82
“Losing builds character.”
“Losing makes you try harder the next time.”
“You’ll never be a loser if you always give it your best effort.”
Let’s be honest. Losing stinks.
We all know that because we’ve all lost before, and we will probably lose again. However, you will also win again at something—hopefully, more times than you lose.
But whether you’re competing in baseball, chess, spelling bees, student council elections, or the Olympics, how you lose is really just as important as how you win.
Nobody likes the guy who claims that the other guy or the other team was lucky or cheated or that he just let them win. That kind of guy is going to be one lonely person.
You want to be the guy who, when he loses, will congratulate his opponent, even if he or she did just get lucky or even if the referee did make a bad call or even if you didn’t give your best effort. When you get home, you can put all your anger and frustration into making yourself a better third baseman or chess player or high jumper. You will become a better athlete and competitor, and you will be a person whom others will want to compete with.
YOU DO
Say, “Good game,” or “Congratulations,” to the winner of any competition in which you’ve been involved.
84
YOU DON’T
Give up because you lost. If you are just playing to win, you are missing out on the true meaning of competition.
Why
No one wants to lose. But, if you tried hard and had a good time and learned something and spent time with some good people—you’ve still had a positive experience.
A gentleman does not throw a fit when a call does not go his way or when he loses.
A gentleman does not stop making the best effort halfway through a competition, even if he thinks it is obvious he is going to lose.