The Joy of Winning

Are you ready for a bit of bragging? Last Sunday, my partner Gary Horkey and I won a golf tournament called "The Invitational". It's the biggest tournament of the year in our neck of the woods, and after three days of competition we emerged victorious over 122 other teams. It was a "big deal" and felt great! (Applause graciously acknowledged - thank you very much!)

What I noticed is that the joy of winning is based upon, but is enormously DIS-proportional to the effort required to achieve it. Let me explain.

I have a sense that as a culture, we are taking fewer and fewer risks in the mistaken notion that, on average, this will bring more more happiness for more people. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. The pride and personal satisfaction of great achievement only comes from taking risks and working hard in the pursuit of your dreams.

Here's an extreme example: Would you choose the triumphs and tragedies of a thrilling life, or the mediocrity of a life that was "average" in all respects? I think the answer is obvious! Human beings NEED challenge and we hate being "average".

No one consciously chooses a life of boring mediocrity, and yet we are drifting in exactly that direction. Where once America was a nation that advised, "Go west young man" and told both women and men to strike out, seek their fortune, take risks and find adventure, today we are determined to contain, if not eliminate, virtually all risk.

As a frequent traveler, one of my "pet peeves" is the focus on airline safety. Obviously, no one wants a repeat of 9/11; it was a monstrous act of war. Of course we must take steps to protect ourselves, but we have become a nation obsessed with avoiding risk, and we are sacrificing the rewards that come only from taking reasonable risks to reach our goals.

What does this have to do with achievement and living the good life? It has to do with our willingness to invest ourselves and take risks to fulfill our potential.

Gary and I worked very hard to win that tournament. True, we benefited from some lucky bounces, but we also played well, stayed calm and patient and focused, and worked very, very hard until in the end, we had the lowest score.

The feeling of triumph was magnificent! Yes, the hours of practice were hard, and golf is an expensive, time- consuming hobby (ask Mary about being a "golf widow"), but in the end the joy of finally winning is FAR, FAR greater than the minor inconveniences of preparing to win.

As a nation, and as individuals, we must take risks and invest ourselves in order to triumph.

There was risk in President Kennedy's commitment to landing men on the moon. Amelia Earhart accepted the risks of flying around the world. The crew of every space shuttle accepts the risks of spaceflight, and not all return safely.

There is risk in pursuing your dreams. There is work and effort and investment, and you might lose, but that is the price of triumph. There are no great victories purchased at the "bargain counter" of life.

Invest yourself. Throw your heart and all that you have into your endeavors. If you lose, it will hurt and be upsetting, but if you win, there is a joy and satisfaction beyond compare. Human beings were not made to sit still.We must explore, we must adventure and try. In your own world, in whatever way is calling to you, GO FOR IT!

Written by Dr Philip E. Humbert. Visit his website for hundreds of similar articles, tips, tools and resources for your success, and be sure to subscribe to his free newsletter! It's all at: www.Philliphumbert.com