Written By: Chris Widener
If I get into a game, I play to win. What nobility is there is playing like a slacker? What virtue is purposeful mediocrity? None! I live my life to be a winner.
Have you ever heard this? “It isn’t whether you win or lose. It is how you play the game.” I am sure you have. But do you know who said it? Some guy who came in second place!
You see, I have a problem with that statement. It presupposes, or at least strongly suggests that winning and playing the game “right” are mutually exclusive propositions.
Perhaps we ought to have this as our goal as we pursue success: We want to win, while playing the game right!
I totally disagree with the statement that we should win at all costs. Instead, we should do everything good that we can to win at this game we call life. And we ought also do all that we can to help others win.
With all of that… here are some thoughts on being in the game – to win!
If I get into a game, I play to win. What nobility is there is playing like a slacker? What virtue is purposeful mediocrity?
None! I live my life to be a winner – Spiritually, financially, physically, emotionally, relationally – every area of my life! If it is worth doing, it is worth playing for the win!
We live in an age now where people have reacted to sore winners by saying that we shouldn’t strive for winning.
Many of our schools have abandoned the idea of competition, and our educational scores show that.
Kudos to all of the teachers out there who still tell their kids that they can be winners!
It is good and noble to win! Winning is something to strive for. It is good to push ourselves, to stretch and reach for victory. It is a grand thing to want to win!
Yes, in teamed competition, there are always losers (but more on that in a bit), but in life, you can all win! We can all strive for the best and give it our all to win.
Winners are the ones who move families, businesses, organizations, cities and countries ahead. Winners are the ones who push progress.
You don’t think that couch potato is the one who will cure cancer or open up the next great technology do you? No – it will be a person who has chosen to be a winner!
Just because your score in a game or contest is the least at the end of the game doesn’t mean all is lost.
You can still be a winner in that you gave it your all, you competed at your highest level, you learned new skills and strategies, and you became a better player and person. That is winning in my book!
That is right, good people, people who pursue winning by excellence, are also people who stop to help others so that they, too, can enjoy the spoils of victory.
Pursue the win, but help others achieve all that they can as well! Winners make everyone better. When I get into athletic matches I want to play against the best.
Yes, I may come up short in the score, but I will be better because that winner will make me grow in every area of my game! Winners stretch the losers so they can become winners too!
Friends, we need to be in the game of life full force! We need to be in it, and we need to be in it to win it!
Chris Widener
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and author who has shared the podium with…
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