How to Develop a Winning Mindset

Size Doesn’t Win Games, Mindset Does “The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.” — Carol Dweck A short video recently caught my attention. In it, a 10-year-old girl, during a basketball exhibition, consistently outplays and scores against a taller, stronger, and older opponent. The adult had every physical advantage. But she had the only one that mattered: an unshakable, winning mindset. She wasn’t just playing the player; she was playing a game in her mind where she had already won. This isn’t just a cute sports moment. It’s a masterclass in what separates high achievers from the rest in business and in life. We often believe that resources, size, experience, or title are the ultimate advantages. But true breakthrough comes from the internal software we run on: our mindset. Here’s what the girl on the court can teach us about winning our own professional games: 🔴 Focus on Your Footwork, Not Their Height. She didn’t lament the height difference; she relied on superior dribbling and agility. In our world, this means stop focusing on your competitor’s market share or your department’s smaller budget. Double down on your unique processes, customer service, and nimbleness. Perfect your own footwork. ✅ Play to Your Strategy, Not Their Game. She used her speed and low center of gravity to her advantage, forcing the adult to play her game. Don’t get sucked into competing on terms set by others. If you’re a startup, don’t try to out-spend a giant. Out-innovate, out-connect, and out-hustle them. Define the rules. 💡 See the Opportunity, Not Just the Obstacle. Where others saw a mismatched opponent, she saw a chance to test her skills against a bigger challenge. In projects, view tight deadlines, limited resources, or new problems not as barriers, but as the very conditions that force genius and innovation to surface. 🔥 Belief is Your Most Potent Skill. Before any basket was made, she knew she could score. That confidence shaped every move. Self-doubt is a tax on performance. Cultivate a belief in your preparation and your team’s ability. That internal certainty changes your posture, your decisions, and ultimately, your results. We all face Goliaths, a daunting market, a veteran competitor, a seemingly impossible target. The lesson from a 36-second video is clear: you can be outsized but never out-thought, out-resourced but never out-willed. Stop measuring the gap in size. Start believing in the power of your mindset. The net is the same size for everyone; it’s the approach that determines what goes in. “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” — Henry Ford

Starting a match down 0–3. It happens to so many players, and it’s almost never about tennis. It’s about what happens in your head before the first point. Most slow starters start their matches by watching the opponent, trying to understand “Can I win today?” And as long as your brain is busy evaluating, you’re not competing. That’s why the first games always slip away. So how do you change that? First: stop thinking about winning before a single point has been played. Nobody knows the outcome at the start of a match, and that’s the wrong moment to think about it. Second: enter the court with match goals. Ask yourself: What are my 1–3 clear goals for this match? Then commit 100% mental intensity to them from point one. For example, “turn around my backhand and dictate with my forehand as often as possible.” When your mind is focused on a mission, not on the result, you stop reacting. You start playing your tennis immediately. If you’re down 0–3, don’t panic, recommit. Go back to your match goals. Point after point. This is exactly how champions turn matches around: they anchor themselves in what they control. Third: understand that confidence is not a switch, it’s a daily construction. It’s built through small victories: showing up to practice when you don’t feel like it, sticking to your routines, solving one detail at a time, talking to yourself positively... Those micro-wins accumulate. They form the belief you carry with you when you step on court. #mindset #confidence #PlayerDevelopment #TheCoach

