in 1997, Charles Plott was a
marriage & family counselor
who liked to golf.
But when he discovered sports psychology—and how his own golf game benefited from basic mental game strategies—he realized the sports market was wide open. Within a couple years, he was as busy with sports clients as he was with marriage and family counseling clients. Plott Performance, originally Mindgames, Inc., was born. Charles’ first client was a pole vaulter. Then there was a golfer, a basketball player, and even an entire volleyball team.
“This was a lot more fun that dealing with suicide, depression, and extra-marital affiars,” Charles said.
By 2000, Mindgames, Inc. was busy enough that Charles had to say goodbye to the coat and tie and his counseling practice.
A defining component of Charles’ work with athletes was the use of personality profiles, especially when he realized the emerging patterns relating to athletes’ coordination and movement. This part of his work exploded when the PGA Tour Superstore took interest in what is now the Plott Performance Profile and how it might help their instructors improve their work with golf students. Meanwhile, Paul Azinger was the 2008 Ryder Cup captain, and he was looking for a better way to make the pairings for the team in golf’s most high-pressure event. Charles helped. Two years later, he presented his revolutionary profile at Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers Summit.
Charles also worked with the high school golf team at The Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN (three of whose golfers currently compete on the PGA tour), Jacksonville State University’s Men’s team, and coached Danny Willett, who went on to win the 2016 Masters Tournament. Charles has also worked with bass fishing professionals.
“The mental game of fishing is far more challenging than that of golf, “Charles said. “The decision-making, fear and panic, and the incredibly long days are hard to match in other sports.”
Speaking of decision-making, prior to the 2008 Ryder Cup experience, Charles was exposed to the Hartman Value Profile. This tool assesses judgment and the decision-making patterns and biases associated with it. Charles is now a Master Certified Consultant with this tool and uses it with both corporate and athletic clients. From 2013-2018 Charles spent time in corporate America as a financial advisor as well while keeping a small clientele of sports clients. Charles saw enormous possibilities to combine the sports and the corporate applications of his skills. He created Plott Performance to hold both of those efforts. His energetic and diverse team helps Charles train other consultants, develop avenues for virtual training, and convert Charles’ expertise into books and resources.
Charles and the Plott Performance team is dedicated to helping you redefine success so you can win in the game of life.