3 Visualization Strategies to Create Breakthrough Results

"I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That’s the thing. You can’t just visualize and go eat a sandwich.”
                                                                                                                                                                  — Jim Carrey

Visualization, when paired with inspired action, is one of the most powerful tools in the Champion’s arsenal for success and fulfillment.

When we look at elite athletes, we often notice that the gap in talent between them can be astonishingly small—almost imperceptible. What separates the extraordinary from the ordinary is the integration of the body, mind, and spirit. It’s the athlete who brings together these three forces, harmonizing their physical strength, mental clarity, and inner drive, who stands the greatest chance of achieving powerful performance and victory.

If our hearts are the compass of our desires, and our bodies are the vessels that bring them to life, then our minds are the sculptors that carve those dreams into reality.

The Power of Visualization: A Tool for Transformation

Visualization is more than a mental exercise. It’s a tool that taps into the very essence of creation. One striking example comes from a study conducted at the University of Chicago years ago.

The study gathered college students and had them shoot free throws from 15 feet away. They tracked how many successful shots they made in a given time frame, then divided the participants into three groups for the duration of the experiment.

1. One group physically practiced shooting free throws for 15 minutes a day, five days a week, for six weeks.
2. A second group did nothing at all during that period.
3. The final group was asked to spend 30 minutes each day visualizing themselves taking and successfully making free throws for the same six weeks.

At the end of the study, all participants returned to the gym to test their improvement. As expected, the group who physically practiced saw the most progress, with a 24% improvement in their performance. But what happened next was extraordinary: the group that had only visualized their success showed an almost identical improvement of 23%.

While this study does not suggest that visualization alone can replace action, it does underline the immense power of our minds in shaping our experiences and outcomes.

How I’ve Harnessed the Power of Visualization

As a competitive athlete, martial artist, coach, and speaker, I have relied on visualization to prepare for athletic events, important conversations, and speeches. Time and again, the results I’ve achieved have aligned closely with my visualizations—or even exceeded my expectations.

So how can you use visualization to elevate not just your athletic performance, but also your business success, your healing process, or your pursuit of any dream? Here are three practices that have helped me unlock the full potential of this powerful tool.

1. Focus on the Process, Not Just the End Result

Many people fall into the trap of visualizing only the end result—like winning the championship or closing the deal. While that’s powerful, I’ve found that I’m most successful when I focus on the journey, the process of getting there.

For example, if you have an important sales call coming up, don’t just visualize the customer signing the contract. Instead, imagine yourself confidently sharing your information, engaging with the customer, and building rapport. Visualize the interaction, the conversation, and the way you’ll be able to meet their needs with what you offer. Focusing on the process gives you a sense of control, preparation, and clarity, which translates into better performance.

2. Make It a Full-Sensory Experience

As human beings, we are multi-dimensional. Our minds respond not just to images, but to all our senses. The key to powerful visualization is to immerse yourself in the full experience. What does the scene look like? What does it sound like? What emotions are you feeling? What scents or tastes can you connect with?

Before giving a speech, I don’t just visualize myself walking on stage and delivering my message. I see the audience’s faces light up with understanding, hear their laughter at my jokes, and feel the energy in the room as I make a point that resonates deeply. This multisensory experience enhances the power of my visualization and creates an emotional connection with the outcome.

3. Visualize Success, Even in the Face of Challenges

A wise mentor once told me, "If you’re going to fantasize, you might as well win." It's easy to let doubt and fear creep into our minds as we visualize, but true mastery lies in creating a vision that accounts for challenges—and then rises above them.

In 1999, I competed in the National Taekwondo Championships with a right hamstring injury. During my first match, my opponent blocked one of my signature spin kicks, and I felt my hamstring “pop.” I was injured, but I had already visualized this possibility beforehand. I had prepared mentally for the scenario where my injury might flare up—and more importantly, I had rehearsed my response.

After that first match, I had my coach wrap my leg, then took a moment to mentally rehearse my game plan. With clarity and focus, I powered through my next three matches, ultimately winning the championship.

The key takeaway? Don’t just visualize success—visualize how you’ll handle obstacles along the way. This mental preparation ensures you stay grounded, adaptable, and poised for victory no matter what challenges arise.

Visualize Your Victory: A Call to Action

This week, take time to visualize a goal or result you’d like to achieve. Before any upcoming event—whether a big presentation, an athletic competition, or a conversation—close your eyes, see the outcome you desire, and feel the victory. Experience the full sensory richness of success before it even happens.

Then, as you go through the actual event, observe how closely the result matches what you visualized.

Remember, the mind is incredibly powerful. When you align your vision with inspired action, you unlock the full potential within you. And as my teacher once said: If you’re going to fantasize, you might as well win.

Visualization is a key part of the way I have begun each and every day for years…

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Chris Natzke
Black Belt Leadership Speaking & Coaching