The Competition Mindset

How mistakes are part of the Competition Mindset

Pia Filler and Jasmie Ouschan were interviewed after winning a couple matches as partners in a doubles competition. Following are some of their comments (in italics/red) on the competition mindset followed by my thought on the subject.

Question: Jasmine, you really look like you enjoyed that.

Is playing good pool work or fun? It can be both at the same time. Why not enjoy your work?

I mean, we're always staying positive. I mean, that's easy with Pia, I must say,because when there's a mistake, she always talks about that's past and then we're moving on and we're having fun.

During my Livestreams you may have heard me talk about a mistake, and then say “that’s ancient history”.  It’s OK to acknowledge a mistake and make a quick note about avoiding that mistake going forward. Having done so, you can then put the mistake “in the past”.  Let it go, return to the present, and play. 

Pia: I want to take it ball by ball, game by game, match by match so you know just as always we didn't play our best but we always just you know stay positive and let's see what happens tomorrow. 

Jasmine: She dedicates 150% to every shot. She's always staying positive and I can tell even when we make mistakes that she's not mad or it brings her down in any way. And that's a mindset.

We all know how Efren Reyes would always smile when he made a mistake. That is the mindset Jasmine is talking about. Don’t get angry (like you’ve seen me do on Livestream). Getting down on yourself comes from misplaced expectations. The mindset is to let go of results, let go of expectations. There is only the process of the shot in front of you. As Pia said, “..ball by ball…”. This mindset allows mistakes if they come while keeping you moving forward with positivity.

Pia: … it doesn't matter what game I play but I always just want to enjoy life and enjoy playing so I just try to always have fun no matter what kind of pressure situation comes up so and that's why I just kept telling Jasmine you know it's never going to be that day where you play picture perfect or like in textbooks so you know you just always got to try to make the best out of every situation and that's what we're trying. 

Do you want to enjoy your life? Pool is part of your life. So, enjoy pool.