Winning Mindset: Why Winners never lose: Student Success : Student Leadership 3

Jonathan Medina “Winners never lose because they have a Winner’s Mindset”

After one of my school assemblies a student came up to me and asked me, "Can I still go to college even if I failed one of my exams?" She was only in middle school. Of course she could overcome one failed exam in middle school, but she did make me think about how winners have a different mindset than losers. Harsh words maybe, but there is a big difference between the way people THINK. 

Student Athletes often ask me if they can go to college if they are on the b team in 7th, 8th, & 9th grade. I tell them about my experience in athletics. When I was in 7th grade I was so excited to join team sports. My mom never let me play football growing up even at the request of many of the other parents. I was bigger and faster in elementary. However, by the time I was in 7th grade I had become a husky young man. I was chubby or "Gordo". The school used the first week or two to have all the boys "try out" for the football team. I had no experience playing football with a helmet and pads. I was TERRIBLE. I was semi athletic, but was not used to the game at all. I was placed on the B team. B stands for BETTER. JK. B means I was not very good. I was ok. I did become a starter on the B team after all. I was very disappointed being on the B team. One day my coach told me something that changed my thinking. 

7th grade coach "it's not where you start but where you FINISH!" 

My coach was teaching me to have a Winners Mindset. Having a growth mindset is a big part of having a winners mindset. A growth mindset is when you believe things can change as apposed to having a fixed mindset as things won't change. A fixed mindset is when you believe you can't get smarter, learn a new way, get bigger, faster, stronger. Basically that you are stuck (Fixed). 

Steph Curry, “We have to have the mentality that we have to work for everything were going to get”

Winners mindset is to always look for a way to win and NEVER Quit!

You may fail at something, but you must look for a way to win. You must figure out somehow. 

Maybe you are lacking skill. You may not be able to dribble, shoot 3 point shots, or play defense, but you can learn. You may not be able to speak in public, but you can learn and practice. You may not be a very good writer, but you can learn to be a good writer. You may not be good at math, science, history, etc... but you can learn. Maybe you don't know how to get a job, you can learn from others or by trying and eventually get one. 

Maybe you are need to join a better team or have people join your team. Doesn't have to be a sports team, but I mean ask someone to be helping you.

The internet is a wonderful thing and we read articles or books and learn how to win at something specific. We have books that can teach us how to make friends, how to get straight a's or how to get into selective colleges. 

We can watch youtube videos and learn.

You can also try one way, then change something and try another way until you succeed. 

Oprah, "Turn your wounds into wisdom”

PUSH: Persevere Until Success Happens. 

Winners Mindset Method

1. Decide to NEVER Quit.

2. Find someone to help you figure it out. 

3. Find someone to help you DO it. 

4. Join someone who is succeeding at doing it. 

5. Do some Research (Books, Internet, Youtube, Ask Friends)

6. Try Again, Try Again, Try Again, 

7. PUSH: Persevere Until Success Happens

OVERTIME

Discussion Questions:

How old were you when you learned to walk? (may need to ask parents) ______________

Did you get it the first time? 

Did you ever fall learning to ride a bike, skate, skateboard, snowboard? 

What is a goal that you failed at first then overcame? ________________________

Has someone ever helped you with a goal? ________________________

Have you ever used youtube to learn something? _____________________