I believe most of us have played those friendly matches with colleagues, friends, and family. Can you recollect saying something similar like – “We are not playing to win; we are just playing to enjoy.”
Is there an inherent flaw in this approach, of not having winning mindset? Definitely YES. Let me explain.
Introduction
By claiming we are not playing to win, we are actually surrendering to a losing mindset.
What if I told you that this seemingly laid-back approach might be sowing the seeds of mediocrity? What if I told you that by discarding the notion of playing to win, we are inadvertently dismissing the very essence of competition and personal growth?
If you don’t start with a win in mind, you have already lost it. With this mindset, you are signalling to your brain not to strategize, not to plan, not to aspire, not to be competitive. If you don’t aspire to win, you are setting yourself up for a retardation. Thus, winning becomes a remote option rather than a preferred choice.
Now, I am not advocating that every match be played at international standards or question the umpires’ decision at every ball/shot, having heated quarrels at every point and losing the fun of playing. However, what I am advocating is a mindset shift – a realization that, without the aspiration to win, the pursuit of excellence becomes a futile exercise.
So, why not play the game to win? The truth is, a better game adds more fun and more enjoyment rather than a laid-back game.
Motivation boosters: The sunrise of possibilities
Picture this: you wake up and declare, “Today, I will conquer”. It’s like a personal cheerleader in your mind urging you to take on the day’s challenges head-on.
The mental image of conquering tasks and overcoming obstacles becomes a driving force. This relentless motivator refuses to let you settle for mediocrity.
This surge of motivation is a tailwind propelling you forward when the road gets tough and rough. With this mindset, obstacles become the stepping stones, and challenges morph into opportunities; it’s a mindset that transforms the mundane into the extraordinary.
Shah Rukh Khan has openly acknowledged this in many of his interviews. When he came to Mumbai with the dream of becoming an actor in Bollywood, he knew his chances were bleak. He neither had a godfather in Bollywood nor surplus money. But all he had was a strong desire and a winning mindset. He proclaimed to himself that, one day, he would rule the Bollywood industry.
Did that affirmation or winning mentality make his journey to success any smoother? No, not at all. In fact, he had more struggles to prove himself. But what kept him going was a mindset that he would win someday, a visualization of him being the Badshah of this industry someday.
Even now, he keeps telling openly that he is the only king of Bollywood and that he has no competition with him. He says that, not with arrogance or pompousness, but with the humility that he wants to keep working hard in life so that he doesn’t become irrelevant.
You can read the entire article about staying relevant @ “Best way to stay Relevant: Lessons from LION and DEER in the Wild”
I am a clear believer in this mindset. One such incident where I could achieve the uncacheable, using this mindset, still boosts my audacious bets and brings a smile to my face.
I did not know diving and was quite afraid even to learn it. The thought of jumping from my height of 21 feet would give me a shiver. It was terrifying and completely out of my equation. But somehow, seeing people dive from such a height mesmerized me. I challenged myself to learn diving and address the fear.
Every morning when I hit the swimming pool, I would say that one day I would dive from that 21-foot board and that too in style and with a smile. That motivated me to attempt & learn diving every day. There was no hurry, no compulsion, but a few failed attempts every single day. I made constant progress as I envisioned a picture where I was driving freely and nicely in a perfect style.
Very soon, I learned to dive. Not only that, but I master the style, too.
You can read the entire article about my driving experience @ “I too saw that fear, but the greatest things happen beyond that fear”.
Similarly, in an IT project, you might have a project due, and the deadlines are looking like dark clouds. Instead of succumbing to the pressure, you approach it with the mindset of a champion. The hardness becomes a stepping stone, and the finish line is not a distant dream but a tangible reality. Motivation becomes a driving force pushing you beyond your perceived limits.
Similarly, when we watch a match in a stadium or on a TV, we do not wish that our favourite team to lose. Isn’t it? We all start watching it with the mindset that our favourite team will play well, do their best, and win.
So, when we start watching even others’ matches with a winning mindset, then why not do it for our battles and goals?
Confidence booster: Crossing the mental finish line
Winning, even in the smallest victories, boosts confidence. It is like crossing a mental finish line that propels you to take one more significant challenge. Each win at the doors gives a dose of confidence to your subconscious mind.
Starting with a win in mind provides an initial push to flex the confidence muscles. Celebrating small victories creates a positive feedback loop, reinforcing your belief in your abilities.
When I started my public speaking journey, it was terrifying. A couple of times, I stepped off the stage by just uttering a thank you word. Somehow, slowly, I started to learn. With a winning mindset and a thought to capture the stage one day, I kept making progress. In a few months, I started participating in public speaking competitions with the mindset of delivering my best performance.
The positive mindset has translated into increased confidence in my speaking engagements.
A positive mindset also acts as a GPS, strengthening you towards the right direction with clarity and purpose. It shapes your journey, making each step and strategy intentional and meaningful.
The clarity that comes from aspiring to win allows you to navigate the twists and terms of life and a sense of purpose.
You can read the entire article about the importance of the right direction @ “Revolutionizing the Game: It’s About the Right Direction, Not Just Speed”.
Some myths about winning mindset
Having a winning mindset is critical. However, please DO NOT MISTAKE it with overconfidence and easy sail.
Even if you start with a winning mindset, it’s essential to break the myths below.
- Is there a guarantee that you will always win? NO,
- Is there a guarantee that the journey to victory will be smooth and without adversities? NO,
- Is there a guarantee that the success will be quick or the journey shortened? NO,
- Is there a guarantee that you will achieve unrealistic goals? NO,
- Does it mean lesser effort, lesser cost, lesser risk, etc? NO,
- Does it mean you can start without necessary planning, strategy, precautions and evaluation of circumstances? No.
- Will it make your opponent less competitive? NO,
- Does it mean you will never have to exit, eject or quit? NO
Starting the project or a game with the win in mind is crucial to win. At the same time, know when to cut losses, eject or quit. A pilot always steps into the plane with the mindset of landing safely. But that does not mean he will not have the ejection seat ready before starting.
The same thing applies to project management as well. Some projects could have gotten started with the winning mindset. But in case the ground situation changes or the business demand slows down, or there is no more relevance of that product in the market, or the project is not financially viable, or any other reasons, there shouldn’t be any hindrance or hesitation to call off the project at any stage.
It is not about abandoning the aspiration to win; it’s about acknowledging the twists and turns in the journey and not worth fixing them. Striking this fine balance ensures that you approach challenges with optimism while being prepared to adapt when the unexpected arises.
Adapting to circumstances, replanning strategies based on the need for changing situations, learning from setbacks, etc, should all continue. Just because you start the game with a winning mindset, neglecting the above will be detrimental.
Conclusion: The symphony of success
In the Grand Symphony of Life, starting with a win in mind is like striking the first chord, setting the tone for the entire composition. It is not a guarantee of success, but it sets the tone for a journey filled with purpose, resilience and adaptability.
Starting with a win in mind should be a source of motivation and should not be considered a blueprint for perfection. A winning mindset is not about winning every game but about approaching each challenge with a belief that victory is within reach.
Play to win, not just to enjoy the game, and you will find that the beautiful melodies of growth and resilience often accompany the sweetest victories. A winning mindset will make the journey more fruitful, more rejoicing and truly remarkable.
So, as you step onto the game or a project, consider starting with a winning mindset at all times. It doesn’t really matter if you are playing with your colleague for fun or with an international opponent in the Olympics, executing a small project or starting a new company to compete with Amazon.
So, Go ahead and start with a win in mind. But be ready to adapt, learn and grow along the way.
Cheers to all the victories of life, both big and small!
