Vince Lombardi famously said “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing” or some variation on that theme. Do you think it’s true? Is it really all or nothing? Well, what is true, typically, is that the runner up will not be remembered.
Sometimes, our instincts are to minimize the value of winning. We tell ourselves, “It’s ok if we don’t win” or “We’ll get ‘em next time” – but really that’s a justification. Carrying that mentality makes room for failure before we have even tried to win. It is OK to lose. BUT…
It just really isn’t OK to convince ourselves that it is ok. It is mediocre, and from what I’ve seen, often has the effect of undermining the ability to give 100%. NOTE: For those of you that are, right now as you read this, minimizing losing, I ask you to put aside the various exceptions just for now. For instance, the person who wins American Idol isn’t often the best or the one that accomplishes the most fame. OR, the business that wins the big deal with Walmart has such low margins that they cannot afford to fulfill the orders. But, more often, big wins create superstars, superpowers, new leaders and most importantly, momentum.
The fact is that although we WILL ‘get ‘em next time,’ and yes our businesses will survive, and yes life goes on – capitalizing on the opportunities of winning is much better than spending time convincing ourselves that losing is ok.
Maribeth Kuzmeski
Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA is the founder of Red Zone Marketing, LLC, which consults to Fortune 500 firms on strategic marketing planning and business growth. She is the author of 4 books, has frequently appeared on TV and radio, and has written articles on marketing strategies for hundreds of publications including Business Week and Entrepreneur. She regularly speaks to audiences on topics relating to business development, marketing, and sales strategies. Maribeth is author of The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life (Wiley, September 2009).
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