The Secret to Winning

SPEC: How a Simple Framework Can Transform Your Success

Win Big: Helen Hadsell's SPEC Method — Why "Select It" Is Your First Step to Winning

Ever looked at someone who seems to effortlessly attract success, prizes, and incredible opportunities, and wondered, "How do they do it?" What if I told you there was a proven method, championed by a woman who literally won everything from houses and cars to international trips and appliances?

Meet Helen Hadsell, often called the "Contest Queen" or "Master Manifestor." Helen didn't just hope for wins; she engineered them. Her secret? A powerful four-step technique she called SPEC: Select It, Project It, Expect It, and Collect It.

Today, we're diving deep into the absolute foundational step, the one that sets the entire process in motion: Select It.

Beyond Wishful Thinking: The Power of "Select It"

We've all made vague wishes: "I wish I had more money," "I'd love a new car," or "It would be nice to win something." While there's nothing wrong with dreaming, Helen Hadsell knew that these generalized desires are like sending a letter with no address. The universe simply doesn't know where to deliver.

"Select It" is about deliberate, laser-focused clarity. It's not just about wanting a prize; it's about choosing the prize. It’s about being so ridiculously specific about your goal that there’s no room for ambiguity.

Think of it like this: If you walk into a coffee shop and just say, "I want coffee," what do you get? A blank stare, or maybe a generic black coffee you didn't really want. But if you say, "I'd like a grande oat milk latte with an extra shot, no foam, in a reusable cup," you're far more likely to get exactly what you desire. Your brain, the universe, and your actions all respond to that precision.

Why Is Such Specificity So Crucial?

It Activates Your Reticular Activating System (RAS): Your brain's RAS is like a filter that sifts through the millions of pieces of information bombarding you daily, showing you what's relevant to you. When you clearly "Select It," you program your RAS to notice opportunities, resources, and people that can help you achieve that specific goal. Suddenly, you'll see articles, encounter conversations, or spot advertisements related to your chosen item everywhere. It's not magic; it's your brain doing its job!

It Directs Your Energy: Vague goals lead to scattered energy. Specific goals provide a clear target. Every thought, every action, every subtle decision you make can then be aligned towards that single, well-defined objective. You stop wasting effort on things that don't serve your ultimate win.

The Universe Responds to Clarity: Whether you believe in the Law of Attraction or simply the power of focused intention, the principle remains: you get what you focus on. When your desires are crystal clear, you create a powerful energetic blueprint that the universe can understand and act upon. It's like placing an incredibly detailed order.

It Builds Momentum for the Next Steps: "Select It" is the blueprint. Without a clear blueprint, how can you "Project It" (visualize it as yours), "Expect It" (believe it's coming), or ultimately "Collect It" (receive it)? The more detailed your selection, the stronger the foundation for the entire manifestation process.

How to Master "Select It":

Be Ridiculously Specific: Don't just want a "new car." Want a "2024 Tesla Model 3 in Midnight Silver with cream interior, enhanced autopilot, and a charging station installed at home by October 15th." Don't just want "more money." Want "$10,000 deposited into my savings account by the end of next month, from an unexpected but legitimate source."

Engage Your Senses: What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like? Smell like? If it's a prize, what does the trophy feel like in your hands? What does the winning cheque look like? What does the congratulatory call sound like?

Write It Down: Science shows that writing down your goals dramatically increases your chances of achieving them. Use pen and paper. Describe your selected win in vivid detail, as if you already possess it.

Find a Picture: If possible, find an image of your exact goal. Print it out, put it on your vision board, or make it your phone background. The visual reinforcement strengthens your selection.

Helen Hadsell didn't just win; she chose to win, with absolute conviction and clarity, right from the very start. By mastering the art of "Select It," you're not just dreaming – you're preparing your mind, your energy, and the universe to deliver your desired outcome.

Stop wishing and start selecting. What incredible win will you choose to call into your life today? The power is yours.

Stay tuned for our next post, where we'll explore the dynamic second step: Project It!

What's the most specific goal you're ready to select?

1. S – Set the Vision (Specific, Measurable, Aspirational)

What it Means

Winning starts with a crystal‑clear vision. “I want to be successful” is too vague. SPEC forces you to make your goal Specific, Measurable, and Aspirational—the three pillars that give direction and fire.

How to Apply

Element Question to Ask Example

Specific What exactly do I want to achieve? “Launch a SaaS product for freelance designers.”

Measurable How will I know I’ve succeeded? “Acquire 1,000 paying users within 12 months.”

