We all have moments where we feel stuck in life—whether it’s struggling with our careers, facing financial hardships, or feeling overwhelmed by the weight of our dreams. The gap between where we are now and where we want to be can feel impossible to bridge. That’s where inspiration from stories like Conor McGregor’s comes into play. His journey from a struggling young man, barely making ends meet, to a global sports icon and multi-millionaire, teaches us one powerful lesson: Manifestation works—if we believe it, visualize it, and act on it.
We may not all be athletes, but the principles McGregor applied—visualizing success, relentless self-belief, and taking massive action—are applicable in any area of life. So, how can we harness the Law of Attraction the way McGregor did and turn our own struggles into triumphs? Let’s dive into his journey and find out.
The Early Days: From Plumber to Dreamer
I often think about where Conor McGregor started. Born in Crumlin, Dublin, on July 14, 1988, he was just like many of us—working hard to make ends meet, but feeling unfulfilled. Before entering the world of MMA, McGregor was training to be a plumber, a job he disliked and one that barely paid enough to survive. Life wasn’t easy, and at one point, he was even collecting welfare checks.
Yet, despite the financial uncertainty and daily grind, McGregor refused to let his current situation define his future. He believed he was destined for greatness—even when nothing in his external life seemed to support that belief. That’s what sets him apart. He didn’t just work toward his goals; he visualized himself achieving them. Even during the darkest times, McGregor saw himself as a champion, as someone who would rise above his circumstances.
Visualizing the Future: How Conor Manifested Success
I think we can all learn something important from how McGregor approached his future. When we’re in tough situations, it’s easy to focus on the problems in front of us—our financial struggles, lack of opportunities, or the fear of failure. But McGregor didn’t focus on his limitations. Instead, he practiced visualization, mentally rehearsing the life he wanted before it became reality.
He often said, “I always knew I was going to be the person I am today. I always had that vision. I saw everything before it happened.”
That’s the power of visualization. Even when we don’t have the resources or opportunities yet, seeing our future self succeeding can fuel our drive and keep us focused. McGregor’s story is a reminder that we don’t need to wait for success to feel real—we can live it in our minds long before it shows up in our lives.
What can we take away from this? In the toughest moments, it’s crucial to never lose sight of the life we want to create. Visualization, paired with belief and action, can turn our dreams into something real.
The First Steps: Commitment and Self-Belief
As McGregor started training in MMA in 2008, he wasn’t just going through the motions. He trained with intensity, purpose, and a clear vision of his future as a champion. Even though MMA wasn’t a major sport in Ireland, and he lacked financial backing, McGregor’s self-belief was so strong that it began to draw attention.
When he got his break in 2013 by signing with the UFC, the biggest MMA organization in the world, he didn’t see it as the finish line—it was just the beginning. For most fighters, reaching the UFC is a huge achievement, but McGregor was aiming far higher. He wanted to be the best, to hold multiple championship belts, and he repeatedly declared this vision out loud.
His breakthrough wasn’t luck—it was the manifestation of years of visualizing, believing, and training as if he was already a champion. I think we can all apply this mindset to our own lives. It’s not enough to dream; we have to live like our dream is already happening. McGregor had the mentality of a champion long before the world saw him as one.
Predicting Victories: Turning Visualization into Reality
What strikes me most about McGregor is how he used his visualization not just to believe in success but to predict it. He would tell the world exactly how and when he would win, down to the round and method of victory. And most of the time, he was right.
Before his 2015 fight with Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title, McGregor predicted that he would knock Mendes out in the second round. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.
He wasn’t just making bold claims for show—he believed so deeply in the power of focused intention and visualization that it shaped reality. He said, “I see these shots, I visualize these shots, I see them landing, and then they land.”
How can we use this? By believing so strongly in our vision and repeating it to ourselves and others, we create the circumstances that allow it to come true. McGregor’s story shows us that when our belief and focus are this strong, the world has a way of rearranging itself to make it happen.
From UFC to the World Stage: Manifesting Beyond MMA
McGregor’s journey didn’t stop at becoming UFC champion. In 2016, after defeating José Aldo in just 13 seconds to win the UFC Featherweight Championship, he set his sights on an even bigger goal: becoming the first fighter to hold two UFC titles simultaneously. In November of that year, he knocked out Eddie Alvarez in the second round to claim the UFC Lightweight Championship as well.
Even more incredible? McGregor stepped beyond the MMA world in 2017 to face undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in one of the most high-profile sporting events of all time. Although McGregor didn’t win the match, he proved something important—that our belief in ourselves can create opportunities far beyond what we might initially imagine.
Reflecting on his journey, McGregor said:
“I went from a welfare check to fighting for $100 million. If that doesn’t show the Law of Attraction in action, I don’t know what does.”
What We Can Learn from Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor’s story teaches us that no matter where we start, no matter how impossible our dreams may seem, we can achieve them with the right mindset. His journey from welfare checks to multi-million-dollar fights is proof that manifestation works when we combine it with hard work and relentless belief.
So, how can we apply his lessons to our lives?
- Visualize your success: See yourself achieving your goals long before they materialize.
- Believe deeply: Your belief has to be so strong that others start to believe in you too.
- Take action: Manifestation isn’t magic. Pair your vision with relentless work.
- Speak it into existence: Share your goals out loud. The more you vocalize them, the more real they become.