Introduction
The Strange Way Winners Are Made. Everyone wants to win. But most people never do. Why? Because they follow the normal path. They do what everyone else does. However, the normal path leads to normal results.
Consequently, you need a different approach. You need the strange way. This path is counter-intuitive. It feels wrong at first. This is how real winners are made.
In this article, you will learn why the process of being made matters more than the desire to win. Furthermore, you will discover why the strange way is actually the smartest way.
Why the “Normal” Way Keeps You from Being Made
The traditional advice is broken. Specifically, it focuses on hustle and grind. Nevertheless, this advice often produces burnout, not winners. Let’s explore why.
The Trap of Conventional Wisdom: The Strange Way Winners Are Made
Conventional wisdom tells you to go to school, get a job, and work hard. Indeed, this is safe. However, safe does not create outliers. In fact, a study on expert performance by Dr. Anders Ericsson showed that deliberate practice matters. But how you practice is strange. It is not just repetition. It is targeted, painful correction of weaknesses. Therefore, most people avoid this discomfort. They stick to what is easy. Consequently, they remain average (Ericsson & Pool, 2016).
The Illusion of the Straight Line: The Strange Way Winners Are Made
We love stories of overnight success. But those stories are lies. Truly, the path to success is messy. For example, Steve Jobs was fired from Apple before returning to save it. Obviously, that was not a straight line. Instead, it was a strange detour. The market rewards those who navigate chaos, not those who avoid it. Hence, the straight line is an illusion (Isaacson, 2011).
The Resistance to the Strange: The Strange Way Winners Are Made
Your brain is wired to seek safety. Specifically, the amygdala triggers fear when you try something new. As a result, you stick to the crowd. However, the crowd is not winning. In fact, a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that most millionaires are business owners, not employees. Yet, starting a business is “strange” to most people. It is risky. But the risk of staying normal is greater (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).
The Strange Way: Embracing the Counter-Intuitive
Here is the secret: to win, you must do what feels wrong. You must embrace the paradox.
The Power of “Unproductive” Time
We think busyness equals progress. But that is false. In reality, your brain needs downtime to solve complex problems. For instance, a 2019 study in Nature Reviews Neuroscience found that the default mode network—the brain’s “resting” state—is critical for creativity and memory consolidation. Therefore, taking a walk or doing nothing is not lazy. It is essential for the strange way. Winners are made in silence, not just in noise (Andrews-Hanna et al., 2019).
Winning by Quitting: The Strange Way Winners Are Made
This sounds incredible. But quitting is a superpower. Specifically, you must quit the wrong things to make room for the right things. For example, if a project has no future, pouring more time into it is wasteful. This is the sunk cost fallacy. However, winners cut losses fast. Consequently, they free up energy for high-impact work. In the words of Seth Godin, “Winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt.” This is a strange way to win, but it works (Godin, 2007).
The “Backwards” Law
The more you chase success, the more it runs away. Conversely, when you focus on the process, success comes to you. This is the backwards law. For example, if you obsess over money, you make desperate decisions. But if you obsess over solving a problem, money follows. Thus, winners are made by detaching from the outcome. They attach to the work. This is a strange but powerful shift (Frankl, 1946).
The Anatomy of How Winners Are Made (Not Born)
No one is born a winner. Instead, they are forged. The process is ugly, but the result is beautiful.
The Refining Fire of Ugly Beginnings
Your first draft will be bad. Your first business idea will likely fail. But that is the point. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that early career setbacks can increase long-term success. Why? Because failure teaches resilience. Therefore, you must be broken down before you are built up. The strange way requires humility. Winners are made through scars, not trophies (Seibert et al., 2013).
The Gap Between the Work and the Win
There is a lag between effort and results. Specifically, you might work hard for months with zero visible progress. Consequently, most people quit during this gap. But winners understand the gap. They trust the process. They know that the strange way requires patience. For example, James Dyson created 5,126 failed prototypes before the vacuum cleaner worked. He bridged the gap by refusing to stop. Therefore, persistence in the “boring” middle is where winners are truly made (Dyson, 1997).
The Specific Habits of the “Made”-The Strange Way Winners Are Made
Winners do not rely on motivation. Instead, they rely on systems. For instance, they wake up early. They exercise. They read. These are not glamorous habits. But they are effective. According to a study in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes an average of 66 days to form a habit. Winners push past day 10 when it hurts. They push past day 30 when it is boring. Therefore, they are made by discipline, not by mood (Lally et al., 2010).
Applying the Strange Way to Your Own Journey
You cannot just read about this. You must act. Here is how to implement the strange way.
Redefining Your Metrics for “Winning”
Stop measuring only money or fame. Instead, measure inputs. For example, measure how many hours you spent in deep work. Measure how many times you failed and learned. Therefore, your scoreboard changes. This is a strange way to track progress, but it keeps you sane. As a result, you will stay motivated even when external results are slow (Newport, 2016).
Designing Your Strange Routine
Build a routine that looks weird to outsiders. For instance, wake up at 5 AM and write for one hour before checking your phone. Or, take a 2-hour walk in the middle of the day. Additionally, schedule “blank space” on your calendar for thinking. These actions seem unproductive. Nevertheless, they are the exact actions that make winners. Therefore, design a routine that protects your deep work (Clear, 2018).
The Loneliness of the Strange Path: The Strange Way Winners Are Made
When you start doing strange things, people will criticize you. They will say you are wasting time. They will tell you to be “realistic.” But you must ignore them. Specifically, you must accept that the path to greatness is lonely. In fact, a 2021 study in Psychological Science found that non-conformists often face social rejection initially. However, they are later celebrated as innovators. Therefore, do not fear the loneliness. It is a sign you are on the right track (Bellezza et al., 2021).
Conclusion
The strange way is not magic. It is just the hidden machinery of how winners are made. You do not need more talent. You need more courage to walk the path others avoid.
So, start today. Do the opposite of the crowd. Rest when they hustle. Quit the wrong things. Focus on the boring work. Consequently, you will become the winner you always wanted to be. The strange way is waiting for you.
References
- Andrews-Hanna, J. R., et al. (2019). The default network and self-generated thought: component processes, dynamic control, and clinical relevance. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 20(10), 593–608.
- Bellezza, S., et al. (2021). The Red Sneakers Effect: Inferring Status and Competence from Signals of Nonconformity. Psychological Science, 32(3), 375–388.
- Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Avery.
- Dyson, J. (1997). Against the Odds: An Autobiography. Orion Business Books.
- Ericsson, A., & Pool, R. (2016). Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
- Frankl, V. E. (1946). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.
- Godin, S. (2007). The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick). Portfolio.
- Isaacson, W. (2011). Steve Jobs. Simon & Schuster.
- Lally, P., et al. (2010). How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40(6), 998–1009.
- Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Grand Central Publishing.
- Seibert, S. E., et al. (2013). Even the best laid plans sometimes go askew: Career self-management processes, career shocks, and the decision to pursue graduate education. Journal of Applied Psychology, 98(1), 169–182.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Characteristics of the Self-Employed. BLS Reports.
