The Three Words Bob Bowman Banned from His Pool

Early in Michael Phelps' career, he made a critical mistake in front of Bob Bowman. He said: "I can't do that."

Bowman's response would create a philosophy that transformed not just Phelps, but our understanding of human potential.

The Power of "Can't"

"If you say 'can't,'" Bowman explained, "you're restricting what you can do or ever will do... 'Can't,' he would say, that's a tough word."

When Phelps claimed he couldn't complete a particularly challenging butterfly set, Bowman didn't just disagree. He created a systematic approach to eliminating "can't" from his athletes' vocabulary.

Why 'Can't' Is a Lie

Bowman's philosophy was simple but profound. He understood that "can't" is often disguised as "won't," and that most limits are self-imposed. The mind gives up before the body, and "can't" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that restricts our potential before we even begin.

The Evidence

Consider these "impossible" sets Phelps completed under Bowman's guidance: 3,000 meters of butterfly (nearly two miles), 12,000 meters of freestyle (about seven miles), 30 x 100m with pool exits and dives between each, and sets that made elite athletes "see blurry."

"At that point," Phelps recalls, "it's pretty much just goals. If you want to meet your goals, this is what it takes."

Replacing 'Can't'

Bowman developed a systematic approach to eliminating "can't" from his athletes' minds. The first step involves challenging the assumption by questioning why something seems impossible, breaking down the barrier into manageable components, identifying specific obstacles, and creating progressive challenges that build capability over time.

The second component focuses on providing evidence. This means showing examples of success, referencing past achievements, demonstrating possibility through concrete data, and building confidence through small, achievable wins that prove progress is possible.

Finally, creating new language becomes crucial. Instead of "can't," athletes learn to say "not yet." The focus shifts from outcome to process, using growth-oriented phrases that emphasize possibility rather than limitation.

The Implementation Framework

For coaches and athletes looking to apply this philosophy, the process begins with identifying your perceived "can'ts." This involves listing what you believe are your limitations, challenging each assumption with evidence, creating specific action plans to address each barrier, and setting progressive goals that build toward the seemingly impossible.

Building your evidence bank comes next. Document small victories as they happen, track progress systematically to see patterns of improvement, celebrate breakthroughs both large and small, and use past successes as proof that growth is possible.

Developing new language completes the transformation. Create empowering phrases to replace limiting ones, practice positive self-talk consistently, focus on growth rather than fixed ability, and share success stories that reinforce the new mindset.

The Bottom Line

As Bowman and Phelps proved, "can't" is often just a failure of imagination. The difference between impossible and possible usually lies in determination and systematic preparation.

Your Challenge This Week

1. Document every time you say or think "can't" for one week

2. For each instance, write down what evidence suggests you truly can't, what would make it possible, and what small step you could take toward making it possible

3. Create alternative phrases to replace "can't"

Remember: The most dangerous limitations are the ones we place on ourselves.