It Begins in The Mind
If you asked anyone who has achieved greatness in life to share their top 3 success factors, I can assure you that having the right mindset would be one of them.
One person to consider when talking about the effect of a winning mindset is one of the greatest sporting figures in history and former heavyweight champion of the world – Muhammad Ali. He was so convinced about the power of the mind he confessed; “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it”. Any achievement for him begins in the mind.
Muhammad Ali no doubt had a fantastic mindset. An Olympic gold medalist and the first fighter to win the heavyweight title three times, Ali won 56 fights in his 21-year professional career. He was famous for talking his way to victory, boldly saying at one time “I’m young, I’m handsome, I’m fast. I can’t possibly be beaten.“ Those can only be said by a person with a winning mindset.
After winning his first 19 fights, 15 of them being knockouts, Ali (born Cassius Clay Jr) made his first title shot in 1964, against reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Taunting Liston before the fight, Clay (as he was known then) promised to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” – predicting a knockout. The day came and Ali won the fight as Liston failed to answer the bell at the start of the seventh round. Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world at age 22, announcing with a roar, “I am the greatest!” He proved that claim, again and again, winning back the title after he lost it twice.
56 years after he first said “I am the greatest”, Muhammad Ali still remains the greatest boxer in history. What stood him out was his winning mindset.
King Solomon of ancient Israel, known for his wisdom once said: “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” Have you ever set a goal to be number one at anything? Today, I challenge you to develop the winning mindset and start seeing yourself as an achiever. As you do so, here are some things to bear in heart about a winning mindset;
- A Winning Mindset Can Be Controversial
People without a winning mindset could interpret your confidence as arrogance and get offended. You should always remember that the pathway to number one is often a lonely journey – not everybody is willing to do what it takes to get to the top, but everybody will have an opinion if you try. Would you stop trying because of what they think? Your answer should be “no“.
- A Winning Mindset Challenges The Status Quo
Talking about Muhammad Ali, his society didn’t expect a black man to be that confident and vocal. Even when he was stripped of his title and boxing licence for refusing to join the army in the Vietnam war, Ali didn’t stop talking. He went on tour around the country, appearing on television shows and expressing his opinions on issues. He was challenging the norm. Winners most often than not think and perform outside the box. When people say “It can’t happen”, a winner says “why not?”
- A Winning Mindset Comes With Hard Work
You see, winning begins in the mind but doesn’t end there. True champions know that they have to put in the work, practising their craft and burning the late-night candle to achieve their dreams and ambitions. As John C Maxwell said, “Dreams don’t work themselves unless you do.” It’s important to complement your winning mindset with the required work.
In closing, never forget, a winning mindset will set you apart in life.
Remember, You Have Only One Life to Live – MAKE IT COUNT!