5 min read ⌚ 

Ten Qualities of a Total Winner

Ever noticed how the people who have really succeeded in life resemble each other?

And not just a little, might we add!

Whether you’re listening to one successful TV show host or another, to a basketball player or a golfer, to a famous CEO or a celebrated self-help trainer, some traits seem al but hardwired in their characters.

Dennis Waitley, in “The Psychology of Winning”, extracts the ten most important features of this kind and explains how you can obtain them too, in a neat, comprehensible manner.

And we are here to summarize them in an even neater and more readable way.

But, first off –

Who Should Read “The Psychology of Winning”? And Why?

As is the case with many other books on our website – practically everybody! “The Psychology of Winning” is a ten-step road to success and a ten-stage program to becoming a winner. In other words, it’s exactly what you need if you’re feeling like you’re a little behind in the ongoing rat race around you.

About Dr. Denis Waitley

Denis E. Waitley is an American author, consultant, and Hall of Fame motivational speaker. He has written many bestselling books (“Seeds of Greatness”, “The Winner’s Edge”) and sold millions audio versions of his works.

An advisor to astronauts and presidents, CEOs and Olympic gold medalists, Waitley’s status in the world of motivational speakers is nothing short of legendary.

The Psychology of Winning Summary

Just look at the book’s subtitle:

“Ten Qualities of a Total Winner”.

Now, a simple thought exercise:

How many chapters do you think Waitley’s book has?

If you’ve answered anything other than 10, then you’re really not following! And you better start focusing now, because the number is a triviality; it could have been 18, 59, or 12! The essence of the number is what really counts. And we’re about to delve into it!

So, buckle your seatbelt right away, since we’re taking off at once!

You can tell this just by looking at the contents: “The Psychology of Winning” is a psychology of positives and a psychology of self-reflection.

And it all starts with positive self-projection. According to Waitley – and he should know – Neil Armstrong wouldn’t have become an astronaut if he hadn’t dreamed about it at all times. And O. J. Simpson wouldn’t have been a football player if he had surrendered, as a child, to a crippling disease.

It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish!

Self-projection is the first step to a positive lifestyle. You can’t become someone if you have a low self-esteem. You’re never going to outgrow yourself if you’re lazy. And you’re definitely not going to be the next Jordan if you’re smoking or drinking.

Next on the agenda: defining your goals.

But, how important is this, really, you ask?

Vital, essential, ultra-significant! You need a proof! Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, and psychologist noticed that many of the people who survived the concentration camps had some definite goal in life. A beacon of hope. They knew why they were living and, consequently, why they should survive. Those who didn’t give up much sooner in the gruesome fight against evil.

And if defining goals can help someone in such extraordinarily bleak circumstances, just think how much it can do for you!

Because goals motivate! And they inspire you to take risks – which is another trait of winners. They don’t hesitate when in need to overcome an obstacle and make the next move towards their promised land.

And they never say “I’ll do this and just see what happens”! No! Quite on the contrary, they know exactly why they are doing something, and why they aren’t doing something else.

Also, they never lie to themselves! They know where they are and where they want to be. And when an obstacle comes, they don’t make a step backwards – they adapt.

Adaptation is an evolutionary trait. Those who got this far – you, me, etc. – got this far because their ancestors were able to adapt. So, you should learn this technique too if you want to make the next step into the future.

And you should be confident. Because self-esteem is what ultimately makes the difference between a winner and a loser.

But, how do you become more confident?

Two words: positive self-talk. From now on, “I can” is the equivalent for “I can’t” in your dictionary, and “I’m looking forward to” is what you should say instead of “I’d think about it”.

That’s how winners are made.

Make yourself into one!

Key Lessons from “The Psychology of Winning”

1.      Winning Is About Positives and Self-Reflection
2.      The Life of a Winner is the Purpose-Driven Life
3.      Self-Discipline Yourself to Greatness

Winning Is About Positives and Self-Reflection

You won’t get anywhere in life if you have a negative attitude. But, you also won’t succeed if you don’t teach yourself to constantly look around you and discover where you are and where you’ll want to be tomorrow.

Being positive won’t do by itself. If merely positive, in fact, not contemplating about the current status of your talents and the effort you’ll need to achieve the level you dream about, may turn you into the next Florence Foster Jenkins!

We wouldn’t want that, would we?

The Life of a Winner is the Purpose-Driven Life

Winners have a purpose in life. And they do anything with this purpose in mind.

Not having a purpose is a lot like not knowing if there’s a finish line after starting the marathon race. Would you really like to go on running?

Self-Discipline Yourself to Greatness

Winners have good and healthy habits.

And you can have them too if you’re thinking positively, if you contemplate about your past and future actions, and if you always have a purpose.

However, you also need to have some self-discipline. This means staying committed to your path. You can be tempted away from it easily – winning is always much more difficult than giving up.

Self-discipline will help you fight the temptations when they inevitably come.

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“The Psychology of Winning” Quotes

Our Critical Review

“The Psychology of Winning” was first published in 1979. Almost forty years later – it’s still a bestseller! In a world that’s changing so fast, and among a multitude of self-help books – there’s a recommendation much louder than any words can ever shape.

In other words, to call Denis Waitley, with Charles Paul Conn, “a heavyweight among motivational speaker” may be an understatement. Because he’s a champion heavyweight, one of the best in the business. And if there’s one book he has written that you should read – “The Psychology of Winning” is definitely it.

Highly recommended.

Emir Zecovic

Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.