Zack Zareva

How did you first find out about Frame of Mind Coaching?

I'm currently a grad student at Manhattanville College, and Frank is an alumni. Like me, he played baseball there for four years. I attended a group seminar that he hosted at the school about how our thinking impacts our performance in sports.  I was interested from the beginning, and signed up for a complimentary coaching session with Frame of Mind Coaching™ afterwards. 

What were you struggling with prior to coaching?

I'm a baseball pitcher, and on the field, it was tough for me to mentally slow things down, process what was happening and stay in control. I had a habit of losing focus during the game, and getting upset. As an aspiring professional player, this was something that I needed to learn to control, but that I hadn't been able to until I received coaching.

My everyday life was also a constant struggle because I never really knew what people thought of me, and I often felt like an outsider. I never felt like I was 'one of the guys.' I always struggled to be confident, which affected all of my relationships. I felt confident on the inside and when I was by myself, but in a public setting, it was hard for me to express it.

How has coaching impacted your presence on the field?

Frame of Mind Coaching™ taught me that my self-doubt, insecurities and everything that was popping into my head was of my own making. I learned that when you truly believe something, it affects your thoughts and everything else about you. We discovered that I was caught up in my thoughts rather than in what was in my heart. And I was able to understand that I was creating these thoughts that weren't necessarily true.

My performance on the field is now light-years away from what it was before coaching. I used to breakdown if something went wrong; now, I just move on and focus on the next opportunity. I get on the field with the utmost confidence. I recently went out-of-state to play in front of professional scouts in hopes of getting signed. If I had done this before coaching, I would have told myself things like, 'I'm so nervous,' 'there are so many scouts here,' 'I need to do well,' or 'I won't get signed, there are 300 other applicants.'  But instead, I just told myself, 'alright, let's play!' There was nothing holding me back.

I've learned to really see opportunities when they present themselves, and take advantage of them.

How has coaching impacted your relationships?

One of the biggest results that I saw from working with Frank was that I gained confidence in myself and am confident in social situations. I learned to be my authentic self; to let who I am on the inside come out. 

I used to interpret what people would say to me as criticism. After coaching, one of my close friends even told me, 'you're a completely different person. It's awesome, I can really talk to you now without having to worry about what I say.' 

You work part-time at a local baseball facility. Has coaching impacted how you show up there?

Socially speaking, I'm more outgoing with staff. I'm leveraging this opportunity too; I ask questions and I try to soak up as much knowledge as I can. Coaching helped me understand the importance of communication, really making sure I get my point across and expressing myself. 

What was the experience of journaling every day like for you?

It was really cool. The prompts gave it structure, but I could also put my own spin on them. It was great to be able to go back and read what I typed, how Frank responded, and then later, to track how far I'd come. I also learned that I can express myself well by writing − Frank told me that I was really able to paint a picture with my words.

Would you recommend FOM Coaching to others?

Absolutely. Frame of Mind Coaching™ was my wake up call. Everything that I had experienced in my life had led me up to that point, and I realized that I could either crumble, or I could change. These sessions showed me who I am as a person, and what my potential really is. I'm so glad that I did it. If anyone is struggling with something and they want to learn more about themselves, this is something that I strongly recommend.