Brian JohnsonChairman & Philosopher in Residence at Heroic

The Inner Game Controls Your Performance

19 May 2026 · 0 min

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Brian Johnson explains that performance in tennis, sports, and life depends on two games: the outer game of scores and opponents, and the inner game of mental state. Most people focus on the outer game, but the inner game is what actually drives success.

There are two games we're playing whenever we're doing anything, whether it's tennis or another sport or our lives. There's the outer game, which is what we're used to thinking of when we think of a game, which is the score, you're playing against an opponent, you have an external outcome, et cetera. You need to spend more time focusing on the inner game, what's going on in your mind, because that's what's actually driving your performance. Therefore, it's wise to spend some time thinking about it.