I wonder how many battles have been won because someone held their ground? Yes, I understand that winning is often seen as advancing — taking something from your opponent. But there’s a very real sense when winning is all about not giving way … not letting your opponent take something from you. At that point, when your adversary is …
In Others’ Words: When Winning isn’t Everything
Patton’s statement is such a fundamental truth, there’s almost nothing to add to it: Don’t fight a battle if you gain nothing by winning. Another way to say that: Winning isn’t everything … and sometimes winning is nothing, except the ability to boast that you won. A hollow victory that echoes back at you with no lasting effect …
In Others’ Words: Losing and Winning
When it comes to competition, I am not one of those “everyone’s a winner” kinds of people. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. That’s what competition is all about — winning and losing. It’s always more fun, more satisfying, when you win. But that’s not real life. Growing up, I tended to shy away from sports. Why? I was …
In Others’ Words: Encountering Defeat
One of these days I’m going to catalogue my quotes and tally how many posts I’ve written that deal with facing — and overcomng — defeat. Quite a few, I’m thinking. Sometimes when I find a quote about overcoming defeat and then I blog about it, I’m writing myself out of a funk. And then there are times I’m …
In Others’ Words: Losing
I like to win. Hang around me long enough — and especially if you play a game like Scotland Yard or Bohnanza! with me — and you’ll learn that I don’t like to lose. I know how to lose well, but, well … I embraced the whole “If you’re going to play, then play to win” mantra years ago. Let’s …