With Winning in Mind

1. Mental Management: Consistent Performance Under Pressure

“Mental Management® is the process of improving the probability of having a consistent mental performance, under pressure, on demand.”

Defining Mental Management. Mental Management® is not just about positive thinking; it's a system designed to maximize the likelihood of consistent mental performance, especially when the stakes are high. It's about having a reliable mental framework that you can depend on, regardless of the circumstances. This system is not based on psychology but on the practical experiences of competition, refined through Olympic pressure and the successes of countless students.

Components of the System. The Mental Management® System focuses on integrating three key mental components: the Conscious Mind, the Subconscious Mind, and the Self-Image. The Conscious Mind handles thoughts and mental pictures, the Subconscious Mind is the source of skills and performance, and the Self-Image dictates how you "act like you." By developing each component and maintaining balance, you can achieve peak performance.

Practical Application. The goal is to create a mental system that works consistently, allowing you to perform at your best when it matters most. This involves understanding how your mind works, defining what you need to think about to maintain control, and using tools and techniques to make your mental game effective. It's about taking charge of your mental state so that you can perform consistently, even under pressure.

2. Winning is a Process, Not Just an Outcome

“A fact that is not so widely known is that ninety-five percent of all winning is done by only five percent of the participants.”

Mindset of Winners. The key differentiator between winners and others isn't innate talent but their mindset. Winners are convinced they will finish first, while others merely hope to. This expectation of success stems from an internal feeling of harmony between expectation and performance. It's about believing in your ability and visualizing success before it happens.

Process Over Outcome. Champions often aren't consciously trying to win while competing; instead, they focus on the process of performing well. This means concentrating on executing mental and technical systems rather than fixating on the outcome. By prioritizing the process, you avoid over-trying, which can lead to mental errors and decreased performance.

Winning Performance. The best approach is to focus on having a winning performance rather than simply winning the event. This means being process-oriented and less likely to over-try, as you're always focused on the next step rather than counting your score. It's about striving for excellence in your performance, regardless of the final result, and recognizing that winning is often a byproduct of consistent, high-quality execution.

3. Six Principles of Mental Management

“Your conscious mind can only concentrate on one thing at a time.”

Single Focus. The conscious mind can only concentrate on one thing at a time, meaning you can't simultaneously picture positive and negative outcomes. This principle highlights the importance of controlling your mental imagery and choosing to focus on what you want to create. By directing your thoughts toward positive outcomes, you increase the likelihood of achieving them.

Picture Over Words. What you cause yourself or others to picture is more crucial than what you say. The image your words convey is more important than the words themselves. This principle emphasizes the power of communication and the need to frame messages positively to create the desired mental picture.

Subconscious Power. The subconscious mind is the source of all mental power. Great performances are accomplished subconsciously, without much conscious thought. This principle underscores the importance of training to automate skills, allowing the subconscious to take over during performance and avoid conscious override.

Self-Image Influence. The self-image moves you to do whatever the conscious mind is picturing. This principle highlights the connection between your self-perception and your actions. By controlling what you picture, you can influence your self-image and, consequently, your performance.

Self-Image Equals Performance. Self-image and performance are always equal. To change your performance, you must first change your self-image. This principle emphasizes the importance of cultivating a winning self-image to achieve consistent success.

Replace Self-Image. You can replace the self-image you have with the self-image you want, thereby permanently changing performance. This principle offers hope and empowerment, suggesting that you can actively shape your self-image and, in turn, transform your performance.

4. The Triad State: Balancing Conscious, Subconscious, and Self-Image

“When the Conscious, Subconscious and Self-Image are all balanced and working together, good performance is easy.”

Achieving Balance. The Triad State occurs when the Conscious, Subconscious, and Self-Image are balanced and working together, leading to smooth, efficient, and seemingly effortless performance. This balance produces power, allowing you to perform at your best. It's about aligning your thoughts, skills, and self-belief to create a state of harmony.

Identifying Imbalances. Imbalances occur when one mental process dominates the others. For example, too much conscious thought can hinder subconscious skill, while a weak self-image can limit the use of acquired skills. Recognizing these imbalances is the first step toward restoring the Triad State.

Restoring Balance. To get back into the Triad State, you must grow the size of your process circles while keeping them in balance. This involves consciously focusing on your goals, developing your subconscious skills through training, and cultivating a positive self-image. By addressing each mental process, you can achieve balanced growth and unlock your full potential.

5. Goal Setting: Attainment vs. Accomplishment

“If you haven’t set them there is a good chance that you will be beaten by someone who has.”

Beyond Realistic Goals. Setting goals is crucial for success, but not all goal-setting methods are effective. Realistic goal setting and "big-sky" goals often fall short because they are outcome-oriented rather than process-oriented. The focus should be on the process of achieving a score that can win, not just on the score itself.

Attainment vs. Accomplishment. It's important to distinguish between attainment and accomplishment. Accomplishment is about external results, like scores and medals, while attainment includes both accomplishment and becoming. Winning is more than just measuring the outcome; it also reflects who the person has become in the process.

Process-Oriented Goals. Set goals for things you can control, such as training frequency, discipline, and mental focus. Rehearse the process of executing mental feelings and technical moves that get results. By focusing on process, you can control what's in front of you and increase your chances of success.

6. Reinforcement: Think, Speak, and Write Positively

“The more we think about, talk about and write about something happening, we improve the probability of that thing happening!”

Positive Reinforcement. The more you think, talk, and write about something happening, the more likely it is to happen. This principle emphasizes the power of positive reinforcement and the need to be mindful of your thoughts, words, and writings. Be careful what you think about, as worrying can increase the likelihood of negative outcomes.

