Can Gamer Saloon Improve Your Madden Mental Toughness?

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In many ways, humans are just a blank slate ready and willing to be set into motion. Often times, I reflect on the books I’ve read, the people I’ve met, the tournaments I’ve played, as well as the many other experiences I’ve encountered throughout my life. Through it all, I’ve made a conscious effort to constantly improve, whether it’s my knowledge, network, Madden game, or life.

Looking back, over the past couple of years, I’ve had to overcome many hardships, but have still progressed leaps and bounds over the vast majority of my competitors. I don’t attribute the success I’ve experienced to my nature or my nurture. Yes, I’m educated and have had a great upbringing, both which are important factors that have helped me advance and become successful. Instead, what has separated me from the pack and allowed me to succeed is my willingness to go the extra mile and work as hard as I possibly can. A wise-man once said, “Hard work makes life easy.” This is true, but you have to decide for yourself which path to take…are you an under-achiever or an over-achiever? Your parents and friends can’t decide this for you. Life is short, so it is crucial to step up to the plate and not be afraid; dig in and make the most out of your opportunities.

Another important factor in success is your mental perception and confidence. Perception is reality. Thoughts in your head will drastically affect how you view yourself and consequently how others view you. It’s a common misconception that playing online video games day-in and day-out makes you less socially competent. I’m of the belief that if you think you’re socially inept, there are underlying reasons that attribute to this feeling, most of which are completely unrelated to video games. If you were a social butterfly before you started playing Madden, you shouldn’t have a problem going out and socializing successfully. More than likely these feelings of inadequacy and ineptness are more pronounced than you realize.

Just like any other field, you can always learn to improve your social skills. Obviously, if you never interact with others, you will lose mastery of skills you once possessed. I’ve personally been “thrown to the wolves” many times in social situations, whether in business or in dealing with the opposite sex where I was or felt inexperienced and apprehensive. As you gain experience, work hard, and stay positive, what once seemed impossible suddenly becomes commonplace. You are what you believe in; what better a person to believe in than yourself?

An impressive individual who exhibits many qualities necessary for success is Chuck Liddell. I was expecting a brutish guy, who was inexperienced in most aspects of life, other than fighting. The truth, in fact, greatly surprised me. Chuck is articulate, friendly, and educated in a manner that far exceeded my expectations. Chuck could have succeeded in many fields other than fighting and from a mental point of view; it is a major understatement to say that Chuck Liddell has the ability to be a world-class video game/Madden player. Combining attention to detail, thinking/acting decisively, preparing to the fullest extent, and committing yourself to your profession are just some of the factors that have gone into making him a champion. Especially after spending time with Chuck via e-mails, I can see why he’s so well respected and one of the best fighters to ever live.

When the going gets tough, who's going to be the first one to blink? If you stay mentally tough -- in all games played, it won't be you.

In Chuck Liddell’s New York Times best-selling book Iceman, which translates well to the field of Madden, and life he says, “Being mentally tough is not a sometimes thing. You don’t turn it on and off. If you’re not mentally tough in the gym while you are training, then when you’re challenged in a fight, you will fold. It doesn’t mean you have to be balls-out every time you work out. But, when you are being pushed in training, you can’t just fold a couple of times because you feel that you’ve done enough that day. Before you know it, when you get in a fight and are tired and beat-up and in a bad position, you will give up, too. That was the point of the beatings. If you were going to fight, you’d better be prepared—for anything.”

Make the commitment today to better yourself going forward. When it comes to Madden, you’re either progressing or you’re incrementally losing what you once possessed. Don’t let small hang-ups or fears stop you from becoming the player you know you can become. What better way than to constantly challenge yourself than by playing for relatively low stakes on Gamer Saloon? Most gamers are afraid to play for money. I regularly play a good friend of mine for a measly $4 per game. It isn’t the money that drives us to compete, it’s knowing that we’re taking this game 100% serious as best we can. We owe it to each other to make each other better, because when we start playing just to “play” and have fun, all of that mental focus and mental toughness is gone out the window. If we give up in these games for free, we’re going to give up just as easily in any tournament we attend. But with something to play for — albeit 20 minutes worth of work for most of us working, we constantly have that sharp edge in the mental game, and when the going gets tough we pressure even more knowing.. expecting that other guy to give up mentally.

As the owner of a video game site, I come in contact with many different types of gamers. From beginner, to advanced. Casual to hardcore, and everything in between. One thing that I have learned from my short experience as a Madden figure is that the better the person is at life, in general, the better they will be at competitive Madden. The people who have healthy relationships treat others with respect, and who are positive and organized, seem to excel at Madden in comparison to the average person/player.