How Champions Think

1. Champions possess a unique mindset characterized by optimism and confidence

"Exceptional people seem to seek out cues that in most people would trigger a bad habit and use them as a tool to reinforce good habits."

Optimism as a choice. Champions actively choose to be optimistic, viewing setbacks as temporary and opportunities for growth. They cultivate a confident self-image, believing in their abilities even in the face of adversity.

Confidence as a catalyst. This mindset acts as a powerful catalyst, enabling them to:

• Persist through challenges
• Take calculated risks
• Bounce back from failures quickly
• Maintain high levels of motivation
• Perform better under pressure

Champions understand that their thoughts shape their reality, and they consciously work to maintain a positive, success-oriented mindset.

2. Exceptional individuals respect their own talent and embrace their potential

"If you want to transform your life, if you want to grow, you have to change the way you see yourself and the way you respond to the world around you—just as surely as you would if God appeared to you and told you everything was set."

Self-belief is crucial. Exceptional people have an unwavering belief in their own abilities and potential. They don't compare themselves unfavorably to others or set artificial limits on what they can achieve.

Talent is multifaceted. They understand that talent encompasses more than just physical abilities:

• Mental toughness
• Work ethic
• Ability to learn and adapt
• Passion for their craft
• Resilience in the face of setbacks

By respecting their own talent, they create a foundation for continuous growth and improvement, allowing them to push beyond perceived limitations and achieve extraordinary results.

3. Commitment, perseverance, and habit formation are crucial for success

"Exceptional people immerse themselves in process goals. They care most about how well they follow their chosen process every day."

Long-term dedication. Success requires a deep commitment to one's goals and the perseverance to continue working towards them, even when progress is slow or setbacks occur.

Habit formation is key. Champions develop positive habits that support their goals:

• Consistent practice routines
• Disciplined work ethic
• Healthy lifestyle choices
• Mental preparation techniques

These habits become automatic over time, allowing them to maintain high levels of performance consistently. They understand that success is not about sporadic bursts of effort, but rather the cumulative effect of daily dedication to their craft.

4. Focus on process goals rather than outcome goals to achieve excellence

"The preparation process is an absolutely essential part of success. But when it's time to compete or to perform, champions lean on another sort of process, the performance process."

Process over outcomes. Champions prioritize the daily actions and habits that lead to success, rather than fixating solely on end results. This approach allows them to:

• Maintain focus and motivation
• Reduce performance anxiety
• Continuously improve their skills
• Adapt more easily to challenges

Two types of processes:

1. Preparation process: The daily training, practice, and skill development
2. Performance process: The mental and physical routines used during competition

By concentrating on these processes, champions create a sustainable path to excellence, regardless of short-term outcomes.

5. Develop a single-minded dedication to your craft while maintaining balance

"Exceptional people tend not to care too much about what most people would consider 'balance' in their lives. They don't allocate time equally to each aspect of their lives."

Focused passion. Champions often display an intense, single-minded focus on their chosen field. This dedication allows them to:

• Devote extensive time to practice and improvement
• Deeply understand their craft
• Push through plateaus and obstacles
• Achieve breakthroughs that others miss

Balancing act. However, they also recognize the need for some balance to sustain their passion long-term:

• Maintaining key relationships
• Taking care of physical and mental health
• Allowing for recovery and rejuvenation

The key is finding a sustainable level of dedication that allows for peak performance without complete burnout.

6. Learn to be effective by creating a virtuous circle of success

"They have optimism and confidence. Because they are optimistic and confident, they react to setbacks not by getting discouraged and giving up, but with persistence."

Positive reinforcement loop. Champions create a self-reinforcing cycle of success:

1. Optimism and confidence
2. Persistence in the face of challenges
3. Improvement and achievement
4. Reinforced optimism and confidence

This virtuous circle allows them to:

• Maintain motivation through difficult periods
• Learn effectively from both successes and failures
• Continuously raise their performance standards
• Build resilience and mental toughness

By consciously cultivating this mindset and approach, champions create an upward spiral of growth and achievement.

