Success is 10% aptitude and 90% attitude. As you move up in level of competition, that differences in skill, training, and resources become minimized. Thus, it is attitude that is the separator in achieving success.

For a recent event celebrating the opening of ThrivePoint Academy, I prepared this flyer to summarize my A-game approach. Whether it's school, sport, or business, I think you'll it useful and memorable.

Up to this year, Italian tennis star Jasmine Paolini was ranked 42nd in the world, had a 4-16 record in Grand Slam tournaments, and was winless on grass. This year, she is 15-3 in Grand Slams, ranked 5th in the world, and the first woman since Serena Williams (2016) to reach the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon. 

What has changed for Paolini? Her belief in her ability to compete, augmented by her effective use of self-talk. Consider these examples:

- Despite being winless on grass, "I was repeating to myself, It's nice to play on grass, you can play well on grass."

- When facing Emily Navarro (whom she had never defeated) in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, "I was repeating to myself, it's a different match; it's a different surface."

- During her semifinal victory over Donna Vekic, "I was repeating to myself, to fight for every ball, to improve a little bit," and "I was repeating to myself, try, point by point"

Paolini's attitude and gratitude have endeared her to fans. Her smile and joy are readily evident. While many players talk about the grind, she says, "I enjoy the moment, I love playing tennis." Listed generously at 5'4", Paolini routinely faces players six to eight inches taller than she is. Taking a pragmatic approach, she says, "Height is not everything. . . Like everything, there are pros and cons." In her case, it is her seemingly endless energy and agility that allow her to chase down balls all over the court.

Even after falling short in the Wimbledon final, Paolini commented, "I try to keep smiling because I have to remember today is still a good day, I'm in the final at Wimbledon." With such an outlook, coupled with growing confidence, Paolini is having a summer to remember.

Humming is a simple act that many people drop as they move from childhood into adulthood. Besides the fact that it's fun, humming has a number of performance benefits. Humming lowers anxiety, decreases blood pressure, reduces inflammation, strengthens the immune response, improves heart rate variability (HRV), helps memory formation, and enhances problem solving. A recent study found that humming was superior to physical activity and sleep in reducing stress.

How? Humming vibrates the vocal cords, which are connected to the vagus nerve. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation. Humming also creates turbulence in the nasal passages, which increases the release of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels, thereby increasing oxygenation and decreasing blood pressure. Humming generates at least seven times as much nitric oxide as just breathing through the nose.

In case you need a humming refresher, inhale through your nose (with your mouth closed), and then exhale through your nose while making a sustained hummm sound. You should feel vibrations in both your lips and the back of your throat. Play around with volume, pitch, and tune. Whether you're in the car, in the shower, or sitting in meditation, look to add humming to your toolbox.

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