The 10 Qualities of a Total Winner

The Psychology of Winning

Denis Waitley

The 10 Qualities of a Total Winner

Quality 1:  Positive Self-Expectancy 

"Life is a self fulfilling prophecy. True winners go into every event expecting to win."

Usain Bolt retired as the best runner on the planet
because of his winning mindset.

The first quality of a total winner is positive self-expectancy. Which Denis Waitley says "Life is a self fulfilling prophecy. True winners go into every event expecting to win." Which is essentially having confidence in your ability and speaking things into existence. John Wooden says that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Similar to Denis Waitley's philosiphy, if you don't go into somewhere expecting to win and expecting failure, you're likely going to fail. Any mindset set to fail will do its best to fail, and any mindset set to success will try its best to succeed. I am a true winner because I have a mindset of success. I am expecting my success in an upcoming school election. Hopefully with this mindset I will go far and succeed.

Quality 2: Positive Self-Motivation 

"True winners dig deep and find motivation inside themselves to get through that tough task or to learn a new skill."

Despite many looking towards Kobe Bryant for his incredible
work ethic, many people overlook the German export,
Dirk Nowitzki, who Kobe has noted to be right there with him.

The second quality of Denis Waitley's Ten Qualities of a Winner is positive self motivation. Denis Waitley says "true winners dig deep and find motivation inside themeselves to get through that tough task." I think this quality is important because you shouldn't need something external to happen for you to be motivated to do something. All your motivation should come from within yourself as if it comes from an external source, how will you stay motivated when in a time of need? What if you do not have that object, person, or idea to motivate you. You should be able to find motivation from within yourself to aspire to do great things. What will keep you motivated to get through those 4 hours of sleep? What will keep you motivated during those day-long sessions of work? That is the ultimate question. You must be able to effectively have an on/off switch that you can hypothetically switch on whenever needed. The great workers have this on/off switch. Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and many others I could name if I watched more sports.

Quality 3: Positive Self-Image

True winners are confident and view themselves as competent, valuable human beings.

The Third quality of Denis Waitley's Ten Qualities of a Winer is positive self-image. Denis Waitley says "True winnders are confident and view themselves as competent, valuable human beings." I think this quality is important because you should have a good view on yourself in order to do great work. Your self-image is what you think of yourself, and if you think lowly of yourself then how do you expect yourself to succeed? You must ensure that your opinion of yourself is high to kee[ yourself going. A positive self-image is incredibly important as it is a self-fufilling prophecy where if you think you will fail, you will fail. And if you believe you can acheive success, then you will reach success. Father of NBA rookie, Lavar Ball, commonly uses the term "speak it into existance." Despite how arrogant this motto is, you cannot deny that Ball has an extremley positive self image for himself and his sons. Some people need the confidence of the Ball family. So that way if everyone forgets their birthday they don't get upset because they know all that matters is that they live their life to the fullest. 

Quality 4: Positive Self-Direction

You gotta have direction if you are going to go anywhere. True winners know where they are going. Their sense of direction comes from the self and not from outside influences like parents or friends.

The fourth quality of Denis Waitley's Ten Qualities of a winner is positive self direction. Denis Waitley says "you gotta have direction if you are going to go anywhere. True winnders know where they are going. Their sense of direction comes from the self and not from outside influence like parents or friends." I think this quality is important becuase you should know your goals before you begin a new venture. You don't open a business with no goals in mind because then that business is bound to fail. You must have goals and ambitions to keep yourself motivated. And staying motivated comes from inside yourself. Referring back to quality 4, positive self-motivation is critical to your success. Denis Waitley says here that true winners have a sense of direction that comes from the self and not from outside influences such as friends. Again, referring back to quality 2, it should be yourself that motivates you to wake up at 4 in the morning and getting to work on 3 hours of sleep. It should be no one else but you who takes the initiative to motivate you.

Quality 5: Positive Self-Control

Total winners can sacrifice immediate pleasure for a gain in the future. Delayed gratification is of immense value in reaching your goals.

The fifth quality of Denis Waitley's Ten Qualities of a winner is positive self direction. Denis Waitley says "Total winners can sacrifice immediate pleasure for a gain in the future. Delayed gratification is of immense value in reaching your goals." I think this quality is important because you should be able to control your self for the greater good. Total winners are able to put off instant pleasure in exchange for something better in the future. Which is why it is really important for someone to have positive self control. They need to be able to sacrifice something now for something better later. If you decide to choose the thing with immediate results, then so be it. However those results are so much better if you choose to wait and receive greater things in the future. 

