“Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision.” – Muhammad Ali
I have always been fascinated with elite performance. How can some individuals become so uniquely talented and gifted? How can some teams rise to become a “dynasty?” Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Manchester United of the past. Michael Phelps. Simone Biles. Ah, yes, Simone Biles.
My oldest daughter is now entering her third year of competitive gymnastics. I remember lying down with her in bed one night for one of our little “chit-chats.” These will always be some of my fondest memories with my children — the chance to be silly, connect, and sometimes attempt to instill a belief or some small lesson that might one day help them achieve their goals in life.
I would encourage her to spend the last moments of the night picturing herself doing the routines, perfectly. The warm-up, the lights, the music, walking up to the event, and watching the judges signal for her to begin. Everything
I remember one night in particular. I was reading quietly in bed when she ran into my room. She was glowing with excitement as she went on to tell me about what had just happened. “Dad, I could like feel exactly what I was doing! It was so cool. And, just like that, with a big hug and a kiss, my greatest wish of a small lesson would enter into her life. The power of visualization.
Rewind to my professional career. I found that many times throughout my experience as an executive it was often the mental fitness of my team that I found myself responsible for. Sure, skills mattered. Clear expectations, responsibilities, and execution all matter.
“You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you get.” – Michael Phelps
But it was the mental position of the team that many times determined our outcomes — both our lack of results and our moments of peak performance. I remember role-playing one day with an employee. They seemed so shattered at the feedback I was providing. As if their efforts simply weren’t good enough.
I looked down at my pad of paper and it was splattered with two pages of notes. It then hit me. Too much constructive feedback and not nearly enough “successful” feedback. I am so grateful for the lesson I learned from this moment.
It was a moment that unlocked memories of what it took to play competitive soccer at a high level. The times my Dad would take me to the park, where I’d run circles around him as he threw the ball in the air. Right foot, one touch, hit him in the chest. Left foot, one touch, hit him in the chest. Do it again, do it again, do it again.
Never scolding for a missed pass and always cheering for the right one. I can still see that image in my mind today. The perfect pass with both feet. The times I did it right.
That’s the difference.
The elite performers in this world have not only practiced 10,000 hours, but they’ve cemented success in their minds so vividly that their ability to call on these memories becomes ingrained in their performance.
“What you are thinking, what shape your mind is in, is what makes the biggest difference of all.” – Willie Mays
Michael Jordan’s famed buzzer-beater to take down the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1989 NBA playoffs. It was a shot he saw going in before he even got the ball. Over the past two decades, I’ve spent countless hours with leaders and teams painting pictures of success in their minds. Teaching them how to visualize success for themselves.
Maybe it was a big presentation to the Board or addressing a significant client issue with a partner. It could be a difficult conversation or a keynote speech. I’d ask them to draw from their greatest successes, remembering their posture, excitement, and delivery. I’d encourage them to anticipate the greatest outcomes possible. The results were incredible and it’s a tool I still utilize today.
Robin Sharma, a Canadian writer, once said “Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” These words have never been more true. Your mind has the power to bring you down and lift you up. To move forward and closer to your life’s most desired outcomes, I’d encourage you to strengthen your ability to paint a better picture in your mind.
Start with the facts and immerse yourself in the details. What does it look like? What does it sound like? What does it feel like? Consider investing 5 to 10 minutes per day playing this out in your mind. You can even say it out loud, as silly as it might sound. The best-case scenario. The most amazing outcome. Let the enthusiasm and enjoyment become so
vivid in your mind that it has already become a reality.
While Simone Biles probably never rehearsed a pitch to investors or interviewed for their first C-level position, I can guarantee that she is a remarkable painter and someone we can all learn a lot from.
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo
