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Anatomy Of A Loser - 50 Reasons You’re NOT a Winner

Anatomy Of A Loser – 50 Reasons You’re NOT a Winner

by Jim Fannin

A loser…

  1. Complains about conditions, circumstances and situations
  2. Whines to anyone that will listen
  3. Puts other people down in order to build himself or herself up
  4. Seldom (if ever) accepts responsibility for their actions
  5. Pivots away from criticism and usually strikes back
  6. Prepares poorly because of over-confidence
  7. Evaluates his or her poor performance with emotion and blame
  8. Acts like a victim when things don’t go their way
  9. Embellishes the truth even for no apparent reason
  10. Often outright lies for personal gain
  11. Acts selfish
  12. Has an inflated view of themselves
  13. Has their ego run their mouth
  14. Very seldom has compassion for the less fortunate
  15. Always expects to get his or her way.
  16. Pre-frames performances with psychological safety nets as in “I won’t have a chance with the officiating in that ballpark.”
  17. Readily showcases anger or outrage when they are criticized
  18. Tries to get other people to defend their ways
  19. Surrounds themselves with “yes” people that always agree with them
  20. Doesn’t learn from past mistakes
  21. Takes unfair advantage of other people
  22. Has language that is boisterous and self-serving
  23. Carries a “holier than though” attitude
  24. Looks down on lesser people in stature, economic status, or social standing
  25. Forces their physical presence on others
  26. Loves to hear the good about themselves
  27. Judges strangers immediately upon meeting
  28. Counts his or her money obsessively
  29. Takes advantage of the opposite sex
  30. Categorically labels groups of people other than himself or herself
  31. Uses shock value to get attention
  32. Has marital or relationship challenges
  33. Overtly demanding of subordinates without seeing or feeling how they feel
  34. Can hold a grudge
  35. Flip flops on previous opinions to fit the situation, condition or circumstance
  36. Uses foul and or vulgar language to “shock and awe” and showcase power
  37. Wields sarcasm to protect fragile ego
  38. Seldom asks great questions because they already know the answers
  39. Has a short attention
  40. Expects to be waited upon
  41. Tries too hard in pressure situations
  42. Seldom makes non-emotional adjustments during a performance
  43. Gets off the subject in a conversation to confuse others and deflect further attention away from the subject at hand
  44. Procrastinates because they know they will pull it off
  45. Intimidates and frightens “significant others” with comments such as “No one leaves a relationship with me…”
  46. Reacts violently if “significant other” tries to end the personal relationship and gives the impression all friends and family are in serious danger
  47. Constantly showcases his or her accolades, accomplishments and honors
  48. Takes action at the wrong time
  49. Offers excuses when things don’t go his or her way
  50. Oversteps their authority in most situations
Are You a Pioneer or a Settler?

Are You a Pioneer or a Settler?

By Jim Fannin

In life you are either a pioneer or a settler? In this usage, pioneers are usually among the first to an area. They lead the way. Settlers, on the other hand, arrive after first settlement and join others in the process of community. They follow.

As I reflect on my heritage, I recall Kentucky tales of the pioneer and adventurer, Daniel Boone. Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer and frontiersman. His exploits during the late 1700’s made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky (my home state). This territory was then beyond the western borders of the settled part of the 13 Colonies. Despite some resistance from American Indian tribes such as the Shawnee, in 1775 Boone blazed his Wilderness Trail through the Cumberland Gap in the Appalachian Mountains from North Carolina and Tennessee into Kentucky. There he founded the village of Boonesborough, Kentucky, one of the first English-speaking settlements west of the Appalachians. Before the end of the 18th century, more than 200,000 Europeans settled in this general area by following the route marked by Boone.

Are you a pioneer or a settler?

A pioneer mentally is adventuresome. It is daring and bold. With a dream under their arm, the pioneer marches into the unknown to find his calling. This person is without worry or anxiety regarding the obstacles they might face as they chase their goals and dreams. A pioneer spirit uplifts, motivates and inspires everyone they meet. With blinders in place, the pioneer forges ahead in the face of adversity. They seek a better place regardless of the sacrifice. Time, money, hardship and effort are the currency paid by the pioneer in reaching their dreams. The pioneer awakens each day with a need to achieve. There is purpose in each pioneer’s step. They cut down the psychological safety net that comfort the timid, fearful and weak. The pioneer has a “go for it” attitude. They dare to go where others seldom imagine. Are you a pioneer?

A settler tills the land once it’s been discovered. They set up shop. They settle in to daily routine. They hop a ride on these habits and adapt the mind of peaceful existence and co-existence. They take far less risk. They wait for things to take care of themselves. They react to what’s happened. They settle for what’s sure. They settle for what’s there and seldom expand their boundaries. It’s the settler that loses the need to venture out. They avoid confrontation. Although they may be good at what they do, they seldom are great.

Sometimes a settler quits dreaming. Once this stops, they “settle” for what is and seldom venture into what may be. Like the settling of the foundation of a house, it can turn small cracks of discontent and apathy into big cracks of despair and hopelessness. Now the mental and physical edifice, built over time, begins to crumble. The thoughts of shoulda’, coulda’ and woulda’ prevail. Do you settle with your current physique? Have you settled in your current relationship? Have you settled in your job or career? Are you a settler?

