Have you ever noticed how some athletic teams seem to have winning seasons year after year? The reason these teams win so often is because winning is part of their team culture. Because of their rich history of success and a ‘mystique’ created by it, everyone involved in the organization—from the players to the coaches to the families, friends and fans, believe that the team will win. It’s almost as if the belief that they’ll win, no matter what the challenges, becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the results speak for themselves. Then, there seem to be others who are either inconsistent or have back-to-back losing seasons and seem to struggle hard to turn it around.

I have always believed in the importance of developing a winning culture. When you do the right things, the right way, at the right time, all of the time, good things happen. It is an interesting phenomenon that at my little high school, our girls’ basketball team captured the state championship nine years in a row in their school classification. They are positioned to do the same again this year. The guys’ team hasn’t done as well. What is it about the culture of the girls’ program that is allowing them to win? From my observation, the difference is in the attitudes and expectations of everyone involved. Building a winning season definitely takes good athletes. Building a winning program requires a culture that supports winning.

This can be just as clearly seen in our TOPS chapters. There are some chapters whose members produce great success in their weight loss journeys year after year. They have new people reach goal, winning awards for their efforts, attract new people to join them and inspire those people to succeed as well. They have established a culture of success. It isn’t just a great effort of one individual. Their chapter team seems to be composed of people dedicated to good health for everyone. They are willing to do the right the things, in the right way, at the right time and all of the time. There is nothing special in the water that the girls’ basketball team or these chapters drink that makes them winners. They are winners because they expect to be winners, and they prepare like winners. Building a culture of success is not easy…but it is possible…and it starts by believing you can win!

Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.”
David Frost

Do you love being healthy? Do you love being active? Do you love being happy? Do you love making the best of each day? Surround yourself with like-minded people, enjoy yourself, enjoy each other and enjoy what happens!

I Care, Barb