All That Glitters Is Not Winning! For The Birds You Say?
A big misconception about a person who seems to win all the time is that he always wins. In reality, if a person never fails, he is already sucking up to a rattlesnake as big as west Texas.
A Blessing In Disguise!
One thing that a big honcho will never tell you is that; "it's ok to lose". But, speaking as a business man who has lost his pride and ego, I'm here to tell you, it is ok! In fact, it is critical. You see, losing is part of the cycle of living.
As Solomon once said, there's a time to live and a time to die; a time to sow, a time to reap. There is a time for everything under the sun. And unfortunately, losing is one of them. If some one never loses, how can they improve on what they've done?
They would just lie back, take it easy, suck up some suds, and wait on the next fortune to fall in their lap so they could go crying all the way to the bank. But, that guy will never improve because he will never struggle.
But, At The End Of The Day!
To succeed and win everyone will sooner or later fail. I think we have somehow been programmed to think that losing is our enemy. But, all the way from the business man to the elementary school child, losing is a cycle of living.
Losing can be a fantastic teacher, although an aggravating one. Losing can be just the thing someone needs at any given point in their life. Losing can bring you wisdom which is far greater than silver and gold.
When Thomas Edison was asked how he was able to deal with ten thousand failures in inventing the incandescent light bulb, he said, "I didn't fail; I just found ten thousand ways it wouldn't work."
Think about that wisdom that was passed on to our light bulb manufacturers today, they don't have to go through the same failures that Edison went through; he passed it on to them.
As Plain As Black And White!
So, it was Edison's mistakes and wisdom that make the silver and gold today for the bulb manufacturers. The thing that losing teaches us and this is so important; it teaches us what NOT to do.
There is a God given desire in everyone of us to succeed and win. It is almost as strong as the force of self-preservation. This is the reason we get our knickers all in a twist when success doesn't come. Say this to yourself three times, "losing is ok, but I'm a winner."
Ah. . . Crystal Clear!
I read somewhere that Vince Lombardi once said, "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." I read somewhere else that Lombardi didn't say that. What he actually said was, "winning isn't everything, but making the effort to win is." Umm.
Now, we've got a horse of a different color. By taking on any project with the attitude of "effort", instead of winning at all costs, we spare ourselves the self-inflicted mental torment that robs us of joy and makes us want to take a long walk off a short pier.
That last paragraph is so important you should really read it again. Listen: you cannot control the outcome; all you can do is control the effort!
If you're the kind that personally takes all the credit and pats yourself on the back for every triumph, then remember this; a pat on the back is only a few inches from a kick in the bu**.
Face This Music!
Somebody also said if you can't accept losing, then you're not qualified to win. Losing is what makes a person fit to win!
To become a real winner in life, you have to test yourself. You have to be "willing" to reach beyond what you think you can really accomplish.
Become armed to the teeth with the "effort" attitude in mind, not winning at all costs, then, if all you end up with is ants in your pants, you won't feel like you're one French fry short of a happy meal.
A Force To Be Reckoned With!
Losing is NOT failure! Burn that in your memory. Anytime you test yourself, sorry to say, you will lose a percentage of the time. But, that is not failure! That is only a face a mother could love. Nah.. I'm just kidding, don't you get mad at me. Keep smiling now. :>)
That percentage of times you lose is only to make you smarter, wiser, and more compassionate, not to make you blow your stack, and confess "that's just my dumb luck", and go looking for a good place to lie down and have a heart attack.
I'm not saying you should be a good loser now. Because face it, a good loser is still a loser. Don't ever develop a loser mindset. Always say everyday, "it's ok to lose, but I'm a winner! This little voice in your head will keep your attitude adjusted in the right direction and, keep you focused on your efforts and not on your conclusions.
READ MY LIPS: You Can't Control Your Conclusions!
All you can do is control your efforts! The three rules of real estate are location, location, location. The three rules of losing are learning, learning, learning. You NEVER learn from your successes. You only learn from your losses.
Let me ask you a question! Are you good at something, I mean really good? Maybe golf, tennis, basketball, etc. If you are, do you remember when you reached a plateau? Did you notice how the game became boring? Like old hat? What did you do then?
You had to move up a little bit. You had to reach and struggle for the next level. Then what happened? Probably you began losing some. Now that was a strange experience for you wasn't it? Up till then you had been tucked safely away in your comfort area and got bored.
Bored To Tears!
When we test ourselves like this, the experience will be frustrating, challenging, exciting and yet fulfilling. You will lose, you will try again, you will lose again, you will try again and you will win. But, the hardest road to that win will be with the attitude of winning at all costs.
Why? Because the total focus is on the outcome, not the effort. Have you ever seen John McEnroe blow up in a tennis match? That behavior focused on the outcome. Have you ever seen someone lose in a contest and go cheerfully to the winner and congratulate them with all smiles? That behavior is focused on effort.
It's ok to lose, but I'm a winner! Say it everyday and visualize the word "winning" or "winner", entering into your mind and flowing all through your body.
Follow Your Heart!
Out of losing will come some of your greatest successes. Out of losing will come some of your greatest triumphs. By learning how to lose, you will not be defeated by defeat.
Richard Vegas ©
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