Play To Win

There was a time in most of our lives when we had no fear-that feeling when we jumped from the jungle gym and slammed our bodies to the ground. No goal was unattainable. We were an unstoppable force that would think of something and then make it happen. 

Then, as time goes by, the world tells us more frequently that we can't do what we want. The doubters laugh at our goals and try to persuade us from going after our dreams.

They say, "You're crazy. It's too hard. Why don't you do this instead? You should play it safe." They act as if dreams were meant for others. They surround us with negative energy and try to instill their own fears in us. 

Many of us become so scared of losing what we have that we don't go after what we truly want. We play it safe. We don't take chances that will move us one step towards our dreams. 

We see this in sports all the time when a team has the lead. They start to think about how not to lose instead of how to win. They hold on so tight to their lead that they start playing safe and scared. You can see it in their energy and body language. As a result the other team takes chances, plays with no fear and eventually gains the momentum and wins.

Playing to win requires a commitment to yourself that even if you fail, you will never give up and never let your dreams die. Obstacles are meant to be overcome. Fear is meant to be conquered. They are all part of the game and the people who succeed play to win and never give up until the game is over.

--Adapted from jongordon.com as appeared in the November 2012 issue of
The Coaching and Leadership Journal

Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else