Winning by Design

By Tommy Yan

Is life unfair, favoring those born with a silver spoon, or those with the right connections, or those who've sold their soul? Do you give up, cry "uncle" or wave the white flag at the first sign of adversity? Can you really beat the odds when they're heavily stacked against you?

On a recent visit to some friends in Sonoma County I sat at ringside watching this go down...

Nine year-old Lynae whined about her school's upcoming Science Project Contest. The deadline was in three days, yet she still had not begun building her miniature hurricane machine. She overheard rumors that a certain judge's children always win.

Last year, another girl dedicated a lot of time and energy into her science project only to be passed over by this judge's son. She was devastated. And cried for days.

But nothing has changed. This judge remained on his seat. And his three children are once again contestants at this year's science contest.

"Why work on my project if I don't have any chance of winning?" Lynae protested.

"You can't give up without even trying," her father reasoned.

"But daddy, what's the use? I'm not going to win," she replied.

Lynae made a valid point. And she wasn't alone. Many of her classmates echoed her concerns. But what they don't realize is: this is one of the most dangerous beliefs you can harbor. A belief that can relegate anyone to a life of Sitting on the Sidelines.

It robs you of the joy and instant high of winning. It programs you to become comfortable as runner-up, second best, and relying on the safety of numbers. It shatters dreams, diminishes self-worth, and leads you into a life of settling:

"I'll settle for Gentle Jim instead of Billionaire Bob."

"I'll settle for the Prius instead of the Lexus."

"I'll settle for hamburger instead of the Filet Mignon."

And what's even more damaging is your children picking up on this belief!

They'll see the nonsense of trying hard. They'll go through life at half-throttle. They'll make excuses when facing difficulties. And instead of overcoming challenges, they'll explain them away:

"It's always done this way."

"I've never won anything before."

"This always happens to me."

"Men are all the same."

Can this caustic cycle end?

Yes, it ends with you... by entertaining positive beliefs that serve you and deleting those that don't. If a certain belief does not serve you—simply replace it with one that does.

For instance, if you believe you're not worthy of prosperity and abundance, replace it. Picture retiring an old blazer and putting on a new suit. You look sharp and stunning. You receive compliments. People come alive when they're around you. But this doesn't happen until you wear your new suit.

It's the same with your beliefs. By replacing negative beliefs that work against you with positive ones that serve you—you take command of life instead of reacting to it. You can improve your outcomes instead of feeling defeated. You can attract the right people to partner with. Everything revolves around your beliefs.

Winning by design...

Have you ever tried going to work with a smile, greeting your co-workers and wishing them a good day? How about tackling more goals by watching less television? And what would happen if you ate smart and exercised more?

By changing your beliefs, you change your actions. By changing your actions, you change your results. And by fine-tuning your actions, you can get the best results.

Back to my friends...

Will Lynae win the science contest? Not likely. She has convinced herself that it's impossible to win and it's futile to try. She has defeated herself. And she'll ignore any positive coaching from her parents or anyone else. Until she replaces her beliefs.

When she wakes up in the morning and declares, "I CAN beat those guys and win that contest," she will then find the answers. She will take the right actions instead of moping. She will smile and convince everyone she's a winner.

What about you?

Do you believe you will never become a great speaker? Are you afraid of becoming a success? Why haven't you written that book? Are you still suffering from shyness?

Replace those negative voices with ones that serve you and you can overcome life's most pressing obstacles.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at www.TommyYan.com.
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