Have you ever heard this? "It isn't whether you win or lose. It is how you play the game." I am sure you have. But do you know who said it? Some guy who came in second place!
You see, I have a problem with that statement. It presupposes, or at least strongly suggests that winning and playing the game "right" are mutually exclusive propositions. Perhaps we ought to have this as our goal as we pursue success: We want to win, while playing the game right! I totally disagree with the statement that we should win at all costs. Instead, we should do everything good that we can to win at this game we call life. And we ought also do all that we can to help others win.
With all of that... here are some thoughts on being in the game - to win!
Any "game" worth playing is a game worth pursuing a win in. If I get into a game, I play to win. What nobility is there is playing like a slacker? What virtue is purposeful mediocrity? None! I live my life to be a winner - Spiritually, financially, physically, emotionally, relationally - every area of my life! If it is worth doing, it is worth playing for the win!
It is good to win. We live in an age now where people have reacted to sore winners by saying that we shouldn't strive for winning. Many of our schools have abandoned the idea of competition, and our educational scores show that. Kudos to all of the teachers out there who still tell their kids that they can be winners! It is good and noble to win! It is something to strive for. It is good to push ourselves, to stretch and reach for victory. It is a grand thing to want to win!
There doesn't have to be a loser in life. Yes, in teamed competition, there are always losers (but more on that in a bit), but in life, you can all win! We can all strive for the best and give it our all to win.
Winners are the ones who move families, businesses, organizations, cities and countries ahead. Winners are the ones who push progress. You don't think that couch potato is the one who will cure cancer or open up the next great technology do you? No - it will be a person who has chosen to be a winner!
Losing can mean winning. Just because your score in a game or contest is the least at the end of the game doesn't mean all is lost. You can still be a winner in that you gave it your all, you competed at your highest level, you learned new skills and strategies, and you became a better player and person. That is winning in my book!
Winners help others win. That is right, good people, people who pursue winning by excellence, are also people who stop to help others so that they, too, can enjoy the spoils of victory. Pursue the win, but help others achieve all that they can as well! Winners make everyone better. When I get into athletic matches I want to play against the best. Yes, I may come up short in the score, but I will be better because that winner will make me grow in every area of my game! Winners stretch the losers so they can become winners too!
Questions for reflection:
Are you afraid of winning?
Do you think it is wrong to win?
Are you living each area of your life as though you are a winner?
Are you enjoying your wins?
Are you helping others win with you?
Friends, we need to be in the game of life full force! We need to be in it, and we need to be in it to win it!
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://chris-widener.inspiresyou.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
maid service near Lake Forest ..I started taking stock of my year in 2002. I... Read More
I wrote an article on this very subject, with the... Read More
Do you believe that? Do you believe we can all... Read More
I see it happen all too often on the internet... Read More
This revelation hit me the other day while I was... Read More
Imagine living in the world that Helen Keller found herself... Read More
Deep down, where it counts, many people do not believe... Read More
Feeling overworked and underpaid? If you're starting to feel like... Read More
Many people consider reading books a waste of time. It... Read More
What do we want most from life? Certainly, we all... Read More
I am going to tell you something you already know... Read More
Do you still keep that all important 'Inner Spark Alive'?... Read More
So you want to be successful (whatever that means to... Read More
"Don't get caught up in the how of things. If... Read More
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in... Read More
Let's get right to the point, folks.We're all looking to... Read More
To make change effective, you have to BE what you... Read More
We have all read about people who are successful briefly.... Read More
Absolutely no one can underestimate the power of the mind... Read More
Thoughts move faster than the speed of light.Expectations jump faster... Read More
Few books have impacted my perspective on human psychologically and... Read More
(Excerpted From The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan - Pillar... Read More
Everyone wants success.Some people spend their every waking moment pursuing... Read More
Wealth is more than money. It's abundance, or as the... Read More
You're enjoying a perfectly shallow conversation with a good friend... Read More
top rated cleaning service Des Plaines ..What do we want most from life? Certainly, we all... Read More
You've tried and failed. You've watched others fall. You're wiped... Read More
By popular request, I thought I would put together this... Read More
The 72,500 men, women and children sat in an uncomfortable... Read More
How many people do you hear complaining about their job,... Read More
In earlier generations it was common to keep a diary... Read More
Many among us, on many instances, have the habit of... Read More
It happened again in class. While sharing my insights on... Read More
Ten years ago I went into the studio and recorded... Read More
Jack Nichlaus was asked if there are really talented golfers... Read More
Taking action is the strongest way to create success in... Read More
Your mind is the only tool that can create success... Read More
Visualize success, and what you'll do to reward yourself A... Read More
Success is something that happens all by itself once you've... Read More
One of my absolute favorite quotes is from Dwight D.... Read More
If you have a choice each day in the tasks... Read More
Creating a goal tracking chart is as simple as drawing... Read More
These days success is a hotly debated subject. Nevertheless, people... Read More
I was talking about my business to a stranger the... Read More
You must play by the rules. Everything has rules. You... Read More
Does the thought of failure send a cold shiver down... Read More
Recently, I coached a young woman whom I'll call Mary... Read More
One of the main reasons that may hinder us from... Read More
"The secret of success is to make what you are... Read More
A number of years ago, I had the rather unique... Read More
Success |