Four Myths About Winners

“Practice does not make perfect - but it does make winners.”

– Unknown

"Everyone is a winner.  There are no losers here." a teacher in a Jr. High School tells her students.  For some odd reason we have begun to think that it is not only hurtful for a child to loose, but hurtful for them to win as well.  In a Op-Ed from the New York Time titled, Losing Is Good For You, by Ashley Merryman (Sept. 24, 2013) she wrote, " By age 4 or 5, children aren’t fooled by all the trophies. They are surprisingly accurate in identifying who excels and who struggles. Those who are outperformed know it and give up, while those who do well feel cheated when they aren’t recognized for their accomplishments. They, too, may give up."  After all, if there are no winners why even try?

                The truth is there are winners and losers in many areas of life.  Winning does not make you better than everyone else, nor does losing make you less.  Winning means that you can do a task, have a skill or perform a sport better than those you compete against.  All winners know, there is always someone who is better at what you do than you are.  That is why winners work at winning.  There are four myths that have been created in our culture about winners and winning.

Myth #1.  They win because they cheat

                I will not say that some who win have not cheated to do so, but I will say that those who cheat are not winners.  Real winners win because they are good at what they do.  To be a winner you have to prepare to win and that takes a lot of hard work.  Winners practice, commit their time and stay focused on what they have to do.  Winning does not just happen, it takes work.

Myth #2.  They are selfish

                To think that having a desire to win a prize or title is selfish is foolish.  Of course winners want the prize, that is why they are willing to pay the price to win.  Olympic athletes spend years working out every day for hours a day.  They do not do this so they can have the satisfaction of competing.  They want to win.  Not just win, but win the gold.  The same is true in every area of life.  You work hard to win, not to say you were in the game.  Anyone can compete, but only those who pay the price can win.

Myth #3.  They make others loose

                Time for some rational and solid thinking.  If one person wins it has nothing to do with the others who lose.  Winning means they were better than their competition.  Losing means you were not as good at the event as the winner.  Losing is not a bad thing nor is it uncommon.  In a race of 20 people, only one wins and 19 do not.  The great thing about not winning is that you learn to try harder, practice more and not make the same mistakes twice.  They great thing with winning is that you now have to be even better because you know that all those who did not win this time will be better next time.  If you want to win again, you have to be better than your last win.

Myth #4.  They do not exist

                This is the most damaging and hurtful thing of all the myths.  The idea that there are no winners or that everyone is a winner (which means there are no winners) has created a society of weak and dependent people who seek only to be cared for.  I believe that every teacher, sports team and parent who teaches children that everyone is a winner should be charged with child abuse.  Every child has the potential to be great and to rob them of this gift is cruel and heartless.  Remember the words of the great coach, Vince Lombardi, " Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey