After much introspection the past few years, I've realized I have a very strong affinity for winning. It fuels me. Winning is an incredible feeling - from getting kids ready to school on time all the way to closing 9-figure deals.
This past weekend, my wife and I went to Super Bowl 58.
We decided to do this after our favorite teams (my 49ers and her Chiefs) made the biggest game in the world.
As a kid, I had family in the Bay Area, went to games and got to watch the legendary Bill Walsh lead the Niners to 3 Bowl wins with some of the greatest players ever. I was hoping for an end to their 30-year drought.
Here in St. Louis, we can't keep a football team - I've lost the Cardinals and Rams in my lifetime, so I've just always been a diehard 49ers fan and the Chiefs rose to my second favorite team over the last several years.
I'm happy for the Chiefs. I love the game. The loss stings and stinks but everyone loses. Even the greatest winners lose - a lot. How you react and respond in the face of a loss, by being respectful of the game and the greatness of others - says a lot about you and defines your character.
Every time I've lost a deal or an opportunity or even have gotten a nasty-gram from a prospect or customer - whether it was from my unintended negligence or oversight, or perception of my approach or my company - it has yielded opportunity for further introspection, further analysis, further learning.
I've been reminded "Happy wife, happy life" a number of times over the last few days - LOL - and while that's true, the reality is the people who win (who get the promotion you wanted, who get the job you wanted, who get the award you wanted) got the win, are happy about the win and likely deserve the win. You can't win everything, but you can certainly congratulate them, learn from them and improve as a result and bring an even better version of yourself to the next opportunity.
If you choose to react out of emotion, cower or slink away or stop trying as a result of a loss, it means you're forfeiting the rest of your games. Don't do that! If it was worth going for once, it will be worth it the next time, or the time after that.
There is a grace and finesse in losing - especially when you know you've prepared and given your all and it isn't a wasted loss: you've gained experience, clarity and knowledge as a result.
#grit #resilience #growthmindset #sportmanship #leadership #character #superbowl #49ers #chiefs
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