This week Jane Pettit and I wrapped up our latest Centred Excellence Academy cohort. We always finish with a session on mindset, and how to be successful at anything, we have to be the change. It's a common human tendency to look around and blame others when things aren't going as we'd like. Whether in business, personal life, or our careers, it's easy to point fingers at colleagues, bosses, family members, or circumstances beyond our control. This mindset, however, keeps us stuck and prevents growth. I've been reflecting on some of the outcomes of not only this session, but also my conversations this week in both my 1:1 coaching, consulting and networking. Shifting our perspective is one of the most powerful tools we have. Instead of waiting for others to change or for situations to improve on their own, we can choose to be the catalyst for the change we want to see. Here's my thoughts on how: 1. Take ownership: Recognise that you have control over your actions and reactions. While you can't always change external circumstances, you can change how you respond to them. 2. Identify what you can influence: Focus on areas where you can make a difference, no matter how small. This could be improving your skills, adjusting your attitude, or finding new ways to approach problems. 3. Ask for what you need: Many of us hesitate to ask for help or resources, fearing rejection or appearing incompetent. However, clear communication about your needs can lead to better support and outcomes. 4. Seek information proactively: Don't wait for others to provide answers. Take initiative to research, learn, and find solutions independently. This not only solves immediate problems but also develops your skills and knowledge. 5. Set an example: Be the change you want to see in your environment. If you want more positivity, be more positive. If you want better communication, communicate more effectively yourself. 6. Embrace continuous learning: View challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. Cultivate a growth mindset that sees setbacks as chances to learn and improve. 7. Take action: Don't wait for the perfect moment or for someone else to take the lead. Start with small steps and build momentum. 8. Reflect and adjust: Regularly assess your progress and be willing to adjust your approach as needed. Being adaptable is key to sustained change. By shifting our mindset from blame to ownership, from passivity to action, we empower ourselves to create positive change. This approach not only improves our own circumstances but can inspire others around us, creating a ripple effect of positive transformation in our workplaces, relationships, and communities. Remember, change starts with you. Be the change you wish to see, and watch how it transforms not just your own life, but the world around you. Have a great weekend everyone 🙂

“I don’t have to be a better skater to win, I just have to be a better competitor.” As the Paris Olympics captivated the world, I kept thinking about these words by Vincent Zhou, the 2022 Winter Olympic figure skating champion. Last month, I had the great pleasure of attending a talk where Vincent shared his insights on the winning Olympian mindset - what he calls the Offensive Mindset. The Offensive Mindset is about keeping an open mind. It means acknowledging the fear, fatigue, and stress that inevitably arise on game day. It even means accepting the possibility of failure. Yet, crucially, it's about remaining receptive to the prospect of victory by staying vigilant and giving your absolute best, regardless of the circumstances. Contrast this with the defensive mindset, a mental trap where failure is considered unacceptable, mistakes are forbidden, and perfection is the only option. This rigid thinking often leads to paralyzing pressure and, ironically, worse performance. As we marvel at the extraordinary feats in Paris, remember: behind every medal isn't just physical prowess, but a mind honed to stay on the offensive. It's a lesson that extends far beyond the Olympic arena—in our careers and our personal growth. Are you embracing the Offensive Mindset, or are you held back by defensive thinking? #OffensiveMindset #ChampionMindset #ParisOlympics2024

You may not have the best mind in the room. But you can have the best mindset. 💡 Here’s why that matters: while you can’t control your IQ or past experiences, you have complete control over how you approach challenges, setbacks, and opportunities. Carol Dweck's research on Growth Mindset shows that success isn’t just about talent; it’s about the belief that you can improve with effort. That belief shapes your actions—and your future. 5 Ways to Build a Better Mindset: 1. Embrace challenges – View them as opportunities to learn, not threats to your comfort. 2. Replace “I can’t” with “Not yet” – Reframe limitations as areas for growth. 3. Learn from feedback – Even tough feedback is a gift when you approach it as a guide for improvement. 4. Celebrate others’ success – Shift from comparison to inspiration. Others’ wins show you what’s possible. 5. Persist through setbacks – Failures aren’t endpoints. They’re stepping stones to growth. Remember, your mindset is your choice. You can’t always control the room you’re in, but you can control how you show up in it. Get better. Raise your game. Choose resilience. Choose possibility. +++++ Here are 10 practical daily tips to nurture a better mindset at work: (No. 8 is my favorite. And yours?) 1. Start the day with intention – Set a positive tone for the day by writing down one thing you want to improve or focus on. 2. Practice self-talk – Replace “I can’t handle this” with “What can I learn from this?” throughout the day. 3. Seek feedback proactively – Ask a colleague or manager for one thing you could do better. Treat feedback as a gift. 4. Reflect on challenges – At the end of the day, jot down a challenge you faced and one thing you learned from it. 5. Avoid the blame game – Focus on solutions rather than who or what caused the problem. Shift your energy toward action. 6. Surround yourself with positive influences – Spend more time with people who encourage growth and challenge you constructively. 7. Celebrate small wins – Acknowledge even the smallest improvements in your skills, attitude, or work. 8. Read or listen daily – Dedicate 10 minutes to reading a book, listen to a podcast, or watch a video that inspires growth. 9. Help someone else – Offer to mentor, guide, or simply assist a teammate. Teaching others strengthens your own learning. 10. Adopt a gratitude mindset – End the day by noting 3 things you’re grateful for. Gratitude fosters a growth-focused outlook. You don't have to be a master. Being a student is enough. What will you do today to nurture a growth mindset? ☺

