Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. Do you agree

‘’Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.’’ In my opinion is an incorrect statement because, Yes, it’s a proud feeling once a person wins but there is more to life than winning. I personally think without team work and good sportsmanship, having a great time and putting your best foot forward wouldn’t be winning.

“Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing,’ ’is like saying Brian Laura is the most important player on West Indies team.

This phrase was made by Vince Lombardi. Lombardi’s original statement was “Winning isn’t everything but making the effort to win is” (Maraniss,2000). The phrase has turned out to be a very important motivating phrase. I strongly disagree with the statement because the experience of losing builds a person’s character and helps one to learn to endure and keep going. When I was younger, I used to love playing basketball. I didn’t like the sport so much but the fun that came out of playing it was well deserved.

Just like me, there was also other athletes who knew nothing much of the sport but just enjoyed it just for the fun of it. Several reasons other than winning was just for the fun, learning and just doing it for the experience. Playing a sport isn’t all about winning. Babe Didrikson Zaharias, “If you win through bad sportsmanship, that’s no real victory.” This just shows, if a person focuses so much on winning, then they will never be as happy.

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Instead they forget the reason for loving the sport.

Winning brings out arrogancy in a person. Teammates usually think because they have won, they are better than the other. It gives them a certain label and most if not all, will drive other teammates over the edge with their arrogant behavior. Imagine Carnage FCC wins in their football match, they will portray a heavy feeling that no one is better than them and this will lower the other team spirit which competed with them.

To lose and walk away might lower one self esteem but at the same time helps that person by showing them the values derived from losing. It gives the motivation to Rise above; Being on a losing team can do more than just building one’s inner character but help with showing them means and ways to remain focus for that’s the only way they can prove worth and earn respect. West Indies cricket team for example, they are respected across the world. Not because they win every game, but they are a part of a team and they help build each other. They are all humans just like us and they too make mistakes and what makes it better is that they learn from their mistakes and come back even stronger.

Winning isn’t everything. Losing at something that you have worked so hard for can help one build their character. Back in my Secondary school days, I trained so hard for the 400 meters. Every evening I was out practicing. Finally, the day arrived, I was confident that I will win the race. Unfortunately, I came forth. I cried and cried because I trained each day. I felt disappointed because I let my team down. I was so shamed that I wasn’t even feeling the vibes to run any more races. I went into a corner, sat down and clamed myself. Before 20 minutes elapsed, I was able to pick myself up and headed back out to the tracks for the other race. I didn’t place in the race, but I was able to build my character once again to get back on the field.

The reality is, we do not get what we always want. We might be able to get a job, promotion and sometimes we don’t. It is a good lesson for children to learn and go through things early as it will help them prepare themselves later down in the future.

Another reason why winning isn’t everything is because it encourages self-reflection. Losing helps a person reflect on their attitudes and actions to learn from it and do better. They are often forced to evaluate themselves in the areas for improvement and preventing complacency.

It makes winning sweeter. Winning is only valuable when it comes with challenges and effort. By this, one can feel a sense of achievement knowing that they did the right things and can be happy of the end results.

The realistic truth is that without competition in life whether in sports, on the work place or school, a contest will no longer be much fun for the persons taking part. We also cannot disregard any form of competition because of this reality. Many people just want to win and make their life long pursuit a reality. There are still those who look at the broader picture and look at it with a sense of discipline. For those who can enjoy the love of a game be it in sports or social winnings rather than drawing themselves to the fulfillment from learning to “not win’’ then they can strongly say they have overcome. To me the key lies in redefining winning in terms of specific goals and how they will be achieved and rewarded.