The Will to Win

I have to admit, this is a hard topic to write about.  When I got the idea to write this article I thought it would be a nice little motivational post that would give some of you an inspirational boost.  But the more I dove into the topic the more I realized that having the will to win affects every single area of our lives!

In sports the will to win drives athletes to push themselves and their bodies to new levels.  In business it pushes individuals to commit to

Even in relationships we have the desire to win another person’s attention, love and affection.   The more I researched it the more I realized that not only do we all have the will to win, it is a huge driving force in all of us. 

But, the will to win is a hard thing to define.  There are several different ideas of what it actually means to have this desire.  It is a combination of mental strength, personal commitment, and willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed.

What Drives a Winner?

During my research I found many examples and stories of people who displayed an extraordinary will to win.  But there was almost no mention of why these people had the will to win.  So I decided to review those stories to see if I could find out what drives certain people.  I researched the stories of a few athletes, entrepreneurs, U.S. Navy Seals and musicians.  Then I took a look at my own life to see if I could find what drives me.  

Upbringing has a lot to do with a person’s desire to win.  Many of the people that I researched grew up in an environment that challenged them.  Along the way, there was usually a person-parent, teacher, mentor- that inspired and encouraged the person to do more than they thought they could do.

Having something to prove is also another motivating factor for the winner.  This was especially true for the athletes and soldiers that I reviewed.  They seemed to feel as though they needed to prove something to themselves; to see what they were really made of.  Winning wasn’t really about beating someone else; it was about mustering the strength, courage, and untapped fire in the belly that creates excitement.

The entrepreneurs and artists I looked at seemed to be fueled by the sense of accomplishment that comes for creating something out of nothing and solving problems.  The sense of creating is an important part of being a musician or artist.  In business, many entrepreneurs create businesses that provide solutions to better mankind.

After reviewing the stories, I looked at myself during the times in my life when I was determined to succeed.  I found in myself similar experiences.  As a child, I was challenged to do my best in whatever I was doing.  My family and a few teachers encouraged me to apply my skills and talents in order to succeed.  I also sometimes felt as though I had something to prove; to myself and others.

 The people who displayed the will to win usually possessed certain characteristics.  Here are the more common ones that I found:

Commitment-Having the dedication to complete what they’ve started and to come out on top.  Commitment means making the decision that-no matter what happens-you will follow through and accomplish what you’ve set out to do.