Winning is Relative
Whether it’s been through coaching or working in the non profit sector, I’ve learned that winning is relative. For some, winning is just getting the job done. Not particularly doing it well or with a spirit of excellence, but simply checking things off a list. Moving them from “in progress” to “complete”. I learned that working for an organization with a stagnant board of directors with no tangible success stories of note. For some, wining is just showing up. Just suiting up and stepping on the field or court and competing. Both of these philosophies are fundamentally incorrect to me; or should I say for me because to each his own…
I subscribe to the Vince Lombardi school of thought where winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing and the will to win is everything, so just completing tasks or just competing is foreign to me. To take it a step further, Daniel 5:12 speaks of a “spirit of excellence”. What good is crossing things off a list if they’re not done to the best of your ability? What good is just showing up and competing, if you don’t give it your all?
In this age of “participation medals” where everyone on the team gets the same medal or trophy, the spirit of good competition seems to be lost. After all, why give it any more than anyone else if we’re all getting the same award? Now some might say, why compete for a trophy or award, you should be competing to win. That’s just it, my sentiments exactly! Competing or completing a task should be done with winning in mind. Whether winning is an athletic victory or business success, or some other form of victory, it should be what drives you! Show me someone not driven by winning and I’ll show you someone comfortable with losing and not being at their very best.
Ask yourself, are you just “ok” with winning, or are you driven by it?