Monday, August 17, 2015

What's so great about winning?

Throughout history winning has had quite an appeal to individuals in society. Recently cynics of success and advocates for "everyone should win" has challenged the idea of competition. This perspective is in contrast to the principle that I grew up with, "if you cannot fail, then you cannot succeed." Individuals vary in their trait characteristic of competitiveness so everyone doesn't strive to win with the same fervor. Some compete with themselves while others prefer to avoid performance settings because they fear losing or being seen as less than competent. Let me offer an alternative view of winning - maybe its the inspirational story of a person striving in extraordinary ways and overcoming obstacles to win that makes success compelling.

Case in point.

Jason Day just won the PGA Championship. He won in historic fashion, but what caught the imagination of the audience? It was his story. His father died when he was a child and he struggled to stay out of trouble. His mother sold her house so he could attend a boarding school where he met his now friend, father figure, and caddie. His story includes many flirtations with winning major championships, finishing in the top 10 nine times. Had he not won the PGA, he would have been the first in history of golf to have or share the 54 hole lead in a major three times in a year without winning. People who do not even follow golf were drawn to his victory, not because he won, but because of his story.

We can conclude from this example and many others that chasing success is the story that matters. Obtaining success is just a validation of the chase. People soon forget who won what, but people remember the compelling stories of individuals overcoming obstacles to achieve in meaningful ways. Everyone can't win a national championship, but everyone can set goals and accomplish them. The story of winning for each individual always involves over coming obstacles to get to the desired destination.

Yet, how often is our story defined by good intentions, like short lived New Year's resolutions. Setting goals is the easy part, staying on tract in our chase is the tough part. Like Jason Day, the story that unfolds in chasing your goal has a better chance of success when their is leadership, an advocate or a coach to challenge and guide the journey, giving you objective feedback and advice that you can trust.

Everyone cannot always find or afford a coach, so my colleague and I have developed The Concierge to help you pursue your life's goals, whether personal or career. The Concierge gets to know you personally, how you are motivated and how you see the challenges of achieving a specific goal. From these insights The Concierge provides you and those who are helping you suggestions on how to overcome your obstacles. Your personality and the context associated with your goal become unique characters in your story. The role these characters play determines how your story comes out. Ultimately, this gives you more control to move past "good intentions." One thing is for sure, your story will become a better story if you have The Concierge by your side as your coach.

Check us out @ www.lmxconcierge.com

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