Monday(ish) Minutes 10/14/25
- Jill Braverman
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
Hello all my Pickleball Joy Riders!
Welcome to the Monday(ish) Minute: a 60-second list of what I’m exploring and thinking about. Feel free to forward along if the pickleball spirit moves you!
In my head... The Power of NOW by Eckhart Tolle is a classic recommended to me by my student (thank you, Carrie!) and it is changing my life. It is probably the most impactful book I have ever read.
In short: there are no problems in the now. Problems can only live in the future. Practice living in this moment right now (not the future, not the past) and get ready to find an inner peace you didn't know was possible. Practice asking yourself, "Do I have a problem right now?" Because problems cannot exist in the now. I feel like Tolle's book pairs well with my favorite Silicone Valley investor turned quasi-philosopher Naval Ravikant and his thoughts on happiness.
Naval opines that happiness isn’t feeling joy all the time: It’s not letting external events impact your inner peace.
I'm trying really hard to practice these philosophies and I felt I did a good job in Ohio where Megan and I took home gold. Here’s a real note I wrote myself before I stepped on the court.
It was so fun having my friends Mary Beth, Vonnie & Carrie cheering me on in Ohio!
In my practice... the crazy slow speed-up and why it works
I’ve played against Ben Johns more than five times. Each time I walk away with the exact same thought:
“But his backhand speed-up is so SLOW! HOW does it keep hitting me!”
It’s so paradoxical, but it works! How? Well, it buys him the most important thing in all of pickleball: TIME! It doesn't matter if his opponent knows it's coming or if they counter hard (because Ben has so much time on the "two" part of the 1-2 combo).
For another example that is within reach, check out Christian Alshon's forehand bounce ultra slow speed up. ANYONE can do this, literally anyone. I've started doing it on a forehand dead ball in the middle that works like this: Picture being on the left side, getting a dead bounce dink, and then slowly WITHOUT disguise poke it to the left side player's backhand. They will counter as hard as they can but it can only go one direction! Right back to YOUR backhand. It is SUCH an easy 1-2 and I have no clue why I have not incorporated this sooner. The scariest part is just trusting that you're not going to get murdered by their counter, lol.
I love this quote from Anna Bright's newsletter, “Modern pickleball is all about creating constant anxiety from every spot on the court." And great players make you feel that way at all times. You can, too.
In the books... our first-ever Junior Elite Academy
"Do you want to be a pro or a great pro?" That is the question we asked the twelve lucky juniors who received entry into my first-ever Junior Elite Academy. Scott Crandall, surprise guest Jessie Irvine, and I focused on instilling the six things that separate a good pro from a GREAT pro. These skills require NO natural ability or talent and can be practiced by anyone at any age:
1.) always support your partner
2.) give maximum effort at all times
3.) don’t complain. No excuses
4.) be on time, be prepared
5.) have a positive attitude
6.) be honest with yourself at all times
We focused a lot on "reframing". How to take: "it's SUPER windy, this SUCKS" and turn it into: "against the wind I'm going to practice my lob! And downwind I'm going to speed up first because it'll get on them so much quicker".
Even as an adult, reframing is something I still actively work on! #nowhiningontheyacht
Upcoming Camp Schedule...we'll release 2026 calendar in the next two weeks!
The Hub Silicon Valley
Campbell, CA
October 16, 2025
Tres Palapas
Los Barriles, MX
SOLD OUT
TTC Fantasy Camp
Newport Beach, CA
November 12-13
Junior Christmas Camp
December TBD
Have a question for Jilly B? Email us at thispblife@gmail.com
Xoxo,
Jilly B
The Power of Now is amazing. You will also love his book “A New Earth”. He did a book club with Oprah…I’m sure the videos are still somewhere online. Sooo good. I love your note to yourself so much. I also am working on keeping my focus internal. It may be the most important survival skill of our time, at least for our mental health. Bring back PB is Joy merch 😊💕