Introduction
Have you ever looked at someone successful and thought, “What are they doing differently?”
We’ve all had that moment. Whether it’s a friend acing their career or someone effortlessly leading a team, it seems like they’ve cracked some secret code.
But I was wrong.
The real winners? They weren’t always the most brilliant.
But, they did have something in common: small habits and a solid mindset.
And that’s exactly what The Habit of Winning by Prakash Iyer talks about.
This book doesn’t promise overnight miracles. Instead, it offers real-life stories and practical lessons that help us build the right mindset, attitude, and Behavior to succeed. not just once, but again and again.
If you’re someone trying to grow, looking for direction, or just need a gentle reminder to keep going.
this summary is for you.
Let’s explore what makes this book a goldmine of wisdom.
In a Hurry? These are the Key takeaways You Need
About the Author – Prakash Iyer
Before we jump in, let’s talk about the man behind the book.
Prakash Iyer is a former corporate leader, the ex-Managing Director of Kimberly Clark Lever and an IIM Ahmedabad alum.
But beyond corporate titles, he’s a storyteller, coach, and someone who believes in the power of human potential.
Through his writing and speeches, he’s inspired thousands and this book is a collection of such inspiration.
It’s story-driven. Every page feels like getting advice from someone who’s already walked the path and truly wants you to win.
What’s This Book Really About?
The title itself is powerful: The Habit of Winning. It’s not about winning once. It’s about doing the right things repeatedly so that winning becomes a way of life.
This book is a collection of short stories, personal experiences, and motivational insights — all designed to help us reflect, rethink, and realign.
And the beauty? It’s simple. There’s no jargon. Just real stories. Honest lessons. And a message that anyone — yes, anyone, can be a winner if they choose to build the right habits.
Let’s break it down into 10 powerful lessons.
1. Winning is a Choice, Not a Privilege
One of the strongest messages in the book is that winning isn’t reserved for the lucky or the gifted. It’s a choice.
Let me tell you a quick story.
There was a cricketer, not the most naturally gifted guy on the team. He didn’t hit the ball the hardest, nor did he have flashy moves. But every day, he was the first to arrive and the last to leave. Always practicing. Always learning.
A few years later, he made it to the national team. Why? Because he chose to show up. Daily. Without excuses.
And that’s exactly what Prakash Iyer says: winning isn’t about talent or fate. It’s about choosing to do the work, even when it’s boring or uncomfortable.
💡 Takeaway: We don’t need to be special. We just need to choose effort, consistently.
2. Small Actions Create Big Results
We often look for big breakthroughs. But it was shown how greatness is built through small steps taken consistently.
We all love setting goals — New Year’s resolutions, dream boards, that kind of stuff.
But here’s what most of us forget: goals don’t work unless habits support them.
One story in the book was about a salesperson who didn’t set huge targets. Instead, he had one small habit, he followed up with just one more client before logging off every day.
That habit made him the top performer.
It reminded us that it’s not about doing something massive once. It’s about doing small things every day with discipline.
💡 Takeaway: Want big results? Start small. Really small. And then just repeat.
3. Attitude is Everything
A line from the book stuck with me: “Attitude is like a flat tire — you can’t go anywhere unless you fix it.”
There’s a story about a job applicant who didn’t have the right qualifications but had a brilliant attitude — polite, humble, eager to learn.
he gets rejected in multiple interviews, yet never gave up. He stayed positive, kept learning, and eventually landed a leadership role.
The reason wasn’t skill. It was mindset.
💡 Takeaway: Skills matter, but your attitude makes people root for you.
4. Focus on the Process, Not Just the Prize
In our fast paced world, results often steal the spotlight. But Iyer reminded us that consistent effort is what drives true success.
One story from the book is about a young girl training for a marathon. She didn’t win her first few races, but her coach always focused on how she was running, her form, pace, stamina . not just the final timing.
Years later, she became a national champion.
💡 Takeaway: When we give our best to the process, the results eventually take care of themselves.