Quality 6: Positive Self-Discipline

You have to discipline yourself or else someone else will discipline you into doing what they want you to do. Total winners have the power to discipline and take control of their lives.

The sixth quality of Denis Waitey's Ten Qualities of a winner is positive self-discipline. Denis Waitley says "You have the discipline yourself or else someone else discipline you into doing what they want you to do. Total winners have the power to discipline and take control of their lives." I think this quality is important because you should be able to keep yourself in check for your success. Total winners are able to control desires and urges in order to have more success. You should be able to discipline yourself to aspire to do great things. What will keep you motivated to get through those 4 hours of sleep? What will keep you motivated during those day-long sessions of work? That is the ultimate question. You must be able to effectively have an on/off switch that you can hypothetically switch on whenever needed. You need to be able to tell yourself what you need to do. Not have others instruct or guide you on how to do.

Quality 7: Positive Self-Esteem

Your mood and outlook on life affect the way you see the world and how you interact in it. Total winners are positive, powerful people who make people feel good and provide a good vibe to those around him/her.

The seventh quality of Denis Waitley's Ten qualities of a winner is positive self-esteem. Denis Waitley says "Your mood and outlook on life affect the way you see the world and how you interact in it. Total winners are positive, powerful people who make people feel good and provide a good vibe to those around him/her. I think this quality is important because you have to believe in yourself before people believe in you. Total winners are confident in their ability to win and if they do not achieve success. They are not melancholic as they know they tried their best and they have to live with the results. You have to put forth your best effort and if you do not succeed you know that you tried your best. In 2008, following his loss to the Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant was asked by a reporter if he feels sorrow in losing by 30+ points in game 6. Bryant responded saying he didn't because he knew he tried his best and there was nothing else he could do. That is positive self-esteem. 

Quality 8: Positive Self-Dimension

Total winners like in the present. They know that now is all there is. They don’t get caught up in the past or worry about the future. They simply handle the business that they can handle which is the stuff going on today, now.

The eighth quality of Denis Waitley's Ten Qualities of a winner is positive self-dimension. Denis Waitley says that "Total winners like in the present. They know that now is all there is. They don't get caught up in the past or worry about the future. They simply handle the business that they can handle which is the stuff going on today, now." I think this quality is important because you should live right now in the present to shape the results of the future instead of the other way around. Right now is the time that you'll look back upon when you reach that goal and say that it is great that you started at this moment or you will be able to pinpoint the exact moment where you started to improve yourself. Because if you refuse to begin working, when you expect to reach your goal you will not reach it.

Quality 9: Positive Self-Awareness

The ninth quality of Denis Waitley's Ten Qualities of a Winner is positive self-awareness. Although I have not been provided a statement by Denis Waitley, I can assume it means to positively by cognizant of your actions. I think this quality is important because being aware of what you are doing is a good quality to understand why certain things and events happen to you. As when you are not aware and taking note of your actions, you will be blindsided by various factors that are affected by your self-awareness. Like if someone is suddenly mad at you and you have no idea as to why they act in such a way, it would have been ideal to have self-awareness. Because if you did, you would be able to connect the dots and find out to as why they are upset with you. To conclude, being self-aware is a positive aspect as you are able to better understand the consequences and/or benefits of your actions. 

Quality 10: Positive Action

Total winners take positive action in their business and with their friends and family. They are uplifting and motivating individuals who inspire the best from themselves and others.

The tenth and final quality of Denis Waitley's Ten Qualities of a Winner is positive-self awareness. Denis Waitley says "Total winners take positive action in their business and with their friends and family. They are uplifting and motivating individuals who inspire the best from themselves and others." I think this trait is important because total winners should know that usually people do not do until they are told. If you motivate others to take action, you will inadvertently motivate yourself. And even if you do not motivate yourself, others might do that for you because they will be affected by your influence and they would want to return the favor. If you motivate someone to step outside their comfort zone constantly, they will eventually realize how good it is for them and that your presence is oh so crucial to them. Therefore, they will try and do the same thing for you since they find it so important. That is why I believe positive action is important to pursue and aspire to.