2011 Australian Open Winner's Special Edition: Inside The Mind Of Andy Murray

You mean you haven't read 10 Traits of Winning Athletes? Listen, if you're planning on winning as an athlete or you simply need to understand winning, do these things. First, buy the book, and then, keep reading the blog, because I'm telling you How To WIN. Somebody get this to LeBron before it's too late. BAM!

Now, before I begin, let me say that it takes unbelievable winning abilities to even play at this level, thus Andy Murray deserves a lot of credit for being in this final. However, the point of this final is to win, which Novak Djokovic did, not Murray.

As you read, you will experience what it is that Murray must have been thinking as he was whacked in three sets by Djokovic. Read on, enjoy, and learn.

Thought 1: "Dang it! I need to drop goal-setting." Listen, those who set goals to win rarely do. Those who have winning destinations usually do win. Consequently, those with destinations win way more than the weak goal-setters.

Goal-setting is code for losing. Goal-setters hope to win while those with destinations eventually do win, somehow, someway. It was evident that Djokovic had decided to win the Open, whereas Murray was hoping that something would work out. Make sense?

Thought 2: "Don't lose your cool, man! Don't lose it! I lost it!" In my upcoming book, BAM!, I explain that winners are composed, because they know at some point they will win (somehow, someway).

Murray was anything but composed. At that world class level of athletics, winners cannot freak out when things aren't going so well, and it was clearly evident that Murray did lose his composure. His body language showed it, his yells at his group in the stands proved it, and his various "sudden injuries" magnified it. Bummer.

Thought 3: "Man, this is harder than I thought." Write this down, Mr. or Ms. Winning Athlete. If winning was easy, everyone would do it.

Again, to reach the level at which Andy Murray plays is beyond admirable; it's freaking amazing. With that said, you can only imagine the requirements of what it takes to win at that level.

During the final, one of the announcers for ESPN talked about how easy the win seemed to be for Djokovic. Don't kid yourself. Winning is not easy, and it is reserved for those who transform from having winning abilities (Murray) to those who have become winners (Djokovic).

Feelin' me? Murray has winning abilities, but Djokovic has transformed into a winner.

Let's wrap this baby up. To win, at any level, there are three things (out of many) you must understand. Winners do not have goals, they set destinations. They don't "leave it on the field" or "do their best." Crikey, they win.

Winners don't "wig out" during the tough times. They know it's just a matter of time, they stay composed and keep winning. Finally, winners appreciate and respect winning because they know how hard it is to, well, win. Let's see if Andy Murray reads and applies what I've written. It appears that Djokovic already has. BAM!