Not Just for Professional Athletes
by Darren Ashby

A few years ago, as I watched an interview with Michael Jordan, I realized that we have something in common. No, it is not a 40-inch vertical leap, or the ability to dunk the ball. I realized that for years I had been using a method for success that Miracle Mike also used, a technique called visualization.

Everyone who works for a living, experiences difficult and stressful situations. It may be dealing with an irate boss, a lazy employee, or a fellow manager that just doesn't seem sane. Have you ever just left a difficult situation in which you trying to argue your case when you suddenly thought, "I should have said blah, blah, blah or yada, yada, yada?" You might say hindsight is 20/20, but what I am about to tell you is how to turn that hindsight into foresight.

I remember one of the first conversations I ever had with a CEO. I was a lowly engineering student, while he was the boss of a 700 million dollar company. He hit me with a couple of questions that I was not prepared to answer. I still remember how my mind drew a total blank. Afterward, as I thought about it, I knew exactly what I should have said. I decided that I would not go into such a situation unprepared again. But how do you prepare for something like that? This is what I did.

I started to imagine myself in the situation beforehand. I would imagine how the conversation might go. He would say 'this' and I would respond with 'that.' In my imaginary situation I would try out several different approaches and then imagine a response. I would visualize the person understanding my point and a resolution to the case at hand that I desired. I found that when I did this, the real conversation, when it occurred, followed my imaginary one so closely that I always knew what to say. And better yet, I usually got what I wanted out of it.

Now you might think I am full of it, but I have used this technique to visualize getting raises and promotions, and I can honestly say that I got what I asked for in every situation. It actually amazes me when I look back at it. I was promoted into engineering positions when I was still a student. I now work with several people, including a former boss, as an equal or superior. I can hardly believe this could happen to a naturally shy person from a hick town in Utah who doesn't like confrontation.

I don't have any set rules for how to do this, other than the more often you do it, the more successful you will be with the technique. If you imagine it going in 1000 times, the next time you have to shoot that clutch shot, it will go in. Works for Mike, and it works for me. Give it a try.

All this metaphysical discussion remind me of one of my favorite SNL skits. The one where Stuart Smalley said "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and doggonit people like me!" :)

I wanted to post a link to wav file or video clip of Stuart, but couldn't find one. If any of you know where one is, drop me a line and I will see if I can get it posted.

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