Do you recall the idiom “a picture is worth a thousand words?”

The idea behind this statement is that an image of a subject conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a description does.   But it can also suggest a critical element of high achievement in my view – the concept of visualization.   Here’s why.

When people “think” they tend to think in images, not just words.  If you tell the same story in words to a group of people, odds are that most will formulate a different picture in their mind related to the story.  However, if you tell the story in pictures, most will see the story similarly.  And frankly, I would argue, most will remember the story better and have a more emotional reaction to it.

The same is true when you target achievements.  To be clear about your end game (your ultimate goal), and maximize your motivation to achieve it, you need to “see” or visualize what the result looks like.  You need to play out the story of achieving it in your head.   For example, if your goal is to win a competitive bike race, you need to visualize yourself crossing the finish line first.   Perhaps you visualize a long lead and easy win, or instead a sprint at the end of the race to beat your competitors at the line.  Regardless, winning the race should be crystal clear in your mind.

What happens next can be amazing.  With great visualization, you will naturally experience more focus, increased motivation, and ultimately better performance than if you did not start with a clear picture of the end game.  If your visualization is foggy, your results will be foggy also.

Another benefit of visualization and putting yourself in the “image” of great achievements is that it will create the emotional capacity to get started, to work harder, and to persevere when setbacks come.  What you see is what you believe is possible.  You may not always achieve your goal the first time, but having a clear picture in your mind of the desired end game will accelerate your path to get there every time.