The Winning Mindset

Watching the Olympic performances this week, one feeling that came to dominate the proceedings, event after event, was the "desire to win". More than anything, this "desire to win", defines the fine difference between the winners who are celebrated on the medals podium, to the others who applaud their peers. Each of the Olympic participants are winners in their own right, representing the best in their country through their sheer hard work, commitment, grit and talent. But even among the champions, the "Winning Mindset" makes all the difference.

The "Winning Mindset" separates the winners from the rest of the pack not only in sport, but in all walks of life; whether it's in school, in politics, and above all in business.

To be a winner one of course has to show up, that is participate - be a part of the game, in your chosen arena - academics, business, sports, arts, politics, or whatever else you choose. Participation is the starting point that shows that you want to be part of something. No one becomes a winner without being a part of something. You don't win a medal in the Olympics without being part of the Olympics! To participate in any endeavour, you need to have motivation, pressure, push, desire, hunger, excitement, and even fear.

Going from Participation to Achievement is an entirely different matter. To achieve something is to reach, or better still, exceed your goal. To achieve something you need to have a goal! To achieve your goal, you need to have a strategy and back it up with actions; one logical step after another, that allows you to implement your strategy, to achieve your ultimate objective.

To exemplify this: if your goal is to compete in the Olympics, then your goal is to be the best in your sport and your actions have to support this objective - to be the best in your sport! The actions then would translate into hours of training, regimented schedules, disciplined lifestyle, fitness obsession, regular competitions, superior equipment and so much more. The planning horizon is long-term but disciplined execution over such time frame is essential to make it big. The path to greatness is never easy!

To achieve success, in any field, is a matter of capability, effort, commitment, discipline, training, strategic planning, resources and execution. Sports illustrates this logic the best, but the same thinking applies to business, politics, or even to be a successful writer!

But, taking the leap from Achieving to Winning is all about the "Winning Mindset":

• being highly competitive, bold, and taking risks
• being persistent, patient, gritty and extremely hungry
• with complete focus and determination to be best out there
• to set performance standards that exceed everyone else's ambitions - and that too means setting audacious goals, dreaming big and setting out to achieve more than what others dare to aim or dream of

Having big, bold and audacious ambitions is what the "Winning Mindset" is all about.

I recently read the book, "Winners" by Alastair Campbell, and I quote from the books conclusion:

"It was also because, as a winner, he had learned how to use anything and everything that happened around him as a form of pressure, a motivation, a spur to better performance, which, ultimately, was all he cared about. Winners use emotion, but also know when to control it.

Winners think big and bold. They are ambitious.

Winners have a plan and where possible they stick to it.

Winners pay attention to detail, know it is in the implementation and constant iteration of planning that winning objectives can best be met.

Winners never give up. They embrace pressure and they embrace setbacks.

Winners turn disappointment into progress. They learn from mistakes.

Winners always want to improve and the desire to improve is what leads to innovation.

Winners feel special. This is not universal, but I was struck by how many of the people I met acknowledged feeling from a young age that they would be more successful than others.

Winners focus on the next win, not the last one.

Winners have the will to win, and know that it is not the same as wanting to win.

Winners know the mental and the physical are always connected.

Winners care about their reputation and know that building it never stops.

Winners respect experience, but not if someone keeps doing the wrong thing.

Winners hate talent being wasted.

Winners hate losing.

Winners win, because they have to."

? Rangam Bir (follow Rangam on Twitter @ribbir)