Having the Guts to Win

“Guts win more games than ability.”

– Bob Zuppke

(1879-1957) Coach

I do a lot of teaching in the areas of personal development, success, business, Scouting and spiritual development.  There are many important and established principles to follow.  I want people to be successful, winners and to excel beyond their dreams.  I can promise you this, there idea I will never teach others, and that is to be a good loser.

                Don't get me wrong here.  I am not say that I would teach people to fuss and yell and display bad behavior when they lose.  Doing that is just immaturity and bad manners.  What I am saying is - to put it simply - not to lose.  In the words of the great Vince Lombardi, "Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser."

                Our society has gone through some drastic changes over the past 50 years and they have not all been good.  We have taught our young people not to expect too much from life.  We tell them they can no longer be anything they choose to be but only what they are allowed to be.  We teach young people that winning is not the goal, having a good time and allowing everyone to win is.  We teach them that to be a good loser is better than being a good winner.  It is all nonsense!

                I believe you were created for greatness and that until and unless you excel and become all you can be your life is unfulfilled.  Should everyone win?  Only if they have strived, done their best and deserve to win.  Will everyone win?  No, and that is not a bad thing.  You learn from losing.  You can grow and improve from losing.  You gain better skills from losing.  But you do not, try to be good at losing.

                One of the key reasons that so many young people are depressed, misbehave and do nothing in life, is that they have been taught that there is no reason to be their best.  If everyone wins, why try to be the best?  If we should all be on the same level in life, why try to excel?  We have removed the motivation for greatness and suffered for it.  It is as author C.S. Lewis said, "We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."

                Do not accept losing.  When you fail, learn, grow and move on.  Do not teach losing.  Help young people to believe that they were born winners and they can be everything they desire to be and more.  If they don't believe it then it will not happen.  Teach them to believe it not so they will win but because it is true.  Remember the words of Zig Ziglar, "You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win."

                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