A high IQ won’t get you far — but a strong mindset will. Too many talented people stay stuck — not because they lack skill, but because they believe it’s too late to grow. They tell themselves things like: → “I’m just not good at this.” → “This isn’t for people like me.” But that’s not reality. That’s a fixed mindset talking. Here’s the truth: ✅ You’re not bad at it — you’re just early in the process. ✅ Failure doesn’t mean you’re stupid — it means you’re trying. ✅ Intelligence isn’t fixed — it grows through effort and experience. Shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset can change everything. Here’s how to start building it: 🧠 Catch your thoughts → “I can’t do this” becomes “I can’t do this yet.” 🧩 Lean into hard things → Difficulty isn’t a sign you’re broken — it’s a sign you’re learning. 📚 Learn from others → Let their success inspire you, not intimidate you. 🎯 Focus on effort, not just results → Skill is built through repetition and persistence. Change your mindset, and you’ll change your path. “Whether you think you can or think you can’t — you’re right.” — Henry Ford

Waiting for the "perfect time" = never starting. Both mean you never reach your goals. Luck isn't as big a factor for success as people think it is. You can control and dictate the conditions in which your success is achieved. So, if you're still: - Blaming your circumstances - Waiting for the perfect conditions  - Or hoping things work out on their own... You're wasting precious time. But all it takes is a new way of framing your thoughts. Here are 10 mindset shifts to adopt now: (To guide you toward future success) 1. Instead of "I'll wait until I feel fully ready to start" Think "I'll start now and get better as I go along" Every expert was once a beginner who simply began. 2. Instead of "I don't have enough time to take this on" Think "I'll cut what doesn't matter and focus only on what moves me forward" Time isn't the issue, priorities are. 3. Instead of "What if this goes wrong and ends up failing?" Think "If it fails, I'll take the lessons and adjust quickly" Failure becomes fuel when you view it as data, not defeat. 4. Instead of "I don't have the motivation I need to start" Think "I need systems that get it done whether I feel like it or not" Motivation is unreliable. Systems execute consistently. 5. Instead of "I should figure everything out on my own" Think "I'll put myself in rooms where others are already winning" Your environment shapes your outcomes. 6. Instead of "This feels too overwhelming to manage" Think "When it feels overwhelming, that means I'm growing" Discomfort will often lead to expansion. 7. Instead of "I can't move forward until I have certainty" Think "I'll move first, learn on the way, and adjust later" Seeking certainty causes paralysis. 8. Instead of "I don't want to risk looking stupid in front of others" Think "Embarrassment is just the price you pay to grow" Ego protection will keep you small. 9. Instead of "I really hope this ends up working out" Think "I'll create conditions where success becomes inevitable" Hope is passive. Successful people stack advantages. 10. Instead of "I've made it to where I want to be" Think, "This is only the start of what I can achieve" Complacency always kills momentum. Successful people aren't luckier.  They simply refuse to be victims of their circumstances. They understand that you can't control what happens to you,  But you can control how you interpret and respond to it. What's one reframe that has changed your life?  Let me know in the comments. My weekly newsletter, Step By Step, has more advice like this. It's designed to teach you the secrets and habits of the world's top operators. 200k+ entrepreneurs use it to rewire their thinking for success. Join them here:  https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb ♻️ Repost this to inspire your network to reframe their thinking.  And follow Chris Donnelly for personal development insights. 

