7 gold medal for Michael Phelps, courtesy LA Times

Last night; Friday night, there was an interview on NBC between Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz(wiki) discussing what it takes to win 7 gold medals.

There was a lot of back and forth between the two but what really stuck with me was the key . . the real key, to Michael’s success . . . it was imagination.

He used the word several times, he didn’t say visualization, on determination, or positive thinking. Not out-working everyone else, out eating everyone else, training techniques, etc.

Nope, none of the above, just good ‘ole imagination.

That’s powerful stuff, and a lesson that all of us can take from in our daily lives, and our work lives. The imagination to see ourselves in a positive light. To imagine that outcome of our relationships or projects, or designs to be the absolute best.

I always thought to be a good designer you needed several things.

• The ability to look at a site, understand the cultural needs.
• Visualize the end project and explain that vision to your clients. Visualize all you want but without a way to bring the client along in the process a project could fail.
• Being able to put your experience to use in a positive way.
• Use creative thinking to come up with unique. powerful, and effective solutions.
• The ability to LISTEN, to me this is very key to the process.
• I am now going to add to this; imagination. Imagine the end result. Imagine the clients reaction to this result. Imagine the look a lot of years down the road. Imagine getting those tough, challenging, exciting projects.

Imagination

This is a powerful idea and for me a very exciting one. I had not been one to use this word(concept) in the larger context before, and I have been missing out.

I can now imagine what it takes to get to those more challenging projects. Imagine using all my skills, knowledge, listening ability to greater depths to acheive better results.

So I say thank you to Michael Phelps(another write-up) for sledge-hammering me with this concept.

Just imagine the possibilities.