🏆 Why Do Winners Win?

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💭ONE THOUGHT
WHY DO WINNERS WIN?

I have always believed that winning is a way of life.

It is how you do things. You cannot win just once in a while; you have to win every day.

This is why coaching matters.

This is also why “creating culture” is the #1 job of any coach. Coaches set standards and mindsets in their daily actions.

It is in these moments that a winning mindset is developed.

This is also why I define culture (or WINNING) as:

1. What you Allow

2. What you Emphasize

3. Every Day

Winning = Culture.

And who best epitomized a “Winning Mindset?”

One of the best was Kobe Bryant.

Kobe was known for his relentless work ethic and consistency.

One of the most famous stories involves the 2012 Olympics when Team USA was in Las Vegas for training camp.

After a long day of practice, most of the players went to bed, but Kobe wasn’t done. At 4:00 a.m., he called his trainer and asked him to come to the gym.

By the time the trainer arrived, Kobe was already drenched in sweat. He had spent an hour on his own working on his moves. He then proceeded to put in a full workout, hitting the gym again with his teammates later that morning.

Kobe’s dedication to “stacking days” of work, focusing on the process over the result, and embracing the grind separated him from the rest.

Even at the height of his career, Kobe never allowed success to breed complacency. He constantly adapted his training, whether it was recovering from injuries or evolving his game as he got older.

Winning is a Habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

Why do winners win? It is because of their habits.

Here are the 6 Habits of Winners:

1. Winners Stack Days
Winners show up every day. It’s not about going all out once in a while but about consistency. Small, daily actions compound over time. Whether it’s in the gym, the classroom, or in your mindset, showing up EVERY DAY beats sporadic intensity. 

2. Winners Focus on the Process, Not Just the Results
Winners don’t obsess over outcomes—they focus on the steps that get them there. The journey is where growth happens. By locking in on the process, they make success inevitable by constantly improving what they can control.

3. Winners Embrace the Struggle
Winners don’t shy away from challenges or discomfort. They know that growth happens in the tough moments. When others quit or back down, winners lean in. They understand that pain and struggle are part of the path to greatness.

4. Winners Adapt and Adjust
Winners are flexible. They don’t stick to a rigid plan when things change - they adapt. Whether it’s a new strategy, an unexpected challenge, or setbacks, winners adjust and keep moving forward.

5. Winners Stay Humble and Hungry
No matter how much success they’ve had, winners never think they’ve “arrived.” They remain humble, knowing there’s always room to improve. And they stay hungry—constantly pushing themselves to improve, no matter how much they’ve already achieved.

6. Winners Have Mental Toughness
Winners build mental resilience. They don’t let failures define them, and they don’t allow external pressures to control their mindset. They train their minds as much as their bodies, learning to stay focused, calm, and confident in any situation.

Winning is a way of life. It is a lifestyle. Winning comes down to your daily habits.

What are your winning habits?

Looking for more on the winning habits of KOBE?

P.S. Motivation and Mindset are Module #6 in Better Coach OS, the masterclass course for coaches. Be a Better Coach and Build a Better Team. Use the Coupon Code = SAVE30 and save $30 today.

TEAM LEADER OS

Teach your players how to LEAD.

This is why I created the Team Leader OS: The Ultimate Leadership Resource for Coaches. A practical and flexible leadership program for coaches to use with their team.

What is included?

• 20 Player Lessons (with video) to use with athletes year after year.

• “Coach the Coaches” concept for coaches to use with their team.

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• Over 200+ minutes of video and 300+ pages of leadership resources for coaches.

• Over 20 bonus leadership video lessons.

• Lifetime access.

• So much more…

Click here to learn more. The Team Leader OS.

📜 TWO QUOTES

𝐗 THREE POSTS FROM OTHERS

🔗 LINKS OF THE WEEK

🎥 Video: A Winner’s Mind by Coach K [LINK]

🎙️ Podcast: Coach Collins and I discuss In-Game Leadership on this Basketball Leadership Podcast episode [LINK]

🆇 ICYMI: What does being “Coachable” look like? [LINK]

📋 Looking for Practice Planning Software? I have been using Practice Planner Live for 13 years. Check out their free 14-day trial.

📚 BOOKS, COURSES, BUNDLES, & FREE RESOURCES

Bundles:

• The OS Bundle - Save $ when you get the Team Leader OS and Better Coach OS.

• Mega Bundle - Get ALL of my paid resources, save BIG $.

• Culture WINS Bundle - Get ALL of my Culture resources in place.

• Super Bundle - Bundle all four of my books and save $.

• Buy Two, Get One Free - My three most popular books.

• Culture Wins Book Bundle - Both books for a discount.

• ADs: Want site licenses for a school? Reply to this email for more.

Courses, Curriculum, and More:

• Team Leader OS - Develop your team leaders year after year.

• Better Coach OS - Masterclass course to be a better coach.

• Culture Wins Curriculum - Growing curriculum to use with a ‘Captain’s Council’ concept in your school.

• Culture WINS Mini-Course - A 37-minute Culture WINS Course for coaches.

• Pre-Season Playbook - 33 pages to prepare for your season.

• Off-Season Playbook - The season’s done, but the work is not.

Books:

• Culture Wins - 50 ways to build a winning culture.

• Culture Wins 2 - 50 MORE ways to build a winning culture.

• Coaching Gold - Winning insight and wisdom for coaches.

• Great Teams Better Leaders - Actionable ideas for coaches.

• Paperback books (AMAZON) - All of my books are on Amazon.

Find all FREE books and resources at gberge.gumroad.com.

👀 OTHER WAYS I CAN HELP

1. Are you interested in Sponsoring an Issue? Reply to this email or click here: Sponsor Great Team Better Leaders.

2. Are you seeking a Culture or Leadership workshop for your team or school? Contact Greg for more information.

Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]