Years ago I had an opportunity to meet Muhammad Ali when he was speaking at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, and write an article about him as well. He impressed me with his confidence and wit, and at the same time he was quite gracious when we met. That memory came back to me vividly when I read a quote recently that is attributed to Ali: “I am the greatest. I said it even before I knew I was.”

How does that relate to the rest of us who don’t happen to have the athletic prowess to become a world heavyweight champion? Because one of the smartest ways we learn is to pay attention to what works for others. When someone wants something so badly that he/she not only thinks about that vision but talks about it, imagines what it will be like once it’s here, and enjoys feeling the satisfaction and success of having it, then it starts to become reality. I’ve used this formula many times, and I’m convinced that when I’ve reached specific goals, it has everything to do with mentally creating the goal first and then watching it happen.

Why am I so sure this works? Because I’ve also mentally created what I don’t want many times, just from where I put my focus and worry and energy. Either way we are creating, and it does seem a bit of a no-brainer that we might as well be creating what we want, it’s going to make us a lot happier.