7.28 Althea Gibson: Mindset

“The loser is always a part of the problem; the winner is always a part of the answer. The loser always has an excuse; the winner always has a program. The loser says it may be possible, but it’s difficult; the winner says it may be difficult, but it’s possible.” - Althea Gibson

When things go wrong, do you focus on blame and what’s wrong, or do you focus on solutions and what can be done differently?

Althea Gibson was a groundbreaking American athlete who broke racial barriers in both tennis and golf. She was the first Black player to win a Grand Slam tennis title, paving the way for future legends like Serena Williams and Venus Williams.

She once said, “The loser is always a part of the problem; the winner is always a part of the answer. The loser always has an excuse; the winner always has a program. The loser says it may be possible, but it’s difficult; the winner says it may be difficult, but it’s possible.”

What does this mean?

Losers have a victim’s mindset that focuses on the wrong things: blaming others and making excuses. Winners have a fighter’s mindset that focuses on the right things: what we can learn and how we can be better.

That doesn’t mean losers always lose and winners always win—nobody is perfect.

This quote highlights the difference in mindset between individuals who remain stuck and those who find a way forward.

Good and bad things happen to everyone, and our identity is tied to how we respond to them.

Question of the Day: Through the good and the bad, how can you focus more on the right things that move you forward and not the wrong things that keep you stuck?