Winner’s have many positive attributes. Here are some of them that you can emulate:
1. Take 100 % responsibility.
I have come across many successful people around the world. One quality they all have is they take full responsibility for their life. I have also come across people who always have an excuse for their shortcomings. For them, it is usually someone else’s fault. Taking 100 percent responsibility for your shortcomings and failures is the key to your success and happiness. When you take responsibility, you announce to the world that if things are going to change, you will be the catalyst. To create a winning attitude, take 100 % responsibility for your life.
2. Decide and reinforce.
Once you decide what you stand for and where you are going, reinforce it in as many ways as you can. Emphasize it in your verbal, written, non-verbal and third-party communication. Go forward, and make decisions that help you implement your ideas. The more you reinforce them, the deeper your understanding and confidence will become. When people on your team see you in that mode, they start to increase the tempo, and you will see a positive effect. However, the starting point is you as the leader. If you waver in your actions or decision making, you signal a doubt about your intentions and plans.
3. Value feedback.
Regular feedback and accountability can be very valuable. Being open and objective allows you to evaluate where you can do better. We all have blind spots and can miss some obvious errors we may be making. One of the qualities of successful people is inviting feedback and being open to it. There is always room for improvement, even when you have performed at your peak.
4. Break it down.
When you are faced with a lot to do, there are three simple and valuable things you can do:
• Break things down into small pieces.
• Prioritize and put timelines around each task.
• Begin with the first item.
These tips seem simplistic, but they work. The alternative is anxiety and worry, which waste time and drain energy.
5. Do one thing at a time.
Finish one important task completely. Most people prefer to have a hand in many things at the same time in the name of multi-tasking and efficiency. The danger with this approach is that you will finish many things at about 80 to 90 percent instead of doing the few most important things at 100 percent. Sometimes the problem is that you do not know what the most important thing is; at other times the problem is that you are not able to focus. Multi-tasking can also mean that you are running away from the one most important thing that you “must do.”
One important task totally completed is worth more than a few tasks nearly complete.
6. Avoid unnecessary interruptions.
Interruptions can create an unproductive day or days. Some interruptions are valuable and need to be attended to. However, there are many interruptions which are not important. You need to be vigilant to differentiate between these two.
7. Build on momentum.
Beginning something new is harder. It requires much more energy and commitment. When things are in motion, it is easier to keep them in motion. Usually I go to sleep early and wake up early. But one time I got up around midnight, bursting with ideas. I decided to act on them and implement my thoughts. By 2:30 a.m. I was able to put together material that I had been struggling to complete for the past few years. I could not believe how clear everything appeared. I learned that when you have momentum you want to go all out. Whether the momentum is in an idea or an insight, you want to act on it right away—whether it is midnight or midday. Ideas come from the highern, and by acting on them right away, you express gratitude for the blessing. If you procrastinate, you lose the momentum and the intensity of the idea.
8. When winning takes over
When you notice things falling into place, you may be tempted to say “I am lucky.” However, usually things fall into place because you:
• are becoming more clear and focused
• are becoming confident of your success
• have accelerated your work rate.
The above combination results in luck and synchronicity.
9. Don’t let the past dictate the future.
It does not matter where you start; it is where you finish that counts. Bill Gates was a college dropout who at times enjoyed playing poker in lieu of going to classes at Harvard. He started Microsoft in 1975, went public in 1986 and became one of the richest men on earth with his belief in the power of digital tools.
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started Apple in 1976 in Steve Job’s garage. In 1996, Apple was struggling. Today, Apple is one of the most dynamic and creative success stories. Albert Einstein had challenges with some of the most basic daily activities but was one of the eminent scientific geniuses of the 20th century. The past does not equal the future.
You have many unused gifts buried inside you. Some you are aware of, others you have yet to clue into.