Avoid Negative Talk. Be cautious about what you talk about, especially regarding failures. Talking about mistakes reinforces them and increases the chance of repeating them. Instead, focus on discussing your successes and good performances to improve the probability of future success.

Positive Prediction and Praise. Use positive prediction by complimenting others in advance for their excellent performance. Praise good performances to encourage repetition. By creating a positive environment, you can surround yourself with competent people and increase your own chances of success.

7. Rehearsal: The Versatile Mental Tool

“The Self-Image cannot tell the difference between what actually happens and what is vividly imagined.”

Mental Practice. Rehearsal, also known as visualization or imagery, is a mental tool that involves thinking about an action without physically doing it. It's a versatile and effective way to improve performance, as it allows you to mentally duplicate everything you do in action without leaving your chair. By rehearsing only good performances, you avoid negative reinforcement.

Neural Pathways. When you vividly rehearse an action, neural pathways are created in the brain, similar to small tracks that enable you to perform the actual task. This mental practice can improve your mastery of movement and enhance your ability to execute desired actions with precision.

Attitude and Relaxation. Rehearsal can also improve your attitude and help you relax before competitions. By rehearsing how you want to feel during the competition, you can increase the likelihood of experiencing those feelings. It's about mentally preparing yourself for the emotional and mental challenges of competition.

8. Three Phases of a Task: Anticipation, Action, Reinforcement

“The difference between the champion and the average player lies in the edge the champion gains in the anticipation, action and reinforcement phases of performance.”

Anticipation Phase. The anticipation phase is what you think about immediately before you perform. Champions prepare carefully for their tasks, ensuring they have a solid plan and are mentally ready for the challenges ahead. It's about setting the stage for success by anticipating potential obstacles and preparing for them.

Action Phase. The action phase is what you think about as you perform. Champions concentrate properly while performing, staying focused on the task at hand and adapting to changing circumstances. It's about maintaining focus and making adjustments as needed to achieve the desired outcome.

Reinforcement Phase. The reinforcement phase is what you think about immediately after you perform. Champions reinforce all good results while correcting errors, avoiding the trap of dwelling on failures. It's about learning from both successes and mistakes to improve future performance.

9. Mental Program: Consistent Mental Picture

“If you do not have a consistent picture in the conscious mind each time, you cannot hope to duplicate the necessary subconscious skill.”

Duplicable Mental Series. To achieve mental consistency, it's essential to duplicate an exact mental series of pictures before every performance. This involves running a mental program, which is a series of thoughts that, when pictured, trigger the subconscious to perform the appropriate action. It's about creating a reliable mental routine that you can depend on.

Criteria for Mental Program. The mental program should occupy the conscious mind, transfer power to the subconscious mind, be duplicable, and be simple. It should give the conscious mind something to do to stay active but not in a complex way. The goal is to aid the player in hitting the ball subconsciously.

Steps in Mental Program. A typical mental program has three or four steps: the point of initiation, the point of alignment, the point of direction, and the point of focus. Each step serves a specific purpose, from initiating the program to focusing on the desired outcome. It's about creating a structured mental routine that prepares you for action.

10. Pressure: Friend, Not Foe

“Pressure, is not something you need to avoid. It is something you need to use.”

Understanding Pressure. Pressure is often viewed negatively, but it's essential to recognize that it's neither positive nor negative. Pressure is like air: too much or too little can be harmful, but the right amount is essential for life. It's about reframing your perception of pressure and recognizing its potential benefits.

Anxiety and Attention. Pressure is composed of two elements: anxiety and attention. Anxiety is fear, while attention is your level of excitement. The key is to manage both elements to optimize your performance. It's about finding the right balance between fear and excitement to perform at your best.

Controlling Pressure. To control pressure, recognize that it's positive and something you can manage. Focus on what you want to see happen, not on what's stressing you. Use a planned, practiced recovery strategy to regain control after a poor shot. It's about taking charge of your mental state and using pressure to your advantage.

11. Over-Trying: The Number One Mental Problem

“Champions work hard in training and work easy in the competition.”

Misconception of Effort. Many competitors believe that trying harder will produce a greater chance of success, but this is often a misconception. Over-trying can lead to tension, loss of control, and decreased performance. It's about finding the proper level of mental effort for the task and avoiding the trap of pushing too hard.

Reasons for Over-Trying. Competitors over-try because they are afraid to trust their subconscious skill, they are thinking about outcome instead of process, and they operate on the misconception that trying harder will produce a greater chance of success. It's about identifying the root causes of over-trying and addressing them.

Focus on Process. Instead of caring so much about score, your competition, and winning, care more about executing your process. Focus on the next step, not on the final result. Your job in a competition is to execute the process of performing, not anything else. It's about shifting your focus from outcome to process and trusting your training.

12. Building Subconscious Skills: The Skills Factory

“We raise ourselves to the standard we are around.”

Passion and Persistence. Elite athletes often have a passion for their sport and an uncommon persistence that defies explanation. This passion drives them to train harder and overcome obstacles. It's about cultivating a love for the process and a determination to succeed.

Quality, Quantity, and Efficiency. The amount of skill and the size of the subconscious circle is determined by the quality of the training, the quantity of the training, and the efficiency of this training. It's about optimizing all three factors to maximize skill development.

Training Guidelines. To build subconscious skills, catch yourself doing something right, train four or five days a week, be all there wherever you are, rehearse the match day often within the training session, play a lot when you are playing well, and raise yourself to the standard you are around. It's about creating a structured and effective training program that promotes skill development and mental toughness.

Last updated: March 29, 2025