This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 Champion Issue of Showstopper Magazine.
Being a champion is something we all dream of—the honor, the esteem, the success, the awards. But a champion is so much more than trophies, medals, or first-place ribbons. It is a mindset and an attitude. Being a champion is the way you go about every aspect of your life, not just when you are on stage with the lights on. It is who you are when no one is watching. When you have a champion attitude, you don’t need an award to validate you because you are a champion from the inside out. It takes time and commitment, but here are six mindsets that will help you build your champion attitude for life.
Champions Have…
“I Believe” Attitude
It all starts here. When you believe in yourself, you say “yes” to taking risks, putting in the hard work, and knowing you are worth it. It is like planting a seed inside of you, watering it every day, and watching it grow with the inner belief that you have something special to offer the world. And you do! So, believe in yourself, and as you commit to the hard work, you will build confidence. Being confident is always the attitude of a champion.
“No Excuse” Attitude
Champions don’t make excuses. They don’t postpone working hard until tomorrow. They don’t blame other people. They embrace challenges, learn from failure, and get back up to try again. It’s called resilience. Instead of expecting things to be perfect and letting obstacles stop you in your tracks, use the hardships you encounter to polish yourself to be even brighter. A no-excuse attitude is positive, coachable, and will lead you toward success.
“Gritty” Attitude
Grit doesn’t look pretty. It’s when you roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and get down to business. Building grit cultivates the skills of discipline, dedication, and perseverance. Grit isn’t based on luck or talent. It has nothing to do with what you’ve been given in life but everything to do with what you are working towards. People with grit don’t give up; they find a way to make it happen. Next time you are tempted to throw in the towel, challenge yourself to be gritty like a champion.
“Gratitude” Attitude
Champions have an attitude of gratitude. They practice seeing the good around them and the art of being thankful. When we stop expecting the world to meet our every need, and stop criticizing or comparing ourselves to others, we build a mindset of optimism, positivity, and hope. Being mindful of what you are grateful for in life, volunteering to serve other people, and reframing negative situations with a positive outlook will all help increase that sense of gratitude. A spirit of thankfulness is infectious because people are attracted to those who are grateful! Setting goals and accomplishing them is hard to do with a negative attitude, that’s why an attitude of gratitude will shape your mind and your heart for that champion mindset. Studies even show that practicing gratitude reduces stress, promotes physical/mental health, and boosts overall life satisfaction…all it takes is you!
“Leader” Attitude
Being a leader means standing up for what is right and having the courage to influence the people around you in a positive way. Great leaders have integrity and strong character and don’t succeed by bringing others down. Leaders are good examples on and off the stage. They stand up for others who may have a disadvantage. To have a champion attitude, leadership is key, but leadership skills don’t just happen overnight. They must be practiced. Spend time developing skills like responsibility, communication, self-awareness, empowering others, and building relationships. These qualities will make you a champion in life.
“Action!” Attitude
We live in a culture where we say a lot of things, but don’t necessarily follow through with action. A champion will always hold themselves accountable. Having an action attitude means that you are always seeking to learn and grow in your specific discipline and beyond. It means that you seek to surround yourself with like-minded people who share the same passion for learning, growing, and achieving. It becomes the norm. Champions have action attitudes because they don’t sit around waiting for great things to happen to them, they make great things happen. The results will amaze you when you challenge yourself to go above and beyond.
