Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

Playing To Win

Playing To Win

Since we’re still early in 2007 I thought I’d offer some motivational guidance in hopes that it might focus your efforts in the year ahead. Want to succeed? It’s easier than you might think…just don’t quit. Strip away the excuses, rationalizations and justifications and the only thing standing between you and whatever your objective may be is what you see staring back at you when you look in the mirror each morning. In today’s post I’ll examine the benefits of playing to win…

My first football coach used to say: “Don’t even bother showing up if you’re not going to play to win…” Mind you I tend to be a bit competitive, but even so, that phrase has stuck with me my entire life. I don’t often bother with taking on an endeavor unless I plan to accomplish the task at hand and that means not quitting until I meet the objective. It is that “refuse to lose” and “never say die” attitude that I picked-up on the playing field and had further reinforced during my time in the military that provides me with a competitive advantage. I may not be the smartest, the most talented or the luckiest person, but I guarantee you that I am the hardest working individual you’ve ever come across.

I have found that dedication, determination, attention to detail, commitment and focus are the traits that have been most valuable to me throughout the years and are therefore the strengths that I tend to play to. The good news is this…if you examine the aforementioned traits you’ll quickly see that I possess no special skill and I have no secret tricks up my sleeve. Rather the things that have allowed me to serve my clients well and achieve success are things that anyone can harness and leverage if they have one thing…the desire to do so.

I could certainly paint a more complex picture of what it takes to be successful by citing esoteric management theories, but the truth of the matter is that I just don’t quit until I get the job done. I don’t spend my time complaining about the challenges and obstacles, rather I spend my time solving problems and creating solutions. If my objective is to get to the other side of the wall I don’t really care if I go over the wall, under the wall, around the wall or through the wall…I just care that I get to the other side. While I might spend a bit of time evaluating the most efficient strategy for getting to the other side of said wall, it will ultimately be my focus on the tactical execution of conquering the challenge that will determine my success. A bias toward action is always a better path than falling prey to analysis paralysis.

I once played an entire half of a football game with a fractured ankle, early in my career I chose to liquidate personal assets to meet payroll (and didn’t take a check), I’ve gone as many as 4 days in a row without sleeping to stay the course and solve a critical issue, I’ve helped to create wealth and opportunity for my clients, I’ve led teams to achieve things that others said couldn’t be accomplished, I’ve kept my family a priority having raised two wonderful children and having been married for almost 23 years and the list could go on…My point in describing these actions is not to pat myself on the back for anyone could have done these things, but the reality is that most people don’t. They choose to accept defeat…they don’t play to win…They aren’t willing to do what it takes to be successful…They quit.

My message to you for 2007 is simply this: Play to win…Define your vision, refine your mission, architect your strategy, set your goals, implement your tactics and initiate your processes. Stay focused and do not quit until you’ve met your objectives…May your passion become your purpose and I wish you great happiness and prosperity in the year ahead…





Playing To Win - To learn more about this author, visit Mike Myatt's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback

To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Mike Myatt
(Visit Mike's Website) Mike Myatt, is a Top CEO Coach and author of "Leadership Matters...The CEO Survival Manual". He is also the Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer at N2g rowth where he also authors the N2growth Blog. As one of America's top CEO Coaches, Mr. Myatt is a sought after professional advisor known for his refreshing and straight forward approach to business and his tireless efforts in serving his clients. As an executive Mike Myatt has held numerous C-suite positions, as an entrepreneur he has been a principal in 4 successful ventures and as a professional advisor he has worked with clients ranging from successful professionals to Fortune 100 companies.

Mike Myatt is a Gold author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Mike Myatt's

Complete
List Of
Business-Coach
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get Mike Myatt's Complete List of Business-Coach Articles For FREE!

More Mike Myatt
Best PracticesOh Really
Reputation Management
CEO CoachingWhy its worth the investment
Are You An Effective CEO
How To Make Great Decisions
Networking for CEOs
Playing To Win
Whats Your IQ Influence Quotient
Personal Branding
Authority as a Leadership Principle
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
Leanne Hoagland-Smith  
Casey Gollan  
John Power  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Radical Green Business Icon Radical Green Business
How To Get Media Attention Icon How To Get Media Attention
Memorandum Template 1 Icon Memorandum Template 1
10 Ways To Go International Icon 10 Ways To Go International
Business Coaching Icon Business Coaching
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Choose A PR Topic
Choose A PR Topic
Press Release Builder
 
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Koko Adabounou Kpalimé, Togo,
Koko Adabounou
Kpalimé, Togo
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Geoff Whitlock, $53k to $507k in 3 years
Geoff Whitlock
$53k to $507k in 3 years
Kerry Shapansky, $2.0 to $51 Mil in 5 years
Kerry Shapansky
$2.0 to $51 Mil in 5 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
A.P. Giannini, Bank of America
A.P. Giannini
Bank of America
Russell Simmons, Rush Comm.
Russell Simmons
Rush Comm.
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
John Jantsch, Duct Tape Marketing
John Jantsch
Duct Tape Marketing
Michael Gerber, The E Myth
Michael Gerber
The E Myth
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     How to Identify, Form and Capitalize on Strategic Alliances
By Andrew Nester
     Business Planning, The Process
By Andrew Nester
     How to fail with a web site!
By Andrew Nester

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information