Do champions think differently than others? Do they know something that most other people don’t? I’m not going to tell you I’m an expert when it comes to deciding who is a true champion and who isn’t, but I’ve known a lot of great people in my time. I’ve noticed they share certain traits that set them apart from others. Those special traits move them to the front of the line almost every time.

There are champions in all walks of life...a mother with kids who just lost her husband and takes on the sole support role while improving her education after the kids are in bed; a mentally and/or physically challenged person that works so hard just to do the normal day-to-day activities the rest of us take for granted; the list goes on and on...

Speaking of lists, I really like checklists because they get to the point fast, so I’ve created one on the traits of champions that I’ve compiled through my personal experiences and reading on the subject. A champion is someone who:

– Believes and has faith in self and the potential to develop their own God-given abilities

– Believes in and respects loads of hard work, practice, and has abhorrence for laziness

– Is able to work smart and can leverage hard work with efficiency

– Has a strong iron will combined with optimism, confidence, and self-awareness

– Has a strong self-image that is durable against the challenges of adversity

– Can leave failures and bad experiences behind and believes in a better future

– Has the desire to maximize the potential of self and strives, perseveres and aims high: persistence wins!

– Takes calculated risks to achieve and thus refuses to fail and never ever gives up! To repeat: persistence wins!

– Strategically exercises patience and sustained effort when needed

– Remains tenacious while exercising mental toughness so as not to be deterred

– Is a leader who is willing to help others achieve and embrace competition

– Purposefully avoids negative people, negative thinking, self-doubt and fear

– Has the ability to focus and visualize strengths, not limitations and failures

– Keeps the pledge to commitments made to self and others while avoiding bad habits

– Strives to create new and better habits by means of a consistent process

– Sets very high standards and regularly self-monitors relative to realistic goals

– Knows that most often the real opponent is oneself so believes in personal excellence

– Knows that you need others to help make you and keep you the champion you are!!!

Not every champion has all of these traits, but I know that there are certainly enough of them listed above that you can now judge more easily who is or isn’t a true champion. As far as I’m concerned, Mack Sampson, the protagonist in my first set of novels is a champion.

--Stephen Winn