Dealing With Greatness (and failure)
By CJ Mills on Aug 22, 2008 in life
Despite all the hype that Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt produced, the fact of the matter is there are 1,000s of athletes that will leave Beijing having failed to achieve their ultimate goal - win. I can’t imagine how heavy that is for most people. How do you deal with that? Some, I’m sure, use it as determination to go back and train for another 4 years. Some make excuses as to why they failed while others use it as reason to quit.
I tried putting myself in their shoes - how would I respond? I hate losing. I hate failure. I’m an extremely competitive guy in all that I do - I want to win. Yet, for some reason, those who placed in 2nd and 3rd, in some cases, were more excited than those who won gold. That seemed weird to me….but then it hit me. It isn’t so much about winning as it is about producing a result. Sure, for some, ultra-competitive individuals not winning gold is a failed attempt, but for many, winning a medal was an accomplishment - a result.
I think that is a great attitude to compete with. I know I’ve let work get in the way of my home life too easily because of my drive to win, to succeed. Asher’s entrance into this world was a reminder of how important it is to prioritize the areas of my life where I want to succeed the most, but I find it interesting that this is the kind of thing I pull from an event that is all about competition, medal counts, and individual world/Olympic medals.
What have you learned about yourself lately? How do you handle winning? Losing?
.angela. | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
Earlier this week, I asked Dru, Mom, and Dad if they would rather have made it to the Olympics to fail miserably (fall off the beam, trip in the big sprint, etc) or not make it at all?
What about you?
.angela.’s last blog post…Cool Quote Monday
CJ Mills | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
@.angela. » I couldn’t handle the heartbreak of defeat and embarrassment in a global level to fail miserably - like the relay teams that looked like amateurs.
Andy Borgmann | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
I think it all depends on expectation. Using your example, I don’t think 1,000 people really went to the Olympics to win.
However, for those who were expected to win, or at least have a shot at winning, and then something devastating happened (like Angie says above), I have got to imagine that would so incredibly hard to handle.
Andy Borgmann’s last blog post…The Real Loser of the Saddleback Civil Forum with Obama, McCain, & Warren (Video)
Christopher Spurgeon | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
On a side note: Phelps was once told by a teacher (yes a TEACHER) that he would never amount to anything. Why in todays society would someone do that? Have we not learned that the “stupid”, “ugly”, or just plain those who “aren’t all there” might just be our boss or be great at what they do someday. I know the decriptors are those only placed on the person by others. But come on shouldn’t we encourage rather than discourage. Because many times its those who don’t get it at first will still know it later. Where those who get it at first forget tommorow.
Sorry about my rant but I can’t stand it when people are told that they “Can’t ever do that”
CJ Mills | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
@Christopher Spurgeon » I had not heard that about Phelps, but I agree with your sentiments bro. Especially as fathers, we’d beat the crap out of anyone who would ever say that to our kids.
@Andy » good point
Christopher Spurgeon | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
Although losing when you are expected to win is devestating. Do you think it motivates some to come back and try again. Like CJ said some use it as an excuse to quit. I think it would be interesting to see a “study” on those who did and those who didn’t and see their background in family life and social circles. To maybe see why they did what they did.
Andy Borgmann | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
@Chris - A teacher once at Woodside once told me my idea of what would essentially be WiFi internet was a stupid idea and not plausible. This was in 1996 (8th grade), a full YEAR before the patent for 802.11b WiFi was filed.
Not only that, but I got a D on my report card that period because I failed to project due to my “inability to come up with a plausible invention.”
I am still to this day pissed about that.
Andy Borgmann’s last blog post…The Real Loser of the Saddleback Civil Forum with Obama, McCain, & Warren (Video)
CJ Mills | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
@Andy Borgmann » ok AL GORE…..
Chris S | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
LOL, I know how you feel Andy
Andy Borgmann | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
@CJ to Al Gore’s credit he was largely influential in getting the funding to make the internet public. So while he might not have “invented” the internet, he was largely influential in developping what we understand as the modern day internet.
You can read more here if you’d like: http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp
Christopher Spurgeon | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RP1sS8rMsQ
CJ Mills | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
@Christopher - nice