As a coach and student of consistent high achievers, I'm
often asked, Why do some people win time after time, while
others work just as hard but never seem to "put it all
together?"
I believe the answer falls into two basic categories, one
that makes a small contribution, and a second that makes
(essentially) ALL the difference.
The first category, which accounts for very little of the
difference, is talent. Whether you call it talent or
aptitude, it's clear that our inherent abilities do play a
(small) role. It's important to know our strengths and use
them to our advantage.
If you want to play basketball, being tall and quick does
help. For an engineer, a gift for numbers and math will
obviously make things easier.
Philip Humbert said" I remember a wonderful conversation with a man who knew
Albert Einstein at Princeton over 60 years ago. He commented
that Einstein was not a particularly gifted mathematician! He
struggled to balance his checkbook, but he had a remarkable
imagination and the ability to immerse himself in a problem
until he found the answer. THAT made all the difference.
In my study of top performers, the difference that really
matters time after time is that winners have a SYSTEM. Most
people tackle problems in a haphazard way and they get
haphazard results. Winners don't do that!
Here's a simple four-step process that consistent winners
use over and over again:
1. First, they get very (VERY!) clear about exactly what
they want. They picture their desired outcome in precise
detail. They never set out to make "more" money. Instead,
they set out to "make $25,000 this month." Some people
call this visualization; others call it an affirmation. The key
is that winners know what they want and they picture it in
detail, all day long, every day, in advance, until it becomes
their reality.
2. Second, winners use precise "cognitive systems." That
means they have clear strategies, they think carefully,
rationally and continuously about the problem and their
desired solution. They research and ask experts for help.
They invest in education, skills, tools and resources to
put the odds in their favor. They are passionate and can be
emotional, but when it comes to winning, they are calm,
cool, and collected. They are good, clear thinkers.
3. Third, winners use their "Personal Eco-Systems(tm)" to
improve their chances for success. There's a reason Thomas
Edison virtually lived in his lab. There's a reason Martha
Stewart is so elegant, even in her garden. There's a reason
writers surround themselves with books and hang out with
other writers. Winning athletes watch films, they study and
memorize the stats of their heroes. Surround yourself with
an environment that makes it hard to fail!
4. Fourth, winners work harder than losers. You may not
like this, but winners work very, very hard. They practice.
They study. They sacrifice and make hard choices. They are
the first ones to work in the morning and the last ones to
leave at night. Based on their visualizations, their
carefully-thought-out strategies, and supported by the
environment they've created, they take massive ACTION.
The truth is that while talent and genius are helpful, the
winners in life have and use better systems. They study
winners. As Tony Robbins says, "success leaves clues" and
winners use strategies that have worked for other people.
They surround themselves with a rich environment that
inspires them, and they work very hard.
often asked, Why do some people win time after time, while
others work just as hard but never seem to "put it all
together?"
I believe the answer falls into two basic categories, one
that makes a small contribution, and a second that makes
(essentially) ALL the difference.
The first category, which accounts for very little of the
difference, is talent. Whether you call it talent or
aptitude, it's clear that our inherent abilities do play a
(small) role. It's important to know our strengths and use
them to our advantage.
If you want to play basketball, being tall and quick does
help. For an engineer, a gift for numbers and math will
obviously make things easier.
Philip Humbert said" I remember a wonderful conversation with a man who knew
Albert Einstein at Princeton over 60 years ago. He commented
that Einstein was not a particularly gifted mathematician! He
struggled to balance his checkbook, but he had a remarkable
imagination and the ability to immerse himself in a problem
until he found the answer. THAT made all the difference.
In my study of top performers, the difference that really
matters time after time is that winners have a SYSTEM. Most
people tackle problems in a haphazard way and they get
haphazard results. Winners don't do that!
Here's a simple four-step process that consistent winners
use over and over again:
1. First, they get very (VERY!) clear about exactly what
they want. They picture their desired outcome in precise
detail. They never set out to make "more" money. Instead,
they set out to "make $25,000 this month." Some people
call this visualization; others call it an affirmation. The key
is that winners know what they want and they picture it in
detail, all day long, every day, in advance, until it becomes
their reality.
2. Second, winners use precise "cognitive systems." That
means they have clear strategies, they think carefully,
rationally and continuously about the problem and their
desired solution. They research and ask experts for help.
They invest in education, skills, tools and resources to
put the odds in their favor. They are passionate and can be
emotional, but when it comes to winning, they are calm,
cool, and collected. They are good, clear thinkers.
3. Third, winners use their "Personal Eco-Systems(tm)" to
improve their chances for success. There's a reason Thomas
Edison virtually lived in his lab. There's a reason Martha
Stewart is so elegant, even in her garden. There's a reason
writers surround themselves with books and hang out with
other writers. Winning athletes watch films, they study and
memorize the stats of their heroes. Surround yourself with
an environment that makes it hard to fail!
4. Fourth, winners work harder than losers. You may not
like this, but winners work very, very hard. They practice.
They study. They sacrifice and make hard choices. They are
the first ones to work in the morning and the last ones to
leave at night. Based on their visualizations, their
carefully-thought-out strategies, and supported by the
environment they've created, they take massive ACTION.
The truth is that while talent and genius are helpful, the
winners in life have and use better systems. They study
winners. As Tony Robbins says, "success leaves clues" and
winners use strategies that have worked for other people.
They surround themselves with a rich environment that
inspires them, and they work very hard.
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