The Psychology of Winning | Michael Johnson

Michael Gervais (0:00)

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Michael Johnson (1:12)

The only thing I miss about track is that nervousness. I learned how to control the nerves. And so because I could control it, I loved it.

Michael Gervais (1:19)

What happens in the moments just before the race? The noise, the pressure, when everything that you've worked for is about to be tested?

Michael Johnson (1:26)

I know I can win. I don't know if I'm going to win, but we're about to find out.

Michael Gervais (1:31)

Welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Michael Gervais.

SPEAKER_3 (1:36)

A high-performance psychologist named Michael Gervais.

Michael Gervais (1:38)

Who Pete Carroll brought in to work with the Seahawks.

SPEAKER_3 (1:41)

Famous for his work with Felix Baumgartner when he jumped out of space in the Stratos Project.

SPEAKER_4 (1:46)

Olympic athletes depend on something more than just training and talent. They have to stay mentally tough.

Michael Gervais (1:52)

Today's conversation is with the legendary American sprinter, Michael Johnson, four-time Olympic gold medalist, nine-time world champion and the former world record holder in both the 200 and 400 meters. Michael takes us inside the call room, the gathering space just before the race.

Michael Johnson (2:07)

A lot of races are won and lost in that room.

Michael Gervais (2:09)

Tell me more.

Michael Johnson (2:10)

In that moment, it is understanding what you can control, what you can't control and understanding that I'm at my best when I am so focused on what I'm about to do, that I can get to a point where nothing is going to distract me.

Michael Gervais (2:25)

How much imagery would you do the month leading up to a race?

Michael Johnson (2:29)

Countless. It was at a point during my career where if I had an idle moment, there'd just be an automatic gun just went off, I'm running a race.

Michael Gervais (2:37)

And later in the conversation, he shares how a life-threatening health scare reshaped how he thinks about control.

Michael Johnson (2:43)

I had to learn how to walk again, everything. In that moment, our wife said, somebody said something about why did this happen to us? And we both were like, why not us? We've been so lucky.

Michael Gervais (2:51)

With that, let's jump into this week's conversation with the legend Michael Johnson. Okay, four-time gold medalist in the Olympics, and two world titles, is that right?

Michael Johnson (3:10)

Nine.

Michael Gervais (3:11)

Nine. You have nine, no, you don't have nine.

Michael Johnson (3:16)

Nine, nine world championship gold, four Olympic gold. Want to do it over?

Michael Gervais (3:22)

No. No, that is remarkable.

Yeah, I mean, in my mind, you're in the special zone of achievement and accomplishment, and obviously speed. But look, I've been wanting to sit down with you for a long time. Our paths have crossed over the years multiple times. I've always enjoyed the hellos, the up, you know, how you're doing, those conversations. But you and I haven't had the chance to really dive into your psychology and how you've become extraordinary in your life, both what you did early, what you've been doing of late. And so I really do want to divide this conversation up into Master of Craft, call it part one, and then Master of Self, part two. What does it take? And this is a broad question. I'm more curious about where you go than the actual answer at some point. But what does it take to be your very best?