As kind of a hobby I like to watch people. Just kind of sit back and quietly watch how they react and respond to others and their environment. Through the course of this activity I've noticed a few things that the real winners in life seem to have in common. I'd like to point out a few of these characteristics for the purpose of reinforcing them.

So without further delay or introductory verbiage...

Winners have a pleasing attitude and personality. - Success seems to come more easily to those who have a pleasing personality. This is not to say that you should bend to everyone's wishes. Rather, develop an attitude that is respectful of other's opinions but true to your own beliefs. Be flexible - don't be so rigid that you can't accept another's opinion. Be willing, even eager, to learn from others. Changing your opinion in light of more facts is a sign of strength of character, not weakness. Winners are extremely teachable - but at the same time very much their own person.

Winners control their emotions and guard against emotional responses. - You are susceptible to errors in judgment when you let your emotions get in the way. Of course, everything we do is done based somewhat on our emotions, but strong emotions have little place in decision making. Winners seem to understand this. Hold your emotions in check. Try to delay decisions if you are in an emotional state. Learn to ignore your emotions and use reasoning to arrive at your decisions, like winners.

Winners bubble over with enthusiasm. - Enthusiasm works like a magnet - it draws people. It's a pleasing personality trait that people like to be a part of. It seems to be contagious - the people around you become enthusiastic, too, and become more cooperative. Enthusiasm! Get some on you.

Winners focus on their strengths. - Focusing on your limitations lets those limitations make your decisions for you. Focusing on your strengths lets YOU make the decision. See the difference? Very few people concentrate on fully developing any of their strengths. This is where winners seem to have that winners edge. Along with this focus on their strengths winners also have a frightening (to losers) focus on their goals. Winners always know exactly where they're going.

Winners work at developing themselves to their fullest potential by focusing on improving, not on being perfect. - Winners turn their focus toward improvements they can make to become more efficient. You'll note that most effective, successful people seem to accomplish a great deal. It is true that this is partly due to enthusiasm for what they're doing, but there's more to it. The more to it is their single minded determination to squeeze every ounce from themselves.

Now I'm sure I haven't even come close to covering all of the characteristics of you real winners out there. As always, my intention here is to be a catalyst. I hope you'll take a step back and see how many of these characteristics you wear on a consistent basis. This puts yourself in position to either know that you are, or know what you could be working on to... BE A WINNER!

Thanks for hanging out.

Live some. Love some. Learn some. Everyday.

C...