4.4 Robert Saleh: Four Types of Competitors

“Focus on the things you have control over, like what kind of competitor you are going to be.”

Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh says there are four types of competitors, and the four levels represent a mindset that we all have complete control over.

The four types of competitors are: Survivors, Contenders, Competitors, and Commanders.

Survivors are at the bottom. They are the athletes who do just enough to get by and love taking the easy way out. They are the ones who never go first, who never go as hard as they can go, and who cut corners every chance they get. The worst part about survivors is that they will do everything they can to pull other people down and back with them.

Contenders are the athletes who do well and work hard when they think they can win or get something out of it. They are front runners who are motivated by external factors, but they won’t push past their comfort zone unless they are sure they can win.

Competitors show up and compete to the best of their ability no matter what because they want to be the best they can be. They want to win and hate losing, but it's more than winning or losing; it's about maxing out their potential so they can win more and lose less. They are internally motivated to do their best regardless of their situation, and they want to set personal records every day.

Commanders have all the traits that Competitors have except one thing: They are leaders who bring people with them.

Every day, you get to decide which competitor you want to be.

Question of the Day: Which type of competitor are you?