Remember the last time you won something? What a great feeling, was it not? But do you remember how much you put in the preparation- discipline, sweat and maybe tears to get there?
I have been in the “people business” for more that 15 years – many years in Human Resources Management and clearly several more as a Professional Coach. During this time , I had the chance to observe the struggles of a very broad and diverse range of individuals – some barely managed, many failed and a few succeeded.
All of the successful individuals I have met, they all displayed the same 4 winning traits.
First, they have a fighting spirit, highly charged with positive energy. They remain optimistic in difficult situations. Set-backs are seen as delays not as the end of the journey. They see problems as being part of life and accept them with curiosity and interest. They believe that each problem already contains the seed of its solution. They choose faith versus fear. They know that the thoughts they focus the most on, win. They will color your outer world and affect your reality. I heard many times that there are two major emotions: LOVE and FEAR. Where there is Fear, it is hard to find Love and where there is Love, Fear cannot exist. Winners choose to ignore fear. Actually, a problem only is a situation with a negative spin to it. A very good example of turning difficulties into a great opportunity is the one of Walt Disney. The story says that he was flat broke after the failure of his animation company in Kansas City. He moved to California to look for a job, but he could not find one. He did not give up and instead, started a new film company with his brother. The first two animation films were commercial disasters. He even lost the right on the second one because of a bad business decision. Was that the end of Disney? It could have, but Walt had not said his last word. While travelling on 4-day train journey, the squeaky noise of the train inspired him to draw a new cartoon based on a family of mice. Mickey Mouse was born. You need to think like a winner to be one.
Second, they trust themselves. Self-confidence is actually the key to unlock a winning personality. It is fed by faith in our own capacity and trust that is learned through our many experiences provided by life. Courage, self-awareness, knowledge, experience, resourcefulness are part of the package. We trust what we know. Therefore, knowing yourself allows you to tap into all the resources you have and even push the curiosity to discover new ones, in any situation life is giving you. You enjoy the experience, as it is what makes you grow.
Third, they are resourceful. They believe they have all the necessary resources in them. They trust that they can learn what they need and adapt to any changes as they come. In order to look at a problem for what it is, some distance is required. What is the problem really about? What solutions can be applied? It is the right time to think and be creative. Don’t look at it through a magnifying glass; break it down into small, manageable pieces and analyze each of them. Stay calm so you can hear your thoughts. Remove the emotional chaos caused by any fear. Focus on the belief that a solution exists. Enumerate all the advantages you have in this situation. Look at your game, what are your cards telling you. Believe in your capacity to solve it. Create positive anticipation that the problem is successfully solved. I personally have given up the belief that considering the worst will actually prepare me for it. It just steals all the energy away from solving the actual issue. Fear is a very powerful blocker and highly energy consuming. The Zen philosophy summarizes it very well, when they say that, “If the problem has a solution, worrying is pointless, in the end the problem will be solved. If the problem has no solution, there is no reason to worry, because it can’t be solved.”
Fourth, they are perseverant. They pursue their goal with a vengeance. Their fighting sprit is their burning fire. They will rest only once they have reached their goal. Perseverance is about discipline and discipline is a call for organized actions. They keep on going, no matter the obstacles met. When things go wrong, they focus back on their target and motivate themselves to pursue their quest for success. Failure comes when you stop trying. They are not quitters. They know too well that “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.”
“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” Vince Lombardi
Problems are part of life. Everybody has problems. The only place on earth where people have no problems is the cemetery.
Start today in developing positive habits. Learning to own your life is a fantastic experience. Dare the journey; it is worth taking it.
To your successful life.
