Last Thursday I went to the Long Beach Open golf tournament to support some of my clients. As I watched all the players warm-up on the practice range I was reminded that physical skills are not the determining factor for success. I watched as these players hit great shot after great shot on the range and thought to myself that everybody was going to shoot 65. As it turned out the scores were not as good as the swings. Some may say that short game is the difference between the average and the best. Yet what I saw was the contenders had a different composure when it came to handling tournament conditions, while the pretenders looked anxious. The anxiety created doubt in their physical skills. Those same smooth swings in practice, now became rushed, tight swings in the tournament. The shift with any performer has to start with knowing he belongs. So often athletes will tell me about the tough competition and that they would be lucky to compete at their level. The performers build up the competitors skill level so much that it is hard for them to focus on their own game. To go from pretender to contender you must believe in your ability and be composed in the optimal performance state- mentally, emotionally, and physically. I teach my clients to get to this state through breathing, visualization, and shifting of beliefs. Contenders get the job done, while pretender don’t.