Qualities of Winners

Some qualities of winners are habits, or the things they do; others are attitudes, or the way they see the world. There is no single formula for becoming a winner, or even a single definition of "winner." However, people who have a high degree of success in areas they find valuable tend to share certain qualities in some combination.

  1. Optimism

    • Before you can achieve something, you need to believe it's possible. Either that, or you may rely solely on luck to get what you want. High achievers may seem lucky, but they make their own luck, in large part, with an optimistic attitude. Optimism helps people see opportunities instead of obstacles.

    Perseverance

    • Effort isn't enough. Winning usually requires repetitive effort, or continuing to try again in spite of negative feedback or lack of progress. Winners persevere, regardless of their success or failure.

    Follow-Through

    • Many people are excited in the beginning of a project. It's new and exciting. It's engaging. But most projects have aspects that are unpleasant or boring, and they can become uninteresting or difficult. In most projects, it is tempting to become lazy and coast at the end. That is when winners distinguish themselves. They run across the finish line with the same vigor they had when they started.

    Willingness to Risk

    • You can't win if you don't try. And if you try, you risk failure. So, if you want to win, you have to be willing to risk failure. It's inevitable.

    Resilience

    • People who are willing to risk failure will probably fail at some point. Their failure may be big or small, but they will fail. How they respond to failure is critical. When winners fail, they don't tend to take it personally as if the failure defines who they are. Instead, they define themselves. They remain optimistic and retain their willingness to risk. Winners keep their sense of follow-through and risk intact so that they are willing to try again.