5. Leadership Begins When We Take Ownership
Many of us think leadership is about position or power. But this book showed otherwise.
You don’t need a title to lead.
One of my favorite stories in the book is about a guy who worked in a company’s logistics team. cleaned the office pantry every day, even though it wasn’t his job.
Why? Because he believed in taking ownership.
That simple act got noticed and eventually, he got promoted.
Leadership starts when responsibility is taken. even when nobody is watching.
💡 Takeaway: Leadership starts with doing what needs to be done. even when no one’s watching.
6. Learn from Every Failure
One powerful message was this: “Failing is not the opposite of success. It’s part of it.“
We’ve all failed.
I’ve launched blogs that flopped, written posts no one read, and made decisions I still regret. But looking back, those were the moments that taught me the most.
The Habit of Winning has a similar story of a young MBA grad who didn’t clear his interviews for months. But instead of giving up, he treated each rejection as a lesson. Finally, he landed a job that changed his career.
💡 Takeaway: Don’t fear failure. Use it. It’s not a wall. It’s a stepping stone
7. Stay Hungry, Stay Humble
This line reminded us of Steve Jobs. But it holds true in every field.
In The Habit of Winning, winners were shown to be people who are always curious. They ask questions, stay grounded and learn from everyone.
But in one story, Iyer talks about a CEO who listened to every intern and janitor. He believed everyone had something to teach.
His company flourished. not just because he was smart, but because he was humble and grounded.
💡 Takeaway: No matter how far we go, there’s always more to learn. Stay curious. Stay grounded.
8. Power of Positive Thinking
Let’s be honest. Positivity has become a buzzword.
But The Habit of Winning brings it back to reality.
The book didn’t talk about blind optimism. Instead, it showed how winners reframe problems and stay hopeful.
There’s a story about a manager whose team was under pressure after losing a big client. Instead of panicking, he told them, “We’ll figure it out and we’ll do it better this time.”
That belief shifted everything.
💡 Takeaway: Positivity isn’t about ignoring problems. It’s about believing we can.
9. Teamwork Makes Us Stronger
This one hit me hard.
Winning isn’t a solo act. This was made clear through stories of sports teams, work teams, and even school groups.
There’s a beautiful story about a race, where one runner who gave up his gold medal to help an injured competitor. They finish the race together.
He didn’t win a medal. But he won something bigger that is respect.
And that’s what teamwork does. It builds empathy, collaboration, and long-term success.
💡 Takeaway: You don’t have to go it alone. Winning together is more powerful than winning alone.
10. The Secret? Just Keep Showing Up
The final and perhaps most underrated lesson was this: Don’t give up. Just keep going.
This is the lesson I return to most.
There’s no shortcut. No secret sauce. The only magic? Showing up. especially on days when it’s hard.
Prakash Iyer shares a story about a student who failed his exams three times. Most would’ve quit. He didn’t. He cleared it on his fourth try and topped his batch. Not because he got smarter overnight. But because he kept showing up.
💡 Takeaway: Talent is great. But persistence? That’s unbeatable.
Personal Takeaways From the Book
Reading The Habit of Winning felt like talking to a wise friend. It didn’t complicate. It just reminded us of things we already knew, but had forgotten.
What hit home most was the idea that we are in control. Our choices, our habits, our attitude — they’re all in our hands.
We loved the real-life examples and the simple tone of the book. There was no fluff. Just honest wisdom. It reminded us that winners aren’t born — they’re built.
Final Thoughts – Build Your Winning Habit
Let’s not overthink it. Let’s not wait for motivation.
Winning starts with action. Tiny action. Daily action.
Let’s choose to show up. do the boring things.
Let’s fix our attitude, build better habits, and help others along the way.
Prakash Iyer didn’t give us shortcuts. He gave us a mirror. A mirror that shows who we can become — if we just build the habit of winning.
We’re not finished products. We’re works in progress. And that’s exciting.
So starting today, let’s take one small step. Let’s build one winning habit. And then another. And another.