Key Point: Our thinking and mindset has such a major impact on how things go in our lives. The great Internet retailer Zappos uses one key interview question (among a number of others) as a way of determining cultural fit. They ask a prospective candidate if they see themselves as “lucky” or not. Research has determined that people who think of themselves as lucky, collectively, are more successful in work and life. The essence is that if you expect that things will work out for you, they likely will and vice versa. I’m not suggesting that we can think our way into winning the lottery or some unrealistic fantasy, which would be silly. However, expecting to win, to be successful, and to declare it by stating “I am ___” is a foundation for success. Mentally picturing ourselves winning in work/life provides a roadmap for our mind and heart to align, connect and achieve a desired future state.
Hopefully you had a chance to watch the NFL National League Championship football game this Sunday (apologies to my many European, Asian readers and others who aren’t interested in American football). The game offered a wonderful lesson underlying a winning mindset. Those of you that viewed the game saw a remarkable comeback by the Seattle Seahawks over the Green Bay Packers. When Pete Carroll, the Seahawks’ coach was asked after the game how it felt to think he might lose, when the team was so far behind, he genuinely said, “I wasn’t thinking about losing the game.” When the Seahawks’ quarterback, Russell Wilson, was asked how they won after playing so poorly, Wilson told reporters he was always confident they were going to win and never gave up on himself and his teammates. In fact, he predicted throwing the winning touchdown to the receiver in overtime in advance of doing just that. He absolutely believed they would win even when things looked bleak and out of reach. His view wasn’t based on arrogance or being unrealistic. His confidence exists because he knows no other way to think and play the game.
This is a wonderful lesson for all of us. The Seahawks may not win the Super Bowl and will obviously eventually lose another game. Of course, just thinking about winning is insufficient; one has to actually execute with skill. Nevertheless, if one does not genuinely think they are going to win, you can almost be assured they will lose! And I know this same principle applies in work and life.
Character Moves:
- Expect to be lucky. Expect to win. Prepare to win. And to stay with the sports analogy, if things don’t go well at some point, even if for an extended time, know that eventually, based on your perseverance that it will! Part of winning is extending the finish line until you do. The great thing about life/work is that for most of us, we “play” for a long time. A losing “quarter” or “half” does not determine how the “game” ends.
- When you are on a team, expect the best from and trust your teammates. Don’t worry about whether they are doing their jobs. Fix yourself first and be your absolute best. Believe in your teammates and share how you feel about them. Encourage them. We usually rise up when we know our teammates believe in us.
- In the end the “love” word emerges: Self love that each of us deserves to win and have good things happen to us and love of our team and mates. LOVE. Winners fearlessly embrace the word and all the emotion it drives.
Love winning in The Triangle,
Lorne
One Millennial View: I was at a watch party for the aforementioned Seahawk’s game, and I won’t pretend to tell you that I didn’t think the game was won and done for the Packers with five minutes remaining. I know people who attended the game in Seattle that left towards the end (to beat traffic), because, the odds were that the contest was all but over. Thank goodness the Hawks reminded all of us that you don’t stop till the final whistle blows, and that applies to every aspect of life. Is it cushier to win when it’s not such a battle? Yes. But, I guarantee you if you asked any of the Hawks players how they’d prefer the outcome, they’d say the game couldn’t have been more perfect. It’s those hard earned wins, the ones where you scoop your victorious confidence from the pits of darkness that feel the best. Hawk n’ roll!
– Garrett
Edited and published by Garrett Rubis