Aspirational Why does this matter to me? “Empower designers to earn a steady income and free up creative time.”

Quick Exercise

Write your top three goals on a sticky note using the SPEC formula. Keep them visible on your workstation or phone wallpaper—visibility fuels commitment.

2. P – Plan the Path (Prioritize, Prototype, Prepare)

What it Means

A great vision is useless without a roadmap. Planning in SPEC means Prioritizing the most impactful actions, Prototyping early versions to test assumptions, and Preparing resources and contingencies.

How to Apply

Prioritize: Use the Eisenhower Matrix (Urgent/Important) to rank tasks. Focus on high‑impact, low‑effort items first (the “quick wins”).

Prototype: Build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or a low‑fidelity mock‑up. The goal is learning faster, not perfection.

Prepare: Draft a risk register, allocate budget, and line up collaborators. A solid preparation phase reduces friction when you move to execution.

Real‑World Example

A fitness coach wanted to increase client retention. She Prioritized personalized onboarding, Prototyped a 7‑day welcome email series, and Prepared a calendar of weekly check‑ins. Within three months, retention rose from 45% to 68%.

3. E – Execute with Excellence (Engage, Empower, Evaluate)

What it Means

Execution is where many plans stall. SPEC’s execution mantra pushes you to Engage fully, Empower yourself (and your team) with the right tools, and Evaluate performance in real time.

How to Apply

Step Action Tool Suggestion

Engage Schedule “deep‑work” blocks, eliminate distractions. Forest app, Pomodoro timers

Empower Automate repetitive tasks, delegate wisely. Zapier, Asana, Trello

Evaluate Track KPIs daily/weekly, adjust tactics instantly. Google Data Studio, Notion dashboards

Tip: The 90‑Second Rule

If a task can be completed in 90 seconds or less, do it immediately. This tiny habit clears mental clutter and builds momentum.

4. C – Close the Loop (Celebrate, Consolidate, Continue)

What it Means

Winning isn’t a single event; it’s a cycle. After you hit a milestone, Celebrate the win, Consolidate what you learned, and Continue with the next SPEC cycle.

How to Apply

Celebrate: Acknowledge the achievement—public shout‑outs, a small reward, or a team lunch. Recognition reinforces positive behavior.

Consolidate: Conduct a brief “post‑mortem” to capture lessons. Document what worked, what didn’t, and why.

Continue: Set the next SPEC goal, building on the momentum you’ve created.

Example of Closing the Loop

A startup hit $100k ARR. They celebrated with a company‑wide “hackathon,” recorded insights in a shared Confluence page, and then set a new SPEC goal: “Reach $250k ARR in the next 9 months by expanding into two new verticals.”

Putting SPEC into Your Daily Routine

Time of Day SPEC Action

Morning Review your S (vision) and choose the top P (priority) for the day.

Mid‑day Execute the chosen task with E (engagement & empowerment).

Evening Perform a quick C (close) – note wins, jot down a lesson, and set tomorrow’s SPEC focus.

A 5‑minute daily ritual is all it takes to keep the SPEC cycle alive.

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Pitfall Why It Happens SPEC Fix

Vague Goals Lack of clarity leads to drift. Use the S formula rigorously.

Over‑Planning “Analysis paralysis” stalls action. Limit planning to the P stage—prototype quickly.

Execution Burnout Trying to do everything alone. E encourages empowerment—delegate and automate.

No Follow‑Through Wins aren’t documented; momentum fades. C mandates celebration and consolidation.

Final Thought: SPEC Is Your Competitive Edge

In an era where information overload can paralyze even the most driven individuals, SPEC offers a compact, repeatable process that cuts through the noise. By setting a crystal‑clear vision, planning intelligently, executing with focus, and closing each loop with intentional reflection, you turn lofty ambitions into concrete results—again and again.

Ready to win? Start today: write down one SPEC goal, take the first P step, and watch the momentum build. The secret isn’t hidden in a magic formula; it’s in the disciplined habit of applying SPEC, every single day.

TL;DR

S = Specific, Measurable, Aspirational vision

P = Prioritize, Prototype, Prepare

E = Engage, Empower, Evaluate

C = Celebrate, Consolidate, Continue

Apply these four steps in a loop, and you’ll have a proven recipe for winning—whether you’re launching a product, mastering a sport, or simply crushing personal goals.

Feel free to comment below with your first SPEC goal, or share how you’ve already used SPEC to achieve success. Let’s win together!