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During his legendary career in the NBA Michael Jordan was known for his laser-like focus at using visual imagery to accomplish his goals. It’s been noted that he trained his mind vigorously to visualize an image of the basketball going through the hoop. Eventually it became a seamless difference between his imagination and reality. Since his body was conditioned for peak physical performance in basketball and his mind was trained with even more intensity the net result was that he made a lot of baskets through that hoop. How else could the fact be explained that he led the Chicago Bulls to three back-to-back championships, retired for a couple years and then came back stronger than ever to do it again? Another set of back-to-back championships. Even while not playing the game professionally for two years his mind (or body) never lost that vision cemented in his head of how to make a basket better than anyone else on the court. How many people in life could “sit out” from their career or job for two years and then come back right on top where they left off? One could make the argument that Michael Jordan trained his mind so permanently on how to make baskets that he could walk away from the sport for twenty years and then walk back on the court and make 100 free throws blindfolded.

At one point in his life Michael Jordan was not the best basketball player in the world. However, he injected enough positive visual images into his mind that he lived the expression “change your inner world and your outer world will change.” How many professional athletes were gifted with phenomenal physical abilities but never truly developed them to 100% of their potential? When he was born in 1975 a young golfer from California was given enormous physical talent that he later developed to make him the world’s best golfer. His name is Tiger Woods.

By the year 2000 Tiger Woods had won several major tournaments including the Masters, The PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. During the summer of 2000 he had just won the NEC World Series of Golf in Akron, Ohio and I had the privilege of attending a private golf clinic hosted by Tiger immediately after the tournament. Keep in mind at this point of his career he had essentially reached the apex of any professional golfer’s career. He had won three majors (and plenty of smaller tournaments) by age 25. His current workout at that time included doing 1,000 sit-ups in one sitting. Someone worth millions of dollars in peak physical condition thought his body could improve. A pessimist coined the expression “there is only one way to go from the top.” Tiger clearly did not believe that expression. He believed there were two ways to go from top. Down or even higher. Since 2000, he went on to win seven more majors so evidently he was correct in assuming you could go even higher when you’re at the top of your game.

Tiger, like Michael Jordan, had mastered the power of visualization or visual imagery at a young age. Even when Tiger was a toddler his father would say “Do you see the picture of the hole?” Earl Woods asked the toddler. “OK, putt to the picture.” Tiger was fortunate enough to have a dad who nurtured his imagination early on in life. Similar to Michael Jordan it could be argued that Tiger ultimately developed such a strong sense of the sport that he could be totally removed from it for years and then jump back in right on top where he left. Or put another way Tiger had the mental fortitude required to win a major golf tournament long before was allowed to play at those country clubs. If the rules allowed it Tiger may have even won his first Masters tournament at age 18 or lower.

Work on changing your inner world before you expect changes in your outer world. The two are interwoven and both complement each other. Your outer world (spouse, boss, debt) absolutely can affect your inner world (the way your mind handles it) so why can’t the converse be true? The first step in changing your inner world is to paint positive, uplifting images that make you a better person. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods exemplified this habit and you can, too.