The desire to win is a commitment with ourselves: it´s the promise to give the very best. 

In that context we have the opportunity to exclusively focus on our personal self-improvement on the way to success and forget about external appreciation and recognition. It´s the decision to keep up our self-esteem and value, independently from any other opinion. 

It´s called THE INNER GAME. 

Winning 'the inner game' 

In one of my latest articles I mentioned that I was promoted to a leading position in an International Publishing House a few years ago. Since it was the very first time in my life I was accounting for such a role, my boss assigned a personal coach to support me during the initional stage. What I learned during that coaching was absolutely mind-blowing, not only referring to that specific role I was given and the lessons I needed to apply in my job. I learned for life. Today I would like to share some of these concepts with you. 

The outer vs. the inner game 

My coach divided the present scenario into the outer and the inner game. 

Success in our job as well as the recognition and appreciation from others are part of the 'outer game psychology'. There are some professional areas where it is difficult to measure results (success) or even recognize them in the short term. That is why people who work in these areas rarely receive the corresponding esteem - their doings are not effectively valued. A constant lack of recognition can lead to strong negative feelings or even depression. 

To avoid this passively evolving defense position where we wait for an external appreciation that won´t ever appear, we simply have to change our perspective - and focus on the inner game! 

Rule no. 1: Don´t be against the fact that life isn´t fair. 

What we need to do first is to forget about the romantic idea that we have all the same opportunities and that (professional) life is fair. That only happens in fary tales or in Hollywood. 

What really counts instead is that you have an important position (role), and that it is absolutely unimportant if you are considered being successful in that position or not. That means 'playing the inner game'. 

The inner game is a commitment with yourself: you simply give your very best. Always. 

If you really do whatever you are able to and recognize that just by yourself, then you can´t ever get depressed. That´s the way you keep up your own self-esteem. Then you win, unless you have lost the 'outer game' (and don´t receive external recognition). 

Especially as a Manager it is important to focus on the inner game. As a global player it is getting very complicated to win the outer game since markets are becoming less transparent and extremely competitive. As long as our self-worth depends on external factors, we can´t ever win and won´t ever become truly content. 

We have to change the context and start focussing on us, thus we need to exclusively concentrate ourselves on our own doings and their outcome.
There is no need to be loved. 

If I am an inner games winner, I will automatically feel good and be more motivated. Then my positive mindset will have a considerable impact on my results (the outer game - bam!). 

Lesson learned:
My success is not a specific and countable result, my success is a constant process. 

Everything we do with a certain inspiration and inner impulse, doesn´t tire us too fast. As a positive side effect our PRO-attitude will help us to be even more efficient at what we are doing. 

Success is a debt to be collected at the debtor´s residence 

The focus on the inner game requires a lot of self-discipline. You may lie to others but you can´t lie to yourself. If you don´t give the very best at what you are doing, you will know that by yourself. 

If you were a successful football player and your coach told you to concentrate on your continuous improvement during the day-to-day training, to furthermore maintain a healthy way of living and stay focussed on your personal aims, then fulfilling these requirements would be your personal commitment. 

In the long term your constant focus on the inner game will help you to improve yourself - and then start winning the outer game as well. The players who just considered the outer game - external influences and expectations - wouldn´t success in the long term. They would try to be perfect right a way without working on the real problem (themselves). 

We rise to a challenge 

Only where life has a meaning, contentment can evolve. 

The meaning in this context is: self-improvement. We rise to the challenge to constantly improve ourselves, highly concentrated and extremely entertained. Once we have understood that it´s not about the success but about the process to get there, then we win. 

Remember: even the inner game is still a game! Sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn. But you cannot lose. 

Winning is not about externally measured success, it´s a personal process. Global players are moving themselves in highly competitive and nontransparent markets, where recognition and appreciation of success are rare. That´s why it is important to focus on the inner game which means ALWAYS GIVING THE VERY BEST. That´s our personal commitment - the promise we give to ourselves. Once we have understood that winning happens by appreciating our own self-improvement, we won´t ever lose again. 

I hope you enjoyed the read.
Good luck and happy games, Steemians! :)
Marly -

Picture sources:
Title: http://blog.eurolotto.com/
Inner game quote: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/
Downgrade dream quote: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/