I always like this time of year. After a fantastic football weekend, we celebrated Martin Luther King Day and watched the inauguration of our President. It is a proud time to be an American. As I reflected on this experience, it became clear that there are several characteristics common to winners, whether they are sports teams, civil rights leaders, or presidents. Several common traits emerge:
- Courage —Most people dream of being winners, but they lack the intestinal fortitude to take the risks necessary to achieve excellence, including subjecting themselves to the public spotlight and all that entails.
- Resiliency — If you look back at the history of any winner, you typically find instances where they had to be resilient despite numerous obstacles and unfavorable odds. Success doesn’t come cheap or easily. Most people tend to stumble or falter under this pressure; winners, however, strengthen their resolve and move forward.
- Self-Belief—At some point, you must look at yourself in the mirror and fully believe in yourself and your ability to do what needs to be done, especially when few people have proven they are capable of doing it.
- Focus—As you climb the success ladder, the increased public scrutiny, trappings of success, and time demands can easily distract you. Winners tend to have a laser-like focus and block out impediments to their success.
- Strong Work Ethic —You never outwork a winner. When everyone else is tired or exhausted, they put in that extra effort that separates them from the pack. They consistently complete their homework and leave everything on the field.
- Passion —To be great at something, you need to genuinely care deeply about it. The world is full of talented and intelligent people who lack a passion for their work or calling, and as a result, never reach their true potential.
- Commitment to Higher Purpose—It is never just about winning for an ideal or something more important than yourself. Great teams come together for one another. Great leaders often make significant sacrifices for the greater good or the advancement of the human condition.
In our society, we place a great emphasis on winning, perhaps to an excessive degree. When we witness an individual or team scale the heights of greatness and do it in a way befitting the accomplishment, it is both enjoyable and worth acknowledging. Sadly, there will always be naysayers or people embittered by their lack of accomplishment and/or fears who begrudge the moment. We all know intuitively what makes a winner. Our struggle is the gap between that knowledge and our reality. I encourage you to take these cues and become the hero of your own life.
Related articles
- On Heroes, Leadership and Vision: MLK (industryportage.wordpress.com)
- Scientists uncover gene that may help create born leaders (independent.co.uk)
- Born to lead? Leadership can be an inherited trait, study finds (esciencenews.com)