I watched last night the incredible performance of Michael Phelps. Like most of us, I was on the sidelines cheering for him and praying that he achieves his goals of winning all the eight medals and breaking all eight records. As a long time student of success and successful people, I analyzed his winning strategy and found that it is simple as it is brilliant and effective.

He is not competing; he is simply winning. But, he is winning smart. He focuses on the ultimate goal: winning the race and breaking the record. Unlike other swimmers, he gets a good start, but he does not accelerate the pace, until the second leg of the race. He plans ahead the race. He knows when to keep a steady pace and when to accelerate. He visualizes every moment. And he practices. Practice. Practice. Practice. Or in the world of business: Action. Action. Action. His coach said that Michael performs independently of his feelings. Even when his goggles filled up with water in one race and he could not see for the last 100 m of the 200 m race, he still pushed himself into winning the race and breaking his own world record. Perseverance and persistence regardless of the conditions around you. And focus on achieving the goal.

He plans the race to the smallest of details. Then, with his coach, he does a "post mortem" of the race analyzing the mistakes (most of them invisible to "normal" eye) and then taking the corrective action that not only eliminate the mistake, but also improve his performance. He adapts and then goes back to break yet another record. His own. It just happens that all the world records so far are his own.

We all should take his example: PLAN, PERSIST AND Persevere, ACTION, REVIEW, ADAPT, GO BACK AND BREAK ANOTHER RECORD, REPEAT. Even if at the beginning is breaking only your personal best records.

Who said that only the older, wiser people can influence others? Michael Phelps is an example of the contrary.