One afternoon, a young boy was enjoying a game of checkers with his grandpa on the back porch. Before long, he realized that he hadn’t won a single game. He spoke up and said, “Grandpa, you always win.” The grandfather responded and asked, “Well, you don’t want me to lose on purpose, do you? If I lost on purpose, you’d never learn anything.” The little boy looked back across the checkerboard and said with great passion, “But I don’t want to learn anything. I just want to win.”

There are so many people in life that don’t want to learn anything. They just want to win. They’ve not yet discovered that there is a relationship between learning something and winning. These individuals tend to focus on finding shortcuts. They constantly search for the easy way. They want to win. They want the medal. They want the trophy. They want the applause. But they don’t want to pay the price.

If you want to win, you must open your eyes, clean out your ears and surround yourself with successful people. Taking these steps will position you to discover their strategies for success. The Word of God is clear about our responsibility to learn and utilize what we learn in order to reach our full potential for the kingdom of God. Proverbs 18:15 says, “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” It is no accident that God gave us one mouth and two ears. When we refuse to hear, we sabotage our God-given potential.

If we are going to win, we need to surround ourselves with successful people, close our mouths, and grab a notepad and a pen. We need to ask questions. We need to observe. Here’s why…successful people are not successful by accident. By discovering the key to their lives, we’ll discover the key to our lives as well. Pick an area that you’d like to win in. Find someone that’s been successful in that area. Spend 30 minutes with that person. Ask them questions. Listen intently to their answers. At this point, you’re ready to take their information and apply it to your own life. If you are willing to do this, your life will change…all because you took the initiative to spend some time with people that are successful and already winning at life.

When you spend time with these individuals, here’s what you should look and listen for: (1) Commitment. Never seek advice from someone who has trouble sticking with what they commit to. (2) Excellence. In many ways, excellence is a lost art. Connect with someone who gives 100% to what they do. (3) Integrity. It takes courage to create a meaningful life of integrity. It also requires good company and practice. Gossips and manipulators should be avoided. (4) Time Management. People who cannot effectively and efficiently manage their time shouldn’t be speaking into your life. (5) Attitude. Attitude is one of the most underrated qualities of character and integrity. It will literally make or break you. (6) Relationships. This is key. Don’t waste your time seeking relationship advice from people who burn relational bridges with everyone. If they struggle with relationships, move on. (7) Priorities. As believers, we must understand the proper order of our priorities. Christians should never seek the advice of those who are not washed in the blood and filled with the Spirit. (8) Solid Family Values. Family values are under attack. Do not allow someone with a poor view of family access to your mind and heart. (9) Energy. Seek wisdom and knowledge from those who wake up each day ready to move mountains and get things done. Never forget that there are two types of people in this world…those who make deposits and those who make withdrawals. Seek out those who bring positive energy every day. (10) Peace. It is vitally important to spend time with people who seek and value peace in their lives.

This process begins when you identify someone who has something you don’t currently have. The next steps are so important…ask…listen…learn. Your life is filled with people that you can learn from. The Bible is clear concerning those we should be emulating. Galatians 5:19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

On the contrary, the Apostle Paul said, in verses 22 and 23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” This is how you learn. This is how you win. The two cannot be separated.