6 minute read
Q&A With America’s “Zone Coach” Jim Fannin
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH JIM FANNIN AND LARRY ATSEFF
Jim Fannin, a Burr Ridge count as high as I could, and take the with them. See yourself playing and resident, is widely known blindfold off. (He was always nearby). winning with them on the world as America’s “zone coach." He said, “You’re never lost. You just tennis stage.” Those vivid images His 21-page biography (link haven’t found your way. If you get stayed with me for many years, and I attached) reflects his career and lost, physically go to 'higher ground' followed their progress, while living a memorializes his clients’ by climbing a tree or standing on a life I could only dream about. Sixteen successes. It covers 48 years, and large rock. Don’t panic—take a deep years later, in 1978, I coached those details how he has coached tens breath, relax and look for signs.” We two and their Italian Davis Cup of thousands of students, amateur played this game for years, and it teammates to the world finals. We and professional athletes, as well made a big impression. He also said traveled the world together. We even as corporate executives from small something else I’ve never forgotten: practiced at the Salt Creek Club in and large businesses to moms, dads “Your dreams are like the woods; they Hinsdale. Dreams do come true. and couples, using simple tools and are alive. Keep them alive, and they Because of my tennis prowess, a techniques to help an individual make can come true.” college scholarship and pro circuit the most of their mental capabilities— A few years later, I was on a park arrived. Coaching, however, became to become their genuine, authentic my passion. Seeing others best self. achieve their dreams set
Because 2020 has been “You’re never lost. You just haven’t my dreams in motion. such an upsetting year for everyone, we asked Jim to found your way. If you get lost, [I] coached seven players in the world’s top ten remind us of how we can be our best selves as we go in physically go to 'higher ground; by (Wimbledon and French Open champions), as well 2021. climbing a tree or standing on a as seven national amateur Q. Jim, how and when did you realize you had large rock. Don’t panic—take a deep champions and scores of state champions. a gift for helping people breath, relax and look for signs.” Q. You have developed a improve themselves? - JIM FANNIN proven success system you
A. In addition to my call S.C.O.R.E. Why does extremely positive parents, it work? there were two early mentors that bench in Ashland, Kent. reading a A. It came out of a private and helped me understand how to focus tennis magazine article about two independent 18-month research on what is important, and to pay young Italian players. They were study that I funded in 1974. With attention to detail. My Cherokee my age of 12. They were playing the three Ohio State Ph.D. professors, we Indian grandfather (“pap-paw”) would European junior tennis circuit. A studied 250 kids, ages 4 through 8, take me into the woods in my native retired philosophy professor and with the quest of “how to maximize eastern Kentucky mountains, when I YMCA tennis director named R.W. super learning?” We discovered was just 5 years old. He trained me to Ross looked over my shoulder and kids learn more in their first 60 be aware of my surroundings in the said, “You could go there. See it in months than the rest of their lives here and now. One day he said, “Let’s your mind’s eye. Play tennis with cumulatively. The reason: their play a game of ‘find your way home.’ them. Travel with them. Shut your minds are free—no past, no future to I am going to blindfold you, and eyes, and see it as if it’s so.” The think about, just the here and now. take you to a place in the mountains next day, the scenario repeated itself. you’ve never been.” He told me to “Go in your mind with them. Travel Continued on next page
“Everyone needs a blueprint in life.”
- JIM FANNIN
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They are, in effect, in their zone of “super-learning.”
We also discovered five universal “markers” inherent in everyone: selfdiscipline, concentration, optimism, relaxation and enjoyment.
By this time, I was working with not only tennis players, but amateur and professional athletes in other sports. Over and over, world champion athletes in virtually every sport told me how and why they became great. Before playing, the more they focused, those five markers were working in combination to trigger natural body chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, adrenaline, etc. to create a mind-body fusion called being in the “zone.”
I thought, this “zone” thing is real, whether you are a youngster, or a world-class pro athlete.
More than that, I also came to the realization that people could apply a “zone” focus to their everyday life activities. We developed easy-to-use analytics, which enable individuals to rate what is important to them, so they can focus on what to improve. Those inherent “markers” were codified into an easy-to-remember acronym
called S.C.O.R.E. (S stands for Selfdiscipline, C for Concentration, O for Optimism, R for Relaxation and E for Enjoyment). Hundreds of concrete mental tools and techniques have been added, such as the 90-second rule, a common-sense observation that most decisions can be made in just a few seconds, when a logical evaluation approach is followed. In effect, we help individuals, teams and companies create their own blueprint for improvement, coupled with the tools and techniques for manifestation.
The S.C.O.R.E. system simply works. It takes less than 3 percent of your waking hours to implement. It is all spelled out in my latest book called The Blueprint.
Q. What is keeping you busy these days?
A. My current focus is one of my greatest challenges, and it is crucial for our society to resolve.
When I went back home to eastern Kentucky a few years ago, I couldn’t believe how many restaurants had closed. Hepatitis had overrun the area, because of opioid needles. That woke me up.—What happened to my hometown? I have also become very aware of opioid and alcohol challenges among teens and adults right here in DuPage County.
Fortunately, two years ago, I discovered a New Jersey-based company (Recovery Zone Solutions LLC) with a very effective non-opioidbased implant, enabling alcohol and opioid addicts to recover at home. I granted them an industry-exclusive license to pair their treatments with our S.C.O.R.E. tools and techniques. In combination with well-trained, licensed, clinical "zone coach" therapists, patients today are achieving a 90 percent recovery rate— four times more effective than other addiction programs for alcohol and opioids.
Recovery Zone Solutions also has a special focus on our military (both active and retired). Unfortunately, because of the psychological trauma and stress of the job and being away from family while on duty, our military is affected more than most of us.
Q. What advice do you have for people right now?
A. Look, we have not only [gone] through this terrible 2020 year of [the] COVID-19 pandemic and economic upheaval, [but] for years, our ability to think and focus has been eroding. No thanks to social media, we are bombarded daily with thousands of messages. As a result, we are doing more “surface thinking” just to keep up, which is not very positive thinking at all. Attention spans have dropped. As quantity of information has increased, quality of thinking has decreased.
When we focus on things that really make a difference in our lives, we will be much better off.
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- FRANK TOMAS, Former Chicago White Sox Player
