The SEO Loser Mindset Mentality

What Separates SEO Winners From Whiners? Mindset.

This week's sponsor is Rankability

I recently read listened to the book “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind” by T Harv Eker. The TL;DR of this book, as it relates to this article, is below.

Rich people think "big" and focus on opportunities
Poor people often focus on obstacles and let fear drive their decisions.

Now, before someone lights me up on any socialz, let me be clear: there were parts of this book I found helpful, but a lot of it felt overly simplistic and lacked any real acknowledgment of life circumstances, privilege, or systemic barriers.

That said… humor me for a second, because there is a valuable mindset lesson here for SEOs.

---

This Week’s #SEOForLunch Sponsor is Rankability.

Only 0.3% of the Top 1,000 Websites Use LLMS.txt. Should You?

The new llms.txt file hasn’t picked up steam, but it may be helpful for training LLMs. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to create it with Rankability’s free generator and validator.

New to llms.txt? Read our guide.

---

The Loser SEO Mindset

You already know where this is headed, right?

How often do you hear (or maybe even say) things like:

• Google is stealing my clicks (thanks, AI Overviews).

• SEO is no longer fair. It’s become pay-to-play, just like paid search!

• The competition is cranking out AI content!

• They’re buying links and getting away with it!

• I used to get XYZ performance for ABC price, WTF happened?!

• That brand outranks me? Nobody in the industry even knows them!

Here’s the thing — none of this is necessarily wrong.

But even if it’s all 100% true, validated by every SEO on Earth… it doesn’t change a damn thing.

It’s a loser mindset. It’s a way to justify why your brand’s SEO has stalled or, worse, is completely sinking.

---

The Winner SEO Mindset

Winners might nod along with everything in the “loser mindset” list, but here’s the difference:

They don’t let those feelings dictate their actions.
(Pot, meet kettle. Anyone who knows me knows I’m the king of “feelings”. So yes, I’m talking to myself too.)

Still, the winner's blueprint doesn’t make space for fear, frustration, or nostalgia to block momentum.

• They acknowledge the mess.

• They pivot fast.

• Failure just isn’t an option.

Now let’s take a few of those common complaints and reframe them through a winner’s lens:

---

Google is stealing my clicks (AI Overviews)

Yep. They are.

But unless Nick Fox ( Newly appointed Lead of Google Search) is your uncle, you’re probably not influencing any policy changes soon.

The winner mindset accepts this reality and immediately asks, “Now what?”

They double down on what still works in traditional search, while also starting to walk the walk on diversifying traffic.

We’ve all talked about not being dependent on Google.
Now it’s time to act like it.

The winner mindset continues optimizing for search (Why? Read this great post from Glenn), and actively continues to pursue visibility across other platforms:
LLMs, YouTube, TikTok, and wherever your audience or customers hang out online.

Winners don’t waste time yelling at Google.

They put that energy into maximizing returns from what still works and redirect efforts into showing up where search bars aren’t even part of the equation.

---

The competition is buying links!!

Life ain’t fair. Boom. Mic Drop!

(OK, that’s what I wanted to write — but let’s go a little deeper.)

Yes, cheaters exist. Always have. Always will.

You’ve got two choices:

1. Play their game and hope you don’t get caught.

2. Double down on doing things the right way and trust that big momma Google eventually kicks the spoiled, ill-mannered children out of her index.

The winner mindset doesn’t waste time spiraling over what other people are getting away with.

The winner mindset doesn’t spiral over what others are getting away with.
They make a call, move forward, and focus on winning their own way, not whining about someone else’s shortcut.

---

But the competition is using AI to write copy!

Let’s be honest: this complaint usually isn’t about ethics or copyright.

What people really mean is:

“I wish we had done this first. But we didn’t. Because we dragged our feet, it now feels unfair.”
- Sad/lazy business owner

The winner mindset zooms out and asks:

• Did this actually drive traffic?

• Or is it just garbage flooding the index?

• Is it even indexed?

If their approach worked? You’ve got a choice to make:

• Copy them and try to capture what you can

• Or fix your content process and figure out why you're not shipping like they are

Because maybe it’s not the AI.

Maybe it’s that you’re still paying $0.02 a word to churn out “SEO content” and expecting it to compete.

---

The Winner Mindset

(T --> F --> A --> = R)

Thoughts → Feelings → Actions → Results

This is the mental model I took from Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, and it maps surprisingly well to SEO.

Your thoughts drive how you feel.
Your feelings shape your actions.
And your actions determine your results.

In other words:
Change your thoughts, change your outcomes.

Your SEO blueprint — your mental playbook for how you win (or lose) in organic search — is built on that same formula. It’s not just tactics. It’s the mindset behind the tactics.

And like it or not, that blueprint was likely programmed long ago — not just by work experience, but by your life experience.

According to the book, most of our programming comes from three sources:

1. Verbal – What was said around you (“Money doesn’t grow on trees”... sound familiar?)

2. Modeling – What you saw growing up (how your previous leaders or mentors handled risk, opportunity, fear)

3. Specific Incidents – Personal experiences that shaped your perspective

---

Let’s Go One Level Deeper

(P --> T --> F --> A --> = R)

Programming → Thoughts → Feelings → Actions → Results

You’re not just reacting to Google’s changes. You’re reacting to how your brain was wired to interpret risk, discomfort, and uncertainty.

And when emotion and logic go head-to-head? Emotion usually wins.
(Raising my hand here: guilty!)

That’s why so many SEOs get stuck.

Their blueprint tells them “this isn’t fair,” and they act accordingly, usually by freezing, complaining, or playing it safe.

But winners rewire the script.

• They challenge the programming.

• They reshape their thoughts.

• They take bold actions.

And guess what follows?
Better results.

---

Still Friends? Final Thoughts Before You Buss Your Lunch Tray

You can’t always control the algorithm.
You can’t stop your competitors from pushing boundaries.
You can’t undo Google’s AI Overviews.

But you can control your mindset.
You can decide whether you respond like a victim… or pivot like a winner.

SEO has never been “fair.”
It’s never been easy.

But it’s still full of opportunity… If you’re willing to rewrite your blueprint and do the uncomfortable work.

---

You’re not being penalized.
You’re simply not adapting fast enough.

~ Nick