“We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.” — Dale Carnegie

Few words carry as much power as the words “What if?”

The Internet, the car, the microwave all came about because someone asked that simple question: “What if?”

My father, who was born into the only home on his block that had a telephone, marvels when I use my cell phone. He invariably wants to know when it will be obsolete. And I tell him that it’s already obsolete because every day people are inventing new things by asking, “What if?”

All of this comes to mind because of lunch yesterday with friend and best-selling author Ed Smith (www.brightmoment.com). Ed is fascinated by possibilities, and our conversation turned to the golf concept of 54.

In case you never heard of it, 54 is the vision of a perfect round of golf — a birdie on every hole. Will anyone ever actually shoot a 54? Probably not. But it is a tantalizing vision that involves thinking without limits. It’s about possibilities.

In fact, there is a approach to golf that is called VISION54. Founded by Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, VISION54 begins not with swing mechanics or with a grip on the club, but with a view toward possibilities: What if we trained a certain way? Or even THOUGHT a certain way?”

Whether you’re trying to build a sports program, win a championship or remake yourself in tough economic times, thinking without limits can be the biggest challenge. But it can also bring the biggest rewards. The words “What if?” can help you open a door.

Coach Tully’s Extra Point: “The excellence of anyone’s game depends on self-control.” Alex Morrison, author of the 1932 instructional book, “A New Way To Better Golf.” Here is a link that describes the evolution of mental training in golf.