How would you feel if I said it was OK to be second?
You might think, “Second place means you’re the first loser.” Or, you might just wonder if I’ve lost it.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love winning, and I agree that it sucks to lose. It’s worst when you come in second, because you were so close to winning.
The reason why I’m saying second place is OK is because being a runner-up can give you 10 times the learning opportunities compared to when you win.
1st vs. 2nd
Being first sometimes lulls you into feeling like you’re ‘good enough,’ and it can be hard to avoid becoming complacent after a big victory.
On the other hand, coming close to winning, but falling short, often sends you back to the drawing board to revisit and revise your approach.
If you’re able to take an honest look at yourself, you’ll more than likely find one or two little nagging deficiencies holding you back. Once you’ve identified those problems, you can make the necessary changes and start moving forward again.
Second place always gives you two options. You can go back to the drawing board and make yourself better, or you can quit. It’s your call. ~ Kevin Achtzener
Dangers of 2nd place
Of course, there are some dangers to coming in second.
If you don’t use the time after a loss to improve, you may stagnate and start to slide downwards.
There’s also a danger of you feeling like a ‘loser,’ even though you were within a hair of winning. Calling yourself a loser is one of the fastest ways to destroy your confidence and success.
What do you do?
If you get the chance, go for the win, but if you fall a bit short, remember that life goes on, and you’ll come back better than ever next time.
Remember: You can learn more by losing, but winning is way more fun.
