Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Someone Won and Someone Lost. But There Were No Losers


“Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” —Vince Lombardi

When I was younger, I used to play (shoot) marbles—sometimes for “keeps” and sometimes for “fun.” Of course, you don’t have to have played marbles or even understand the game to guess which version my parents preferred.

At an early age, all the kids in the neighborhood understood competition. We played to win: football, baseball, horseshoes, cowboys and Indians. But, when the game, contest or event was over, and a winner or winners declared, we all were still best friends, buddies. There were no losers. We just moved on to the next competition.

In 2015, it’s a technological world. Kids don’t shoot marbles in driveways or play cowboy and Indians across the neighborhood backyards. There is no need for two empty soup cans with a string connecting them to communicate—just text or call your friends on your cell. 

Time brings change—much of it good. But not all change is positive.  In the area of societal change, it seems many people have adopted the mantra of only playing for keeps and forgotten how to have fun. Today, we frequently recognize only the winners and classify all the other participants as losers?

I like the concept of win/win but, let’s face it, often in today’s world there are often “winners” and there are “losers.  Someone won the account; someone else didn’t. One team scored more points than the other team; someone is valedictorian, someone else is attending summer school; someone got promoted, many people overlooked.

Our goal should be to work hard and play for keeps. We need the spirit of competitiveness.  But, when we have given our best, and the game is over, and a winner or winners declared, we must still be friends.

People need a competitive outlet. Often by having the goal to win, people become more confident, and this confidence empowers them to do their best. Develop an intense desire to do your best. Be a gracious winner and an even better runner up.

No person, which gives their best is a loser. We just need to move on to the next competition.
 
My Book, MENTOR IN THE MIRROR is available on Amazon

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