3 Steps to Gold

Arguably the greatest Olympic athlete of all time, Michael Phelps credits much of his success to a relentless training program that included next-level visualization techniques. Phelps practiced his mental visualization routine daily for years. This mindset was so ingrained, that when faced with a demanding practice or meet, his coach would simply say “Put in the videotape!” ( i.e. run the mental visualization) and Phelps would push beyond his limits.

So what are some of the details that Phelps used in his mental visualization? In the weeks leading up to a major race, he would replay his upcoming performance for 100s of reps focusing on three key aspects:
1). What do you want it to be?
2). What do you don't want it to be?
3). What could it be?

This approach forms a critical combination of visual techniques. “What do you want it to be” is classic Law of Attraction training, helping the mind and body steer towards the ideal state. “What do you don’t want it to be” is equally powerful, helping jolt the mind with fear of failure. This technique is often overlooked in visualization training, but research has found that a visceral fear of failure provides incredible mental energy and focus. Last but not least, “What could it be” helps prepare for those inevitable unexpected moments when things go off track, and instills a powerful sense of confidence and adaptability.

This YouTube clip highlights additional details of his visualization technique:

🏊‍♂️ Visualization helped Michael Phelps stay focused on his own performance and preparation, rather than being distracted by external factors.

🏊‍♂️ Preparation is crucial for success in swimming, as Phelps emphasizes the importance of doing the work leading up to a big meet. Visualization does not replace actually getting in the pool and swimming!

🏊‍♂️ The countless hours of practice and focus on the black line at the bottom of the pool prepared Phelps for the moment of competition.

🧠 Visualization mentally prepares you and allows you to check that box off, helping to eliminate worries and let everything else happen naturally.

🧠 Michael Phelps attributes his success to his strong mental game and the ability to compete against himself, pushing himself to improve.

🎥 Visualization helps Michael Phelps relax and feel like he's watching a movie of himself swimming.

🧠 The brain cannot distinguish between something vividly visualized and something real, making visualization a powerful tool for preparation and performance.

As you work on your ROCKET Goals, be sure to “Put in the Videotape” of your end goal, and Remember Your Future from different angles - What does success look like? What does failure look like? What surprises could happen? This multiple view visualization process will help fuel your goal pursuit with incredible power!