Have you ever wondered if there is only one thing that separates winners from the rest of the world? A lot of people believe it is just mere luck or a talent one was born with. Does that simply make the other people unlucky and untalented?

Be careful not to fall into this trap of the common misconception that all successful people have had a lot of luck in their lives. On the contrary, it is all about hard work and focus. Let’s see some of the things that could help you create a winning mindset.

Work Hard

We are all good at some things, which means we all have certain talents that set us apart from the others. However, it is important not to rely on your talent only. Having talents may make some things easier for us in the very beginning, use them as your springboard to go further and achieve more. However, without practice, work, development and growth, you will not be able to make it happen.

Put yourself in challenging situations, test yourself in order to progress. See how you cope under stress and work on becoming more resilient to both stress and failure. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” – this is what failure is all about, it is no justification for giving up.

Focus on Your Goals

Do not lose track of your goals, not even for a minute. You need to be aware of your plan and stick to it. However, be careful not to overdo with the goals – be realistic and serious. After all, they should be achievable goals, not mere wishes and dreams.

Coming across obstacles from time to time is quite normal, it is actually part of the winning process. That does not mean you should instantly reconsider and drop everything, though. Quite the opposite, deal with the obstacles and move on without losing your perspective and focus.

Believe in Yourself

Have you got any dreams? That is great since it means you have not lost your imaginative mind. Imagination and belief are what set us apart from the pessimists and the ones who doubt everything, even themselves. Successful people believe in themselves and their goals, whereas the others doubt.

It is said that “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will”. Do not forget that failure is closely connected with you not being able to believe in yourself and your abilities. Train your mind to perceive failure as a learning experience. Taking risks is completely normal on the path to success, thus do not refrain from it.

Keep a Positive Mind

If you want to overcome problems that lay ahead of you, you need to water your mind with positive thoughts. Do not let yourself be discouraged if you sometimes trip and stumble along the way. It is normal to feel down from time to time, you are only a human, after all.

However, try to get back in the saddle as soon as possible. Find what makes you happy and make it work for you. Some people love meditation, yoga or sports, since this is what makes them unwind best. Others opt for lucky charms that are believed to bring luck and thus make them feel more confident. Somebody uses auto-suggestion to lift up their spirits. Whatever works for you, you should hold on to it in times your positive energy is at a low level.

Be Patient

Do you believe in overnight success? Think again, since success might happen overnight in fairy tales and movies. It takes time to achieve things and the beauty of success lies in the process leading to it, not only in the outcome. Therefore, make a plan, stay focused, work on it and have patience.

People with winning minds love the process as much as the end results. They tend to develop every single day by practicing, learning, failing and recovering. Sometimes “It’s not whether you win or lose, it is how you play the game”.

Keep Learning

If you think you have covered all there is about the area or industry you are working in, think again. It is never enough, there is always something else to conquer. This is what makes your mind alert, open and eager to acquire new knowledge and skills. Avoid inactivity and stagnation in order to develop. Keep your brain occupied, strive for greatness, never just settle down to what is not good enough for you.

It takes a lot of time and energy to develop a winning mindset. Although it is easy to believe some people were just born with it, it is actually not true. Their success and winnings are the results of hard work and a lot of effort. For a start, you should learn new skills, experience new situations, and challenges. These are the ones that will get you out of your comfort zone which makes you lazy and inactive. This is what will make you grow. Are you ready to try?

Words by Emma Sumner / Business Strategist / Lifestyle Coach / Sumner Life Coach Academy