Understanding the Winner Effect

When a mouse repeatedly defeats its opponents, it grows more aggressive, increasing its chances of future victories. This "winner effect" occurs due to shifts in synaptic plasticity, as highlighted in recent research published in Cell.

From this we can learn about

> The Role of Dopamine in Learning and Motivation

> The Neuroscience of Confidence and Success

> that Failure Reinforces Failure (If Not Managed Well), and that

> Success and Persistence Are Self-Reinforcing

Now, let's replace that mouse with a human being, and replace that territory dispute with:

• – A small daily habit maintained
• – A meaningful conversation
• – A personal best at the gym
• – A successful business pitch

Each victory, no matter how small, is quietly rewiring your brain for more success. But it works both ways. If you're stuck in a losing streak, it's crucial to reverse the cycle.

The Two Paths: Ripples Up or Ripples Down

Think of your life as a body of water. Actions and results create ripples. These ripples can flow in two directions:

Rising Tide (Upward Ripples): One win boosts your confidence → enhanced confidence improves performance → better performance leads to more wins → each success amplifies the next.
Ebbing Tide (Downward Ripples): Perceived failure dampens confidence → decreased confidence affects performance → reduced performance leads to setbacks → each setback deepens the trough.

Which direction are your ripples flowing right now? Is there a momentum or a pattern to it?

Breaking free from Ebbing Tide

Change Your Perception of Winning

Winning is subjective. Your brain doesn’t always distinguish between real and perceived success. Use this to your advantage:

• – Remember past wins—relive them in your mind.
• – Celebrate small victories—even minor achievements build confidence.
• – Reframe failure—instead of feeling like you lost, ask yourself: What did I learn?

Build a Habit of Recognizing Wins

Try writing down three wins at the end of each day. Even if they seem small, they add up and shift your mindset toward progress.

Reward Effort, Not Just Results

Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman highlights a crucial insight:

• – Kids praised for their intelligence often avoid challenges to protect their “smart” identity.
• – Kids praised for their effort tend to seek harder problems and grow more.
• – The same applies to adults—rewarding effort leads to sustained improvement.

Rather than only celebrating external achievements, learn to appreciate the process. For example:

• – Instead of focusing only on how many views a video gets, appreciate the craftsmanship and the effort put into it.
• – If you worked hard but didn’t get the desired result, acknowledge the discipline and growth gained in the process.

Stack Wins by Taking Small, Consistent Actions

Momentum compounds. If you're stuck, start with tiny wins:

• – Did you make your bed this morning?
• – Did you drink water when you woke up?
• – Did you read one paragraph of that book?

These aren't just tasks – they're victory seeds. Each one has the potential to grow into something bigger.

A Surprising Factor: Birth Month & Success

An interesting study found that the month you’re born plays a role in athletic success:

• – In sports like soccer, professional players are disproportionately born early in the year.
• – Why? Because youth sports teams have age cutoffs, so kids born earlier in the year tend to be older and stronger than their peers in the same age group.
• – This initial advantage compounds over time, leading to greater success.

This highlights a key lesson: Early advantages matter, but awareness allows us to level the playing field. If you started at a disadvantage, consciously create small advantages for yourself to counteract it.

Conclusion: Success and Persistence Are Self-Reinforcing

At its core, the Winner Effect is about momentum. Whether you're in an upward or downward spiral, the key is to recognize where you are and take small steps to shift momentum in your favor.

• – If you’re winning: Keep reinforcing your success by challenging yourself, stacking victories, and staying in motion.
• – If you’re losing: Reframe what “winning” means, focus on process-based success, and create small wins to rebuild momentum.

No matter where you are today, you can use these insights to start winning—on your terms.