The culture of winning isn’t just walking away as the champion.

The culture of winning is setting yourself up before you compete to live your life in a way that is going to put you in the best position to walk away a champion. No matter the actual outcome of the game.

That is the actual “winning.”

I think more people need to look at winning as a whole, understand it as a culture and a process, that becoming a champion isn’t a black and white outcome. Most people think, you’re either the champion or you’re not but I believe being a champion doesn’t just happen at the tournament.

It’s your life. It’s the people in your life. It’s the resources that you seek out, your work ethic and it’s your grit. That is all part of winning culture. Not just, I’m going to be the best bowler at this particular event. If you are aiming to just win and that’s all, you’re missing a lot of levels of winning.

The culture of winning also includes when you lose. When you lose gracefully and with integrity, that is also winning. It also includes how you treat people when you’re at your best and when you’re at your worst.

My approach to winning is not an all or nothing approach. For me, the culture of winning is really all about maintaining a good balance in your life, before and after the event.

It’s also about understanding the wins and the losses and getting to know what makes us perform and feel our best. That is all part of the culture of winning.

All of us have a different balance, but the important thing is that we all find that balance. It’s practicing regularly, taking care of your health, being positive, understanding the game and seeking out other resources and coaches. If your entire focus is on the win, and not the other areas of your life, that’s something you need to look at. If you give too much of yourself to one thing, that’s imbalance.

We also really have to pay attention to what fills us up, and energizes us. Those parts of our life might not be directly linked to a “win” but they’re part of the journey TO the win. Those other parts carry us through the ups and downs in life. They steady us to allow us to put our best selves forward. If I don’t commit to personal self-care time, such as at the gym, I feel less energized than when I do make that time. If I don’t have enough time with my family, I feel it. I’ve always paid attention to how things make me feel.

Sometimes I’ll notice that something drains my energy. Those are the things that I let go of. I allow myself the understanding that not everything is actually worthy of my energy. When any area of our lives is weak or draining us, it can weaken your balance and overall foundation, causing any goal or “win” to become more difficult to achieve and our low moments may feel even lower.

I’ve also always said that you become who you’re around. I love the people that I surround myself with but that’s another point that some people should look at. If they don’t align to your most positive energy, they shouldn’t be in your day to day.

A champion is also someone with integrity, who keeps their word. So those are the type of people I especially like to surround myself with. After all, the champion mindset is also about showing up in all that you do and say, and being consistent for those around you. My EYT volunteers are excellent examples. When I’m at the EYT events, I’m surrounded by these champions! My team of volunteers aren’t there to get paid. They just love bowling. And they always show up. I can always count on them. I’m always impressed by their commitment and being surrounded by that energy every month is empowering and I always leave with a truly full cup of energy.

So my question to anyone looking at becoming a champion would be, are you living your life in this culture of winning? Are you really setting yourself up for the win? If that’s your goal, and you want to become the champion, are you living your life in a way that is putting yourself in the best position to win? How and on what are you spending your time and energy? Leading up to a tournament, how have you spent your time today, this week and this month?