5 Ways to Adopt a Winners Mindset

Ways to Adopt a Winners Mindset.

“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up”‘- Nelson Mandela. 

“If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it”- Muhammad Ali.

Have you every watched the Olympic Games, only to wonder what it took for the winner to gain first place? Perhaps it was the time Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic in the 2008 men’s 100 meter butterfly in Beijing by a mere 4.7 millimetres? Or it could have been the nail-biting finish in the Women’s 100m finals?

I have always been fascinated in understanding the habits, rituals and beliefs of winners. The very best athletes in the world push themselves beyond anything we can comprehend in races decided by hundreds if a second or fractions of an inch. What is it they have done differently? What sets them apart?

One thing I have learned when it comes to winning and success is that people want to achieve great things and want to make a lot of money, but they want it to be easy and without any real challenges. Unfortunately for many, greatness is not something which magically appears in our lives. It takes significant accountability, focus and a positive mindset to be able to achieve greatness.

So, what does it take to adopt a winners mindset?

1. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE BEST ARE DOING

2. STRIVE FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Winners consistently strive for improvement. Ann Miura-Ko, referred to by Forbes as the most powerful woman in startups shared that regardless of whether her job was to photocopy documents or deliver donuts, her dad would ask “Are you delivering world-class performance?” Developing a mindset of continuous improvement is what sets winners apart. Winners aim to take pride in each task they complete, regardless of how seemingly trivial or non-important that task may be.

Taking pride in all aspects of your work, study and life are critical if you want to become the best.

3. HABITS & RITUALS

The most successful people condition themselves into the practice of habits and rituals. Winners typically follow a stringent morning routine which gets them into the right headspace for the day ahead.

Jocko Willink is a former Navy SEAL commander, author and executive coach. Jocko sets his alarm for 4:30am, heads straight to the gym for a gruelling workout and jumps into the shower at 6:00am to get ready for the day.

Oprah Winfrey starts her day with 20 minutes of meditation, which fills her with “Hope, a sense of contentment and deep joy.” She then hits the treadmill to get her heart-rate pumping.

Winners are disciplined in the practice of habits and rituals and hold themselves accountable to their mission.

4. CONSISTENCY

5. MINDSET

Winners adopt a positive mindset. They learn to listen to themselves and stay focused. Winners ritualise the practice of focusing on success and winning. They trains their mind to visualise and think in a new way that leads to increased self-confidence and improved performance.

VINCE VAUGHN ON OVERCOMING REJECTION & FEARING LESS

In a recent podcast interview with Tim Ferris, Vince Vaughn revealed his mathematical methodology for sustaining rejection. Vaughn advised that he would spend every day working on his acting skills, whether that meant watching a movie, reading a monologue or book, or taking a class. Whilst he was often close to landing acting roles, he would often make it to the final audition only to be turned away.

Vaughn’s typical response was to take a week off after each rejection. However, at some point he realised that each time he took a week off from his routine, he was in fact falling two weeks behind. Vaughn identified that when he could have been getting better, he most likely ended up getting worse during that week when he didn’t do any work.

Vaughn’s advice? “Find a process where you’re able to allow yourself to feel disappointed. I think it’s important that you don’t turn off those feelings. But it is also important- how do you do that as quickly as possible to then become productive again?” 

Vaughn then went on to say “How much time is effective in mourning and processing it? I really believe no time is not good- you need that moment to accept it. But the sooner you can get back to doing things for your own growth and the things you’re in charge of, I think that your chances of having the things you want in your life become greater.”

It is evident that winners know how to quickly move on from failure. Adopting a positive mindset is key to success and to gaining greater control across all aspects of life.

HOW TO ADOPT A WINNERS MINDSET

Learn to believe in yourself and remember that winners think, execute and dominate.

What practices have you put in place to adopt a winners mindset? Leave your comments below!

Image credit: wikiwand.com