"Uno de los factores más básicos en los deportes es que ganar se convierte en un hábito y perder es de la misma manera"

Winning and losing are habits we form over time, much like anything else we do regularly. It’s a simple idea, but incredibly powerful when you think about it. When people win often, they develop a mindset and set of behaviors that make winning feel second nature. Conversely, losing frequently can breed a similar expectation and acceptance of failure.

Imagine you’re part of a basketball team. Let’s take it back to the 1990s Chicago Bulls under Michael Jordan. They were winning championships one after another. Why? It wasn’t just because they had the best players (though that helped), it was because winning had become ingrained in their team culture. They knew how to win. They expected to win. The taste of victory was familiar.

Contrast that with a team that’s always at the bottom of the standings. They expect to lose, and that’s a hard cycle to break out of. Once you’re stuck in that rut, every loss just reinforces the belief that you’re destined to fail, and it becomes your reality. Think of it like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

So, how do you apply this idea in real life? Start by changing the small things. If you’re used to losing — whether it’s in sports, business, or personal goals — shift your mindset. Celebrate small victories and build on them. If you lose, don’t dwell on it; analyze what went wrong and fix it. But more importantly, focus on what you did right and amplify that.

Here’s a practical example. Let’s say you’re trying to get healthier. If you’ve spent years not exercising, it’s easy to fall into the habit of thinking you’re just not cut out for it. The first step is small victories. Maybe today you just go for a walk. Celebrate that. Tomorrow, maybe add a few minutes of jogging. Every little win builds your confidence and shifts your mindset from someone who doesn’t exercise to someone who does.

Or, picture this: You’ve got a friend who’s always late to everything. They’ve convinced themselves they’re just a “late person.” But then they start making a conscious effort to leave the house 10 minutes earlier. They do it once, twice, and suddenly they’re on time more often than not. They’ve shifted the narrative they tell themselves from “I’m always late” to “I can be punctual.”

The key takeaway is, habits — whether winning or losing — are built through consistent actions and mindset. So, we have to be mindful of the routines we establish and the stories we tell ourselves. Want to break a losing streak? Change your story. Focus on the wins, no matter how small, and let those become your new norm. Over time, you’ll find that winning mindset is as much a habit as anything else.

Now, imagine you’re sitting at a coffee shop with a friend who’s feeling down because they keep hitting roadblocks in their job search. You’d tell them, “Look, every ‘no’ is just leading you to that one ‘yes.’ But you’ve got to believe it’s coming. Let’s celebrate the fact that you’re putting yourself out there, refining your resume, and learning from each interview. Each step is a win.” And they’d probably feel a little better, right? Because it’s true — winning, even in the small ways, starts with believing you can.

So, remember, whether it's on the court, in the office, or in life, winning and losing are habits. Choose which one you want to cultivate.