You Don’t Have to Win to Be a Winner
Iv so many fighters think that their sport is only about their record and the amount of wins they have had.
These are the same fighters who will never be happy, your sport is 100% about your evolution, who you become through the fire, the pain, the sweat, the falls and the damn beautiful journey. Whether your hand gets raised or not, every round changes you. Every fight refines you. Every loss teaches you.
This is the heart of Inner Excellence, a mindset that frees you from fear and fuels you with purpose.
Winning and losing don’t define you.
How you fight, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, that’s what does.
This is how the elite stay calm under pressure. How they bounce back from setbacks. How they love the game even when it breaks them.
These principles changed my life and the life of many others, so If you're ready to think, train, and live like a fighter with true mastery, completely fulfilled, these mind blowing, life changing points are for you.
1. The Real Goal: Becoming, Not Just Winning
What if your next fight wasn’t about the Win?
What if it was about becoming stronger, calmer, freer?
That’s the core of Inner Excellence.
You’re not just chasing wins. You’re chasing growth. Wins and losses are just feedback. You either win or you evolve.
✅ Fighter Mindset Shift:
Say this before every session:
“This is part of my becoming. Win or learn. I can’t lose.”
2. Enjoy the Journey, Not Just the Results
The fighter who only feels good after a win will burn out fast.
The one who loves the process, the early runs, the tough rounds, the grulling s&c, the quiet moments, that fighter? They last. They grow. They thrive.
Jim Murphy reminds us that joy doesn’t come after success, it’s part of the path to success.
✅ Fighter Practice:
Start enjoying every piece of the game, being present:
The sweat before sunrise
The struggle to breathe in round 4
The nerves before walking out
That is the game. Love every damn piece of it.
3. Detach from the Outcome, Anchor to the Moment
The more you crave a specific outcome, the more pressure you create.
But when you focus on the present moment, your body performs how it was trained.
Inner Excellence teaches: The present is where flow lives. Where confidence lives. Where peak performance happens.
✅ Fighter Anchor:
Pick a mantra like:
“I’m here. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Say it between rounds, or every time you touch gloves. Let it bring you back to now. (Watch any pro athlete, the greats, you will see them talking to themselves, they do it, why dont you!?)
4. Losses Don’t Break You. They Build You.
The loss you’re afraid of? It might be the best thing that ever happens to you.
Why? Because it humbles you. Refocuses you. Sharpens your edge.
Jim Murphy explains that setbacks aren't failures, they’re the essential pieces of mastery. If you can reframe your loss as a lesson, a doorway to growth, you always win.
✅ Fighter Mentality:
After a loss, ask:
What did I learn?
Where did I hold back?
How did this grow me?
Then say: “Thank you.” And get your ass back to work.
5. Mastery > Motivation
Anyone can train hard when they feel good.
But Inner Excellence is about mastery. That means showing up even when you’re tired, sore, or uncertain. It’s about building habits, not hype.
Motivation fades. Mastery stays.
✅ Fighter Reminder:
Your mindset in the tough days is what separates you. Don’t chase motivation. Chase mastery.
6. Trust the Work. Let Go. Perform Free.
The best fighters trust their preparation and let it flow.
The worst ones overthink, hesitate, or chase perfection.
Inner Excellence teaches: When you let go of control, and trust the moment, you perform with freedom.
✅ Fighter Cue:
Before sparring or competition, say:
“I’ve done the work. Now let it go.”
“Be free. Be dangerous.”
That’s when the real fighter shows up.
7. You Are Not Your Record
This is MASSIVE.
You’re not just a fighter. You’re a human who fights.
Your record isn’t your identity. Your intention is.
Jim Murphy emphasizes this so well: when your identity is wrapped in outcomes, every loss feels like death. But when your identity is based on who you choose to be, resilient, focused, composed, you stay grounded.
✅ Fighter Shift:
Ask yourself:
“Who do I want to be in the ring?”
Then live that every day, win or lose.
8. The Journey Is the Reward
Most fighters think they’ll feel fulfilled once they win the belt.
But Inner Excellence reveals a truth deeper than gold: It’s the journey that changes you.
The late nights, the sacrifices, the doubt, the breakthroughs, that's the reward.
The belt is a symbol. But the fighter you became to earn it? That’s the real prize.
✅ Fighter Truth:
Say it every day: “The journey is the reward.”
Live it. Breathe it. And you’ll fight with purpose no matter what.
You want to be elite right, to feel so damn fulfilled in your sport every day?
Then shift your mindset. Stop chasing outcomes. Start chasing growth.
Whether you win, lose, or get knocked out, you can’t lose if you’re committed to becoming better.
This is what Inner Excellence gives you:
Clarity
Calm under fire
Freedom to perform
A mindset that grows stronger with every rep, round, and fight
Because the real fighter is the one who shows up fully, lives in the moment, and trusts the journey.
And when you live that way, you’ve already won.
Don't just fight - Fight by design
The mindset and tools shared in this article are inspired by the powerful teachings in Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy. This book is a game changer for any athlete, coach, or human being who wants to live with purpose, train with presence, and perform with freedom. Jim’s words challenge you to go beyond the surface, to embrace discomfort, and to find strength in surrender.
If you're serious about becoming the best version of yourself, not just in sport, but in life, Inner Excellence belongs on your shelf and in your heart.
Thank you, Jim, for writing something that every fighter needs, even if they don’t know it yet.