Soft skills have become the new hard skills. In times of change, your mindset determines your success. Skills get you hired. Mindset determines how far you go. Here's what to develop this year: 1️⃣ Responsibility Shift  ↳ Practice taking radical accountability to become the leader your team needs. ↳ Focus on what is within your control. ↳ Blame is comfortable. Ownership is powerful. 2️⃣ Become the Growth Generator  ↳ Every failure is an opportunity to learn how to improve. ↳ Teach your team how to learn from failing. ↳ Every wall is a door. 3️⃣ Master Your Control Center  ↳ You might have been treated unfairly, but blaming others only holds you back. ↳ Address the root cause of your issues and grow beyond the mindset. ↳ What happened to you is real. What you do next is yours. 4️⃣ Create a Win-Win Mindset  ↳ Learn to celebrate others' victories. ↳ Learn to be kinder to yourself. ↳ Play a positive-sum, not a zero-sum game. 5️⃣ Get Into Your Stretch Zone  ↳ Step outside your comfort zone and learn how liberating experiencing the unknown can be. ↳ Prepare for the hurdles proactively so you're prepared for setbacks. ↳ Growth lives on the other side of discomfort. 6️⃣ Master the Future Frame  ↳ Stop dwelling on minor setbacks. ↳ Build the discipline of perseverance. ↳ Every setback is an opportunity to grow into how you will achieve your ultimate goal. 7️⃣ Create a Winning Self-Standard  ↳ Stop allowing the actions and behaviors of others to throw you off your game. ↳ You are only competing against the version of yourself you're trying to improve. ↳ Their race is not your race. 8️⃣ Allow Yourself a Clean Slate  ↳ Take the time to do the work you need to do to move forward with a clear heart and mind. ↳ Give yourself the gift of therapy, journaling, meditation, or working out. ↳ You can't build forward while carrying everything backward. 9️⃣ Earn the Difficulty Dividend  ↳ Go after the biggest challenges. ↳ Learning to do hard things builds your grit, makes you resilient, and develops your ability to lead. ↳ Easy doesn't compound. Hard does. Here's what I've learned after 20 years of operating: ✅ The people who rise aren't always the most talented. ✅ They're those who've built the mindset to stay in the game, through failure, through unfairness, through uncertainty. Mindset isn't soft. It determines how you respond when things break, how you lead when it's hard, and how you grow when no one's watching. ✅ Pick one. ✅ Work it for 90 days. ✅ Then stack another. These aren't built overnight. They're built in the reps. Which of these 9 do you need most right now? 👇 — john — ♻️➕ John Brewton 📬 Subscribe to Operating by John Brewton for daily perspective on the history, economics, and future of operating companies.

Last week I was coaching a sales team. While reviewing the challenges, I had an interesting conversation with 2 sales reps from the same team. Both had lost a deal. Both had faced the same objection. But their responses couldn’t have been more different. The first rep said, “Our pricing is too high. We must offer discounts. The customer just doesn’t get our value. We are new in the market. If only the market was better…” He kept explaining why the loss wasn’t his fault. He was stuck in whining mode. The second rep said, “I think I rushed through discovery. I didn’t ask enough about the customer's current challenges. Next time, I’ll anchor the value before the price comes up.” He owned it. He looked at what he could do differently. That’s winning mode. Same deal. Same objection. Same conditions. But one walked away drained. The other walked away better prepared. In sales, it’s simple: Whining mindset creates excuses. Winning mindset creates growth. The next time you lose a deal, ask yourself one question: Am I whining about it, or am I learning how to win from it? #sales #selling #winning #mindset

What’s a winner’s mindset? What truly differentiates winners from others? To start with, it’s not about always winning. Keep reading... When you look closely at “successful” people, beyond their skills or intelligence, one trait consistently stands out: how they handle challenges. That’s the winner’s mindset. People with this mindset embrace uncertainty and acknowledge risk but they don’t panic. Instead, they break problems into smaller pieces, identify the root cause, and go deep until they find clarity. Even when things don’t work out, they walk away with valuable lessons rather than regrets. They stay resilient, adapt fast, and design scenarios to diversify risk rather than avoid it. Because at the end of the day, a winner isn’t the one who never fails. It’s the one who refuses to stop trying!