There’re two things for sure. In the future you will either be better or worse. It’s the pioneer that will accomplish the former. Stop settling! Put on your coonskin hat and forge ahead. Be the modern day Daniel Boone. Pioneer your dreams.

Be in the Zone!

Champions Eliminate These 20 Bad Habits

Champions Eliminate These 20 Bad Habits

Which of the above bad habits are getting in your way of success? Do the following to eliminate one or more on your personal list:

· To get one step closer to being your genuine, authentic best self, commit to making a positive change.

· Acknowledge that you possess a negative habit.

· Fix one negative habit at a time. Tackle the one that negatively impacts you the most in life, business or sports.

· Become aware in real time as the habit is revealed. Acknowledge it immediately once it is “tripped” before you embark on a negative action or reaction.

· Replace the negative habit with what you want. Envision this in finished state. Eliminate what you don’t want. Yes, I know you said you don’t want to be late. So now you must see being on time.

· Mentally state an affirmation directed to the negative habit as in “I’m on time” or “I eat slowly” or “I close.”

If you have any of the above negative habits, it has taken years to master them. How long will it take to bury and eventually replace them with positive healthy habits? I’ve seen it accomplished in 10 days. However, this timeframe will require mass quantities of repetition. Specifically, you must see the reverse of this behavior every night before you go to sleep (within 30-minutes) and when you awake in the morning (1st 10 minutes). For most of us, this amount of time is too much to invest. However, I encourage you to give this your best shot. You can do it! It is these landmines of negative habits that seem to always get in our way from accomplishing our goals and making our dreams come true.

Think like a champion.

Be a Kid Again!

Be a Kid Again!

By Jim Fannin

Why did you learn more from birth to five years old than the rest of your life combined? What prompted this super learning? My research from 1974-1979 with over 250,000 children ages 3-6 years old revealed the following:

  • Your imagination was at an all-time high. You acted the part of cowboys, Indians, princesses and TV heroes.
  • You never thought about the past unless an adult forced you. “I told you not to do that.”
  • You learned from the past through trial and error, but you didn’t dwell on it.
  • Your future thoughts were very short term. “We’ll get an ice cream later.”
  • You normally went to bed happy and woke up happy.
  • You had very little expectations placed on you. Mistakes were no big deal.
  • You exercised Free Will every day.
  • You trusted people without thinking about innuendos, rumor, gossip and/or assumptions.
  • You were inquisitive without concern of embarrassment or shame. “Where do babies come from?” “Why is your skin different?
  • You did not worry.
  • You lived the majority of your day in the NOW.
  • You had confidence because you felt secure and protected.
  • You could vent your displeasure openly. “Yuck! This tastes bad.”
  • You always expressed your negative feelings. “I don’t like you.”
  • You didn’t mind being alone.
  • You took nothing for granted. “Are we still going to the park? Yes. (5 minutes later) “Are we still going to the park?” “I said yes.” (10 minutes later) “Are we still going to the park?” “Not if you keep bothering me.” “Okay, but are we still going?”
  • You were a risk taker. Water…heights…speed…no problem!
  • You could focus long periods of time on simple things like cartoons…watching an ant carry food… listening to the rain on your bedroom window.
  • You played a lot every day.
  • You exercised daily.
  • You looked out for #1. “Those are my toys. Give them to me.”
  • You said what you felt and you were honest to a fault. “Mr. Johnson…why are you so fat?”
  • You felt no racism or prejudice.
  • When you played you never thought about technique. You just played the game.
  • You believed adults.
  • Clocks and watches never mattered.
  • The telephone was interesting but not really important.
  • You had no bills.
  • Your body was relaxed most of the time.
  • You thought you could do anything. Everything was possible.
  • You had deep sleeps. Alarm clocks were for adults.
  • You could nap anywhere if needed. Floors… backseat of cars…closets.
  • You didn’t like baths, but when you took them you made the most of it. How relaxing and fun! Showers were for adults in a hurry.
  • You could always entertain yourself.
  • Visualization was a major part of your life.
  • Getting dirty was cool.
  • Making mistakes never bothered you until the adults made a big deal out of them.
  • Competition was natural, not something that was expected.
  • You believed promises.
  • You hugged a lot.
  • You were always yourself unless you were acting out a fantasy.
  • Who…What… Where… When…How much…and Why were your favorite words.
  • You played a lot with your family.
  • You saw life through different glasses.
  • You noticed everything in a room.
  • You loved the outdoors.
  • You loved rolling down a hill…making a snow angel…going up the slide…singing loud…laughing …milk moustaches…dressing up make-believe…birthdays… parades…puppies…seeing your cousins…learning to whistle…
  • You genuinely loved yourself, family and life.

Basically, you lived in or near the Zone mindset of a purposeful calm where everything seemed possible. Isn’t it time to be a kid again? I promised myself that when I departed this earth a kid would die in my old body. Rekindle super-learning. Increase your daily performances and remember this: Good fortune favors the bold.

Be a kid again!