Honda's "Unstoppable Dreams" and Inverting Success

Flipping the Script With Honda

Last month, I discovered Honda’s commercial “Unstoppable Dreams” and realized it’s a masterclass example for mindset and innovation. It also demonstrates the mental model of inversion by upending the script and creating a whole new interpretation of the words. See for yourself below:

Inversion is a powerful framing tool because it challenges us to redefine and flip the problems we are solving. At its core, inversion asks:

What if we work backward?

What if we focus on what could go wrong instead of what should go right?

Here’s an example: Imagine you’re climbing a mountain. Novice climbers may fixate on their ultimate goal (the peak) and prepare by determining how to get there, what route is optimal, and how long it will take to reach the summit. If a climber applies inversion to the problem they begin to ask and explore a different question: What could cause me to fail? (e.g. Hazards, fatigue, lack of supplies, etc.). By identifying and eliminating failure points, you clear a more effective path toward success.

Success isn’t just about what you do, it’s also about what you avoid doing. In the wise words of Shane Parrish, “Think of it [inversion] this way: Avoiding stupidity is easier than seeking brilliance.”

A “Premeditation of Evils”

Inversion is a mental model that’s been practiced for centuries to aid people in problem-solving and navigating obstacles. The ancient Stoic philosophers (e.g. Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus) would regularly conduct a pre-mortem exercise known as premeditatio malorum, which translates to a “premeditation of evils.”

The aim of the exercise was for Stoics to imagine worst case scenarios proactively so they could overcome their fears and develop better strategies to prevent these situations. Think of it as mental insurance: If you’ve already planned for what could go wrong, you’re one step ahead when things actually go sideways.

Most performers obsess over adding skills and strengths to their toolbelt, but don’t take the time to identify (and prepare for) inevitable obstacles (e.g. physical and mental fatigue, confidence crises, performance plateaus, and external distractions). High performers don’t just focus on acquiring skills that accelerate success; they also work diligently to mitigate mistakes and pitfalls that prevent it.

They understand that consistent excellence is not just about doing the right things, but also about avoiding the wrong ones. A well-rounded approach to performance includes both offensive and defensive strategies; mastering strengths while eliminating weaknesses.

3 Inversion Strategies for Coaches

1. The Saboteur Exercise

Instead of analyzing a failure after the fact (a post-mortem), a pre-mortem challenges athletes to imagine they have already failed and then work backward to identify what went wrong. It’s a great exercise for uncovering hidden weaknesses and potential limitations before they become problems.

Tell athletes, "Imagine that someone has been secretly assigned to sabotage your season. Their job is to subtly lead you down a path that guarantees poor performance. They don’t make it obvious, but they nudge you into bad habits, poor decisions, and unhelpful thought patterns.”

Next, ask athletes “If the saboteur wanted you to underperform, what would they convince you to do (or not do)?"

Finally, invite them to create their response and prevention plan to ensure that the saboteur fails. Help them explore what attitudes, habits, and behaviors can keep them on track.

Below is an example of what it might look like:

• Saboteur’s Tactic – Skip recovery and sleep

• Prevention Plan – Prioritize at least 15 minutes of recovery daily and develop sleep hygiene habits (e.g. minimizing phone use an hour before bed) to ensure quality sleep.

2. Negative Visualization

The beautiful thing about the mind is it’s a free and always available practice field. High performers can use visualization to create free game-like reps, practice technical skills, and proactively prepare for any anticipated obstacles prior to performance. Below is a great example featuring Hall of Famer, Derek Jeter.

As mentioned earlier, the ancient Stoics have practiced a form of “negative visualization” (coined by Ryan Holiday) for centuries by mentally rehearsing worst-case scenarios and what strategies they can use to avoid these situations. In a similar fashion, athletes can practice “negative visualization” (or “coping imagery”) to visualize how they’d like to respond to setbacks and obstacles in performance.

Coaches can help athletes by encouraging them to create a list of potential challenges (e.g. bad referees, falling behind early in a game, or entering in a high-leverage pressure situation) and then visualize their responses to these situations. Please note: I’m not advocating for you to have players visualize their failures, but rather their responses to failure and obstacles.

For example, a baseball player might consider an umpire making a poor call as an obstacle. Instead of losing their composure, invite the athlete to visualize how they’ll respond to a bad call by taking a deep breath and resetting with their in-between pitch routine.

3. Invert Your Questions

If you want new solutions, start asking different questions. Below are some examples of inverting questions to uncover different responses and new perspectives.

• Common Question: What inspires you?

• Inverted Question: What drains you?

• Common Question: What strengthens your confidence?

• Inverted Question: What derails your confidence?

• Common Question: What are your strengths as an athlete?

• Inverted Question: What weaknesses could be exploited by your opponents?

• Common Question: What does a great practice look like for you?

• Inverted Question: What would it look like for you to waste a practice?

Final Thoughts:

High performers don’t just chase success; they design against failure.

So, next time you set a goal, don’t just ask how to win—ask how not to lose. Your performance will thank you for it.

Inspiration for This Piece:

• Parrish, S. & Beaubien, R. (2019). The Great Mental Models, Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts. Penguin.

• https://ryanholiday.net/practice-the-stoic-art-of-negative-visualization/