Michael Phelps on Goal-Setting

American Swimmer Michael Phelps is the most successful competitive swimmer of all time, winning 23 gold medals throughout his career.

Phelps began swimming at an age of seven as a way to channel his excessive energy.  Three years later, he held the national record for his age group in the 100-meter butterfly.  He continued winning until retiring in 2016.

By then, he was regarded as the greatest swimmer of all time.  In fact, many consider him the greatest athlete of all time.

How did he do it?

By visualizing.  Setting goals.  Preparing for every scenario.  Being resilient when he underperformed.  Learning from his mistakes.  And practice.

Phelps sums it up succinctly:

I think goals should never be easy, they force you to work, even if they’re uncomfortable at the time.

Phelps understood that in order to achieve Flow, he had to constantly reach beyond his capacities.  That's what made him a champion. 

Never Set Easy Goals

Getting out of your comfort zone is essential for growth.  Don’t be afraid to do something you’re uncomfortable with.

In fact, the perfect amount of anxiety can actually help you reach your peak performance and productivity.

As health psychologist Kelly McGonigal writes in The Upside of Stress, 

Stress can create a state of concentrated attention, one that gives you access to more information about your physical environment.

Imagine the focused attention required as Phelps watched his competitors mere inches away, vying for the same goal.  He transformed the anxiety of each race into fuel for victory. 

By all means, challenge yourself.

Here are a few methods for doing just that: 

• Find what works for you. When are you most productive?  Use that to your advantage when scheduling.
• Use the Reward-Substitution method when setting long-term goals
• Set S.M.A.R.T. goals
• Prioritize your goals with the Pareto Principle
• Start each day by identifying your Most Important Tasks
• Tackle your goals with the 5-minute challenge
• Most importantly, don’t forget to take breaks!