Okay, I admit it, I am a fan of American Idol. Yep, you got me there. I intend this to be a fun post, but you know how intentions are…

I think Crystal Bowersox will win it all this year; however, I think Siobhan has an outside chance to become the dark horse and give Crystal a run for her money. A few long weeks ago Siobhan proved she has what it takes to win it when she rocked the Rolling Stone’s episode, but she has fizzled ever since. There is a very good reason why she has fizzled of late. As a matter of fact it is the same reason it would have behooved Katie Stevens to listen to Simon when he suggested she go in more of a country direction. Katie was rather lost on the show as to what kind of artist she is, or wants to be.

People of all ages are going to fall to peer pressure, both the good and the bad kind. Yes, there is a good kind of peer pressure, which will enable a person to achieve something better for themselves and possibly for a group. Then there is the bad kind of peer pressure which usually involves getting into some kind of mischief or doing something which one will eventually regret. There are plenty of definitions out there, so I am not going to try and explain all of the types and ways peer pressure exists.

Back in the day when I played competitive billiards I had an excellent mentor, he was highly experienced, a champion and has forgotten more about billiards and the mental aspects of winning and losing than I will ever learn, but what I did learn from him has served me well in all aspects of my life.

Let me share with you one of his gems of advice: He explained to me that there are only so many shots, postures and position plays one can learn, once you’ve mastered the technical aspects of the game that’s only 25% of the game, the rest is played in the mind of the players. He further explained that when I find myself equally or even out matched in a game to be very careful with anything I say – ‘No matter what you’re feeling, thinking or what you may believe, do not speak it’.