March 10, 2025 by D. Paul Graham

**The Pit Crew of William Byron celebrates winning the 2025 Daytona 500 for the 2nd year in a row. Photo: D. Paul Graham / imageGRAHAM, llc**

I’ve had the opportunity over the past 3 months to watch a lot of winners. Whether it’s been at the Rolex 24, The Daytona 500, or just this past weekend at The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, winners all have the same traits. Winning isn’t just about talent, hard work, or even luck. It’s a carefully cultivated psychological edge, a mindset, that separates champions from everyone else. Whether you're behind the wheel of a race car, on the show field with other magnificent cars, running a business, trying to get your kids out the door to school, or simply just trying to conquer your Monday, this morning’s M5T takes a winning perspective for a new week.

1. WINNERS EMBRACE PRESSURE. Pressure breaks some people. But for winners, it’s the ultimate motivator. High-stakes moments don’t intimidate them; they excite them. They see pressure as proof that something important is on the line, and they use it to sharpen their focus. Think about your favorite elite athletes. When the moment is biggest, they don’t just show up. They deliver. They train their minds to see pressure as an opportunity rather than a threat. This isn’t some magical ability; it’s mental conditioning. When you’re in a high-pressure situation where does your mind go? If you think, “what if I fail?”, shift your mindset and ask yourself, “What if I succeed?” Treat pressure as the privilege of being in the game rather than something to fear.

2. WINNERS HATE LOSING MORE THAN THEY LOVE WINNING. Winning feels great, but losing leaves a deeper mark. Champions don’t dwell on failures, but they do use them as fuel. They analyze every mistake, learn from them, and take steps to ensure they don’t repeat them. Take Michael Jordan. After being cut from his high school basketball team, he didn’t quit; he trained harder. After every loss in his professional career, he studied game footage obsessively to fix even the smallest errors. That relentless hunger to improve is what turns good into great. This trait isn’t about being a sore loser. It’s about refusing to accept mediocrity. Winners don’t make excuses. They use failure as a steppingstone rather than a stopping point. When you fail, and you will, don’t just move on. Reflect. Assess. What went wrong? How can you improve? Adjust and come back stronger.

3. WINNERS ARE COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE. Growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Winners push themselves into unfamiliar, difficult situations because they know that’s where real progress happens. Top athletes embrace pain, uncertainty, and struggle. Not because they enjoy it, but because they know it’s necessary. They endure brutal training regimens, extreme heat, and physical exhaustion because they know that conditioning their bodies and minds gives them an edge. The same applies to any high performer. They willingly put themselves in situations that most people avoid. If you want to win, start doing the things that make you uncomfortable. Whether it’s public speaking, waking up earlier, or pushing through a grueling workout. The more you do hard things, the easier they become.

4. WINNERS PLAY THE LONG GAME. Champions don’t chase instant gratification. They understand that real success is built over time. They show up consistently, even when the rewards aren’t immediate. Consider Elon Musk. He didn’t build Tesla or SpaceX overnight. There were countless setbacks, failures, and near-bankruptcies along the way. But he kept going because he believed in the long-term vision. Winning isn’t about one lucky break. It’s about stacking small wins over time. Winners don’t give up just because results aren’t immediate; they trust the process and keep moving forward. Set long-term goals and commit to the grind. Whether it’s building a business, mastering a skill, building a marriage or relationship, or getting in shape, focus on consistency over time rather than quick wins.

5. WINNERS VISUALIZE SUCCESS BEFORE IT HAPPENS. The mind is a powerful thing. Champions don’t just practice physically; they rehearse mentally. They see themselves succeeding before it even happens. Visualization techniques. Before you start any type of performance, use visualization to imagine every detail. The course, movements, the moment of victory. This primes the brain for success and reduces performance anxiety. Even outside of sports, the same principle applies. Public speakers visualize their presentations, entrepreneurs see their businesses thriving, and artists picture their masterpieces before they create them. Before any big challenge, close your eyes and visualize success. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment, the details of execution, and the confidence of knowing you’re ready. There was a guy named Enzo that knew a thing or two about winning. He said, “if you can dream it, you can do it”.

Here's to training your mind to win. To the mindset, the discipline, and a relentless commitment to improvement.

For over 13 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T™. He continues to push to win.

M5T is now on South Magazine Digital ..… Read it here

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