!

HERE’S HOW TO PASS THE PILLOW TEST . . .

Several times today (and every day), you’ll have moments of truth.

In order to get what you want, you’ll have to do something courageous. You will have to

ACT DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU FEEL.

If you’re an athlete, you’re going to be training and you’ll be so exhausted that every cell in your body will want you to quit. You’ll feel like quitting. At that moment, you’ll have to be a warrior. You’ll have to act differently than you feel — you’ll have to fight through the pain and keep running, lifting, playing, etc. . . .

If you’re a student, you’re going to be studying and you’ll be so mentally confused or bored that every neuron in your brain will want you to give up. You’ll feel like giving up. At that moment, you’ll have to be a warrior. You’ll have to act differently than you feel — you’ll have to fight through the boredom and confusion and keep studying.

If you’re in sales, you’re going to be making your calls and you’ll be so dejected and rejected and every part of you will want you to “throw in the towel.” You’ll feel like stopping. You’ll have to be a warrior. You’ll have to act differently than you feel — you’ll have to fight through the dejection and rejection and keep on keeping on keeping on.

The more you can act differently than you feel → the more you’ll accomplish.

The more you accomplish → the more you’ll succeed.

That’s how you pass The Pillow Test.

Write this quote on an index card and tape it to your desk:

“THE THING I HATE TO DO

THE MOST

IS THE THING I NEED TO DO

THE MOST.”

Fight through it!

Give me a call at 973.743.4690,

Rob Gilbert

DEDICATION: Today’s message is specially dedicated to the great
Ed Agresta, who coined the concept, “Act differently than you feel.” Thanks, Ed!

MESSAGE #8 - LESS IS MORE: A CASE STUDY

What he said was not only unforgettable, but for me, it was also life changing!

Just before the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, NY, I attended an Olympic Symposium at Skidmore College. The keynote speaker was Sir Roger Bannister. He has been knighted twice — once as a runner and the second time as a neurologist.

Roger Bannister is best known as the first person ever to run a mile in under four minutes. This legendary record was set on May 6, 1954.

After his prepared remarks, he took questions. Dr. George Horn, my colleague from Montclair State, asked Bannister how he trained to break the four-minute barrier.

What Bannister said changed everything I thought I knew about training and human potential.

Bannister said that he was a medical student at the time. Medical schools don’t have track teams. Medical students go to school all day and study all night. In other words, medical students don’t have time to train for world records.

Bannister said that he cut a different class every day and went to the track where he met his college track coach.

Then he said it . . .

“I only trained 40-45 minutes a day.”

HE ONLY TRAINED 40-45 MINUTES A DAY!

Many athletes spend that much time just warming up. Bannister invested that time and it turned into a world record — the four-minute mile. No one ever did it before. No one ever thought that it was possible.

Bannister proved to all of us that . . .

IT’S NOT HOW MUCH TIME YOU PUT IN,

IT’S WHAT YOU PUT INTO THE TIME.

Most people think that if “some is good, more will be better.” Why train just two hours when four or six hours is possible?” They’re thinking quantity not quality.

Start thinking quality first and quantity second.

Forty-five minutes of quality beats four hours of quantity.

Bannister proved it.

PRACTICE DOES NOT MAKE PERFECT.
PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT.
PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

Perfect practice = being totally into it physically, mentally, and emotionally.

For Bannister, LESS was MORE.

For his 40-45 minute training sessions, Bannister was totally INTO IT physically, mentally, and emotionally.

For his 40-45 minute training sessions, Bannister did not hold back, HE WENT ALL OUT.

Call Success Hotline at 973.743.4690 and leave your thoughts about this message.

GAO,

Rob Gilbert

P.S. Ever notice how much you get accomplished the day before you go on vacation?