The hardest thing about getting to the top is breaking through the crowd at the bottom or at least walking up that long hill if you're old like me. Most people aren't moving toward winning, you can't allow yourself the luxury of spending a lot of time doing the same things they do. Unless it's a midnight golf league with glow in the dark golf balls. Losers never play midnight golf. All you have to do is refuse to accept losing.
People generally get what they expect and are willing to accept.
What you want out of life usually has little to do with what you get out of life. So expect to win and accept nothing less. Oh, and don't mistake the outcome of the first battle for the outcome of the last. The war ain't over till you say it is. In a pie eating contest, you just gotta take one more bite than the other guy.