7. Manage nerves and develop a robust performance process

"Every one of the golfers I've counseled who have won major championships has been nervous during the final holes of these tournaments. But they've learned to perform well despite nerves and the physical symptoms that accompany them."

Embrace nerves. Champions understand that nerves are a natural part of high-stakes performance. Instead of trying to eliminate them, they learn to:

• Reframe nervousness as excitement
• Use physical symptoms as cues for focus
• Channel nervous energy into improved performance

Develop a performance process. They create robust routines and mental strategies to maintain focus and execution under pressure:

• Pre-performance rituals
• Visualization techniques
• Breathing exercises
• Trigger words or phrases

By combining nerve management with a solid performance process, champions can consistently perform at their best when it matters most.

8. Evaluate yourself honestly and learn from both successes and failures

"Exceptional people don't delude themselves this way. They compare their performance to the process standards they've set for themselves. The outcome is of secondary importance, because they know that if they honor the preparation and performance processes they've determined will work for them, the outcome will take care of itself."

Objective self-assessment. Champions develop the ability to evaluate their performance honestly, without ego or self-delusion. They focus on:

• Adherence to their preparation and performance processes
• Specific areas for improvement
• Lessons learned from both successes and failures

Growth mindset. They view failures not as permanent setbacks, but as valuable learning experiences:

• Analyzing what went wrong without dwelling on it
• Identifying actionable improvements
• Maintaining confidence in their overall abilities

This approach allows for continuous improvement and resilience in the face of inevitable setbacks.

9. Work hard but also work smart to maximize your potential

"But to make it into the upper middle class or the upper class, or into the ranks of championship teams and players, you have to become a strategist about your work. You have to have a bigger vision."

Efficient effort. Champions understand that success requires both hard work and smart work. They focus on:

• Identifying high-leverage activities
• Developing efficient practice techniques
• Continuously refining their approach

Strategic thinking. They take a big-picture view of their field:

• Analyzing trends and opportunities
• Adapting to changing circumstances
• Innovating within their discipline

By combining relentless effort with strategic thinking, champions maximize their potential and stay ahead of the competition.

10. Know when to heed competition and when to ignore it for optimal performance

"In sport, I find that exceptional people tend to have the same attitude toward the competition. They pay attention to it during their preparation, but they try to ignore it during their performance."

Preparation phase. Champions study their competition to:

• Understand industry standards
• Identify areas for improvement
• Set challenging but realistic goals

Performance phase. During actual competition or critical moments, they focus solely on their own performance:

• Sticking to their game plan
• Executing their processes
• Avoiding distraction by others' actions

This balanced approach allows champions to stay informed and motivated by competition, without letting it negatively impact their performance when it matters most.

11. Balance patience and impatience to drive progress and maintain motivation

"Exceptional people are impatient with limits others place on them, like the notion put forward by veteran players that newcomers need to wait to win."

Strategic impatience. Champions are impatient with:

• Artificial limits set by others
• Complacency or stagnation
• Mediocrity in their field

Tactical patience. They exercise patience in:

• Mastering fundamental skills
• Allowing time for strategies to bear fruit
• Persisting through plateaus and setbacks

This balance allows them to maintain long-term motivation while pushing for continuous improvement and breakthrough performances.

12. Surround yourself with supportive people and stick to your strengths

"Exceptional people often keep separate lists of practice goals and performance process goals, either on paper or mentally."

Supportive network. Champions carefully cultivate relationships with people who:

• Believe in their potential
• Provide honest feedback
• Offer complementary skills and knowledge
• Share their values and work ethic

Focus on strengths. They identify their core strengths and build their careers around them:

• Refining and leveraging their natural talents
• Delegating or outsourcing areas of weakness
• Resisting the urge to constantly overhaul their approach

By surrounding themselves with the right people and focusing on their strengths, champions create an environment conducive to sustained success and continuous improvement.

Last updated: January 25, 2025