The Power Of Losing - Coach Lippy

In our world today, we’re all about winning. Winning is the hero, losing is the villain.

And that’s because losing sucks. People don’t like to lose. There are consequences to losing, and a reward for winning.

That’s how we’ve been taught all these years. That’s how we’ve been scripted, and those beliefs and expectations reinforced.

But that’s not always the case. There’s power in losing.

The power of effort.

Is it all about winning and losing? Does the end justify the means?

That’s what the world tries to tell us.

Every. Single. Day.

“Don’t be a loser, use this!”

“Do you want to be ______, _______, and ________? Don’t be a loser. Join _____ now!”

Sound familiar?

We’re all labeled and judged from an early age. We just don’t recognize them as labels and judgements.

“You’re so smart!”

“You’re so talented! You could be a pro!”

“You’re so beautiful! I love you!”

“You’re such a winner!”

What then happens if you’re not so smart compared to your peers? If you’re as talented as others? If you’re not as beautiful as you want to be? Or if you didn’t win?

It’s not only about the result. It’s also about the process, the effort you put into getting the result. That’s where you get better, and that’s what losing highlights.

Winning has an ability to just focus on the result, and overshadow the process and effort. Losing gives an opportunity to look at the process and effort, and areas for improvement.

And not just win or lose. But rather, what do I need to do to do better next time.

To win next time.

The power of learning.

If you allow it, and you’re open, losing pushes you to learn. To get better.

To find ways and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

It’s like your favorite basketball team that’s forever stuck with more losses than wins, not getting into the playoffs, and always getting one of the top three draft picks.

There’s still so much to do, and so much to learn.

Look at the winning teams, best practices, people who are succeeding. They are models to learn from. Find out what leads to their success, and learn that.

Then someday, one-up them, and do better than them.

Only if you’re able to learn and do better than them.

And you’ll only be shown that window of opportunity, if you lose.

Winning lulls you into a false sense of security and comfort.

Not knowing there are many, many, many out there chasing after you and your hard-earned success.

And you’ve shown them the way to do it.

The power of letting go.

In our modern culture, winning is seen as getting something, whilst losing is seen as not getting, even losing, something.

And that’s a good thing.

As we live our daily lives, we get bombarded with so much information, so many problems, roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

And losing, does away with all of that.

There is a letting go that we must allow to happen, if we want to rise above and succeed.

Letting go of the past – of failures, of losing, and focus on the now

Letting go of old habits, old ways, and even old traditions, to make way for what will lead to positive benefit.

Letting go of the pressure to obtain a “winning” result, and to just focus on the task and behaviors at hand, that will ultimately lead to a winning result.

Letting go of how you see yourself, and what you thought you were capable.

Letting go of limits, especially the ones that you set for yourself.

There is freedom in letting go.

The power of wanting.

This one is a question of motivation.

Losing makes us face this question, head to head:

“How much do I really want it?”

Do you want it bad enough to shrug off what’s being said, what you’re saying and thinking to yourself, learn, and try again?

And actually, try again? I mean, really, commit to taking action and just going for it.

Despite having lost before. Numerous times.

It’s scary, and it’s something everyone has to face, at one point or another.

I failed when I put up two businesses before, and several other ideas, at varying stages of commitment and progress, have not gotten off the ground.

I’m scared. There’s still a part of the that still is. It’s tough, but it’s pushing me on.

Further and further, until you fall of the cliff.

Then there’s no going back.

Succeed, or die trying.

“How much do you want it?”