Traits of champions

Champions FOCUS ON STRENGTHS.
More important than strengthening weak areas is building upon one’s strengths, for therein lies the real leverage for accomplishment.
Champions SET GOALS.
Ambiguity is not the trait of a champion. The target is clear. The next action defined. The decision made.
Champions GO TO BAT MORE OFTEN.
Dare to risk failing more often to win more substantially.  If for every fifteen things you attempted you failed every time except for one, wouldn’t it be worth twenty-eight more failures to double your success?  Get thicker skin and step up more. “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” ~ Babe Ruth
Champions are HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS.
Championship thinking begins with desire. You must have in your heart. Burt Lancaster once said, “Take the feeling of hunger out of your gut, and you’re no longer a champion.” It’s true. Winners want it badly. Inside there’s a burning desire that refuses to accept defeat. Without that inner drive, there’s no forward momentum.
Champions are FOCUSED.
Those that rise above the status quo have the ability to focus not on what went wrong but on what to do next. They continually focus their attention and energies on taking action, moving forward, and finding a way.
Champions HAVE CONFIDENCE.
“It’s hard to be humble, when you’re as great as I am.” ~ Muhammad Ali
Champions TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
Success is not handed to anyone. We are not at the mercy of fate, luck, genetics, happenstance, or any other form of buck passing. Champions understand this and continually ask “how can I make it happen?” when confronted with a challenge.
Champions HAVE VISION.
Seeing beyond the status quo is a must for anyone wanting to reach their dreams.
Champions are DETAIL-ORIENTED.
Methodical planning, deliberate action, and continual monitoring are required for success.  Remove the guesswork. Create a plan and then work your plan. It won’t be perfect. That’s why you log it, analyze your progress, and make small incremental adjustments. Attention to details provides the next step.
Champions DO NOT QUIT.
“The last three or four reps is what makes the muscle grow. This area of pain divides the champion from someone else who is not a champion. That’s what most people lack, having the guts to go on and just say they’ll go through the pain no matter what happens.” ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger
Champions are CONSISTENT.
Day in, day out, the champ shows up ready to make it happen. Today’s setbacks are temporary because the champion comes back day after day determined to heal from the bruises and learn from mistakes. Consistency is the compounding interest of hard work. Its dividends are gold medals, medical breakthroughs, and winning relationships.
Champions have SELF-DISCIPLINE.
Mia Hamm said it best- “The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.” Discipline is inevitable. We either discipline ourselves or the world imposes it upon us. It is the dark, lonely hours that reveal who we truly are when no one else is watching. Discipline determines who shows up without the crowd cheering and ultimately who’s recognized once the crowd arrives.
Champions ENDURE.
Were it to require just a single instance of discomfort perhaps everyone would stand in the winners circle. Instead it takes continuous effort. Often painful effort. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” Muhammad Ali
Champions are PROACTIVE.
Anyone can sit back and wait for life to dole out whatever it may. Not champions. They take action.
Champions LOVE TO WIN.
Although champions hate to lose, they fail quickly and often because they love to win more than they hate to lose.
Champions FACE THEIR FEARS
To win in life, you and I must face our fears. It’s okay to be afraid. What really matters is what we do once we realize it.  Face fear and it will cower from you.
Champions MAKE INVESTMENTS.
Champions invest their time and talents differently than the masses. Rather than spending their precious hours watching hours of television they’re in hot pursuit of their dreams.
Champions BUST ASS and CRUSH IT
There are no shortcuts. Hardwork is a key element of success and champions understand this. Sure they look for the straightest path but they’re not looking for shortcuts. Instead they pour their heart and soul into firing off the starting blocks to cross the line and win the medal.