“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.”

― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings


I've often told people I have coached that they should debate to win. By this I meant that instead of focusing their efforts on bringing arguments, delivering a "good" speech or anything else, they should focus on and only on winning. All arguments, strategic decisions and other choices they make must be subservient to that one aim. This mindset, this killer instinct is often the key to doing well in any competitive activity.  David Sirlins book, Playing to Win (free & legal at this link), is a very good short introduction to this and is worth reading.