When Anthony Kim met Mark O’Meara for the first time he asked him for help. Not with his swing but with his attitude. O’Meara told Kim that poor practice habits and too much partying were preventing him from reaching his potential.

O’Meara is no psychologist but the effect his advice had on Kim was as dramatic as any behavioral change a psychologist might be asked to facilitate. Kim immediately changed his ways and, in a matter of months, won his first two PGA events. Now he looks like he’ll be one of the tours future stars. So the question is: Why did Kim listen to O’Meara instead of his closest friends who might have told him the same thing?

The answer lies in mentorship. We tend to listen more to a guru than our own peers, even if they offer us the same advice. O’Meara became a mentor to Kim. In turn, Kim listened because he was in awe of the accomplished O’Meara, which allowed him to be quiet-minded long enough to accept advice.

Odds are you don’t know Mark O’Meara personally or any other golf celebrity but you could benefit from a virtual conversation with them. Imagine Padraig Harrington, Freddie Couples, or Tiger Woods taking time from his busy schedule to sit down and talk to you. With your hero sitting across the table giving you his undivided attention, what issue would you discuss? Then, what would his answer be?

Of course you might wonder if a virtual conversation like that could actually help? It would, according to a study by Sharmand, Garry and Beuke. In Imagination or Exposure Causes Imagination Inflation, the researchers found that putting fictitious experiences into words makes people feel the experiences are real. So take the time to conjure up a conversation with one of your heroes. Like Anthony Kim’s real-life dialogue it could unleash your full potential.

Bob Skura is the author of the award-winning book, How Great Golfers Think - Perfecting Your Mental Game. For more information visit: www.howgreatgolfersthink.com

Bob Skura
May 13, 2009

 ↑ Back to Top