10 qualities that will make you a winner

Winning is so much more enjoyable and rewarding than losing. Success is more enjoyable than failure and whatever success you want will involve winning at many internal and external levels. Some of these wins may come naturally because of the gifts and talents you already possess but may some may require work.

Is winning a matter of good luck or bad luck or are there clear principles that can guide us and give us a greater guarantee of success? There are, of course, and there is a whole body of knowledge about the psychology of success and winning. If you ask winners what is the secret of their success you may get different answers that emphasise different qualities, attitudes and behaviours. However, when you get down to basics you find the same qualities appearing over and over. These are so consistent that we can use them as a reliable guide to creating success in our lives.

Here is a list of 10 qualities that are expressed to some degree by winners.

Compelling vision.
They have a dream or vision that excites and inspires them and draws them on to greater and greater heights. When you are compelled by someone or something then you have no choice and this is so often the feeling that winners have. In theory they have a choice but in reality they do not because they know that something inside will die if they do not commit to this vision.

Wholehearted commitment.
They are not half-hearted, they are not quarter hearted, they are not even 92% hearted, they are wholehearted. That means their whole being moves towards that vision. Everything about them moves towards that vision. The commitment gives them the discipline to do what they have to do, often without counting the cost.

Self belief.
Winners who have a compelling vision also have the sense that they are the ones to bring it to life. There is a sense of purpose, and of significance – I matter, I am significant, and I am the one to make this happen.

Emotional engagement.
They emotionally engage with their vision and their dream; it excites them and they feel enthusiastic and energised by it. When we are emotionally engaged with a vision we enjoy a lot more energy than most people ever do.

Beginners mind.
Their inner attitude is Beginners Mind which means that they are open to learning. They are open, humble, fresh and willing to learn. They do not assume they know it all. Not only are they open but they will actively spend whatever time and resources are necessary to learn all that is required of them. The attitude of losers is “I do not know how so therefore I will not try.” A winner says, “I do not know how and I will find out.”

Create their own path.
They have have the courage and to create their own path and to innovate. They will see a path, a possibility, an opportunity where others see nothing. And of course they have the self-belief to grab the opportunity. They are willing to learn from others but are always ready to create their own path

Right Action.
Winners are dynamic and take action. But they learn to take appropriate or right action. They do not act just to be busy. And they persevere with right action until they get the results they want.

Use time effectively.
They use time productively and creatively and understand the Law of Sacrifice. They are willing to sacrifice the lesser to realise the greater. Again they are prepared to discipline themselves. It may tempting to fritter away their time watching television or Youtube but they will happily sacrifice that temporary pleasure for the lasting fulfilment of realising their dream.

Power of “yes” and “no.”
They are very clear about what will take them toward their dream and they say an emphatic yes to that. They are equally clear what will block or distract them and say an emphatic no to that. All of us are saying yes to something, and no to something else, every moment of our lives, and winners make their “yes” and their “no” very conscious and deliberate.

Service.
Winners know that they are in service to something greater than them. Their dream goes beyond their personal desires and preferences. Service is the highest act of love, and they are very much in love with life. They want to give service. It is their greatest joy and fulfilment to give service to something greater.

It can be enlightening to go through a list like this and rate yourself on each of the qualities. As humans we are open-ended and even though you may rate highly on some qualities there is always room for improvement. This is not about judging yourself and feeling guilty if you fall short, but acknowledging the greatness that lives within you and awakening it in your life. Life wants you to win and continually showers you with opportunities to do so. It is your job to see the them and embody the qualities of a winner.

Blessings