One of the key characteristics that successful people have is a winning mindset. They have learned over time to program their mind for success. That's what gives them the edge in competitive situations. This mindset allows them to hit the winning shot at the buzzer,sink the crucial putt on the 18th hole to win the tournament, or even purchase or sell their home! The question is why do some people have it and others don't? How can you ensure that you acquire the winning mindset? Let me take you through the development of a winning mindset.

1.Record and replay the tape: Now, I don't mean that you have to record yourself on a recorder. You do need to write down on paper (and track) your victories. We all have a lot of victories daily, weekly, and monthly. We just have a hard time remembering them. If we record them, we can review them during the challenges we are facing. When we lose our self-confidence, we can build it through reviewing our past victories. A lot of our victories, we will find, come out of a very challenging problem or struggle we are having. This review will also show us the direct correlation between the challenges we face and the victories we have. The key is to review them regularly. Review them, so you can invest them to pay dividends today, and tomorrow.

2.Understand the game you are playing: The highest peak performers understand the game they are playing- how to score and win. When I was younger, I played racquetball professionally. I always had a philosophy that if I finished second, it was the same as losing. I could have won all the other matches to the final, but losing the final was as bad as losing in the first round. For me, there was no second place. Business is the same way. Have you ever gotten paid for coming in second? Second place does not make the mortgage payment. Make sure you are playing to win. Understand the reality of the business that you are in. Develop the focus that you need to compete at the highest level.

3.The secret edge: Believe in yourself. The best of the best in life believe in themselves. Michael Jordan believed to his core that he was the best. His belief, and his sheer will to win, created the best basketball player ever. I read an article about a survey in which professional golfers were asked, "If you had one putt to win a major championship, who would you pick to putt it?" Almost all of them chose Jack Nickalaus. Why, because he knew he was the best and had the ability to will the ball into the hole. When I sold real estate, I truly believed I was the best Agent for the job. That belief extended beyond just my market place. The question is what do you believe? When your confidence goes up, your competence goes up at the same time. Program your mind, through affirmations, that you are the best. Say aloud daily: "I am a great business person", "I am the best that someone can hire to do the job", "I provide exceptional service to my clients." You must drive your belief deep. It truly is the secret weapon for all peak performers.

We must invest time daily to develop the winning mindset. Take the time to record your victories. Review them daily, weekly, and monthly. Work to improve your belief in yourself. We all came from the same creator. He didn't create any junk. You have it inside you to be exceptional. The secret edge is belief.

Norman Vincent Peale said, "Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities. Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy. Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind . . . a mental picture of yourself succeeding. Hold the picture tenaciously; never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop the picture."