Success Information

Hip-Hop, Michael Phelps, and Peak Performance


I am unashamed to copy the peak performance techniques of peak performers.

Since "imitation is the highest form of flattery," I am pleased to flatter one whose success I admire.

After all, I am after the success. Originality is great, but reaching my goal is the issue.

However, there are limits.

Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps, winner of six goal medals and eight overall, likes hip-hop. Some even follow the word "hip-hop" with "music."

When asked, "What do you think about when you are in the water?" he responds, "When I'm swimming one thing that's going through my head is doing anything I can to get my hand on the wall first.

"Sometimes it doesn't always happen but there's always a positive thought in my mind.

"And also I'm singing a song in my head ... whatever I was listening to before I got into the water."

That song is likely to be Eminem's "Till I Collapse," Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready To Die," or something from Twista.

(Ah, right. I could do a search, but maybe later.)

"I just like the sound of hip-hop," Phelps says. "I love Jay-Z and 50 Cent and I'm a huge Biggie (Smalls) fan. I listen to rap on the way to practice and whatever I've been playing just loops through my head as I swim."

And his daily workout lasts two-and-a-half hours and covers ten miles.

Fortunately, I suspect that audio art forms besides hip-hop (or, perhaps, an actual form of music), played on the internal audio system will also occupy the conscious mind and unleash the power of the unconscious.

So, whenever you have to engage the mind and body for an extended period, play your own internal music.

Fortunately, peak performance is the issue and there's no accounting for taste.

Copyright 2004 by Tony Papajohn. Tony writes and speaks on success. Subscribe to his free SuccessMotivator e-zine at http://www.successmotivator.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

Recipe for Success: Presidio Helps Food Industry Manufacturers ...
MSNBC - 1 hour ago
To demonstrate how the adoption of new network infrastructure can be achieved while significantly reducing up-front costs, Presidio cites the successes of ...


Subaru's unexciting road to success
Los Angeles Times, CA - 20 hours ago
Despite these successes, Subaru, unlike other Japanese carmakers, hasn’t conquered California. Its all-wheel-drive vehicles are more popular in New England ...


Seattle Post Intelligencer

Texas hopes ’08 success leads to ’09 national title
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - 17 hours ago
By JIMMY BURCH Texas has a good chance of entering the 2009 season at No. 1. Getty Images/Jed Jacobsohn GLENDALE, Ariz. — The final call on Texas’ national ...
Rival QBs: anything but 'Young' OSU - The Lantern
A daily look at the best sportswriting on the Web Wall Street Journal Blogs
all 2,237 news articles


Boston Globe

Don't overlook DiMasi's successes
Boston Globe, United States - 17 hours ago
DiMasi made the Massachusetts healthcare reform law more progressive and affordable, and is recognized as one of the principal authors of this success. ...


SUCCESS STORY / CHARLOTTE DeBOSE, 37: From 200 to 140 pounds
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 18 hours ago
Write: Success Stories, c/o Jamila Robinson, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303; ...


China experts score success against snail fever
Reuters - 30 minutes ago
HONG KONG, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Chinese scientists appear to have found a formula to get rid of "snail fever", an age-old but neglected tropical disease ...


Las Vegas Sun

Sugar Bowl marks sweet success for Valley High grad
Las Vegas Sun, NV - 3 hours ago
By Ray Brewer Dave Martin / AP Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (10) celebrates after sacking the Alabama quarterback in the first half of the Sugar Bowl ...


Low-key Manning key to success of Giants offense
CNN - 26 minutes ago
Because you have had some success, it doesn't change your mentality or the way you approach things.'' Manning's closest friends on the team are the ...


Green Gardening: The sweet smell of success: a birthday load of ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 34 minutes ago
By ANN LOVEJOY I may have mentioned from time to time that deer are quite fond of my garden. So am I, and in some ways, I suppose, the deer arguably give me ...


Global CIO: A 10-Point Plan For Success In 2009
InformationWeek, NY - 7 hours ago
Your letter mentioned my 2008 success in data-center consolidation, but we could have had even more success if Susan hadn't stonewalled my attempts to ...

Success - Google News

home | site map
© 2006