The Cardinal Lesson After A First Win
If you can win the day, then you can win the week. And if you can win the week, then you can win the month and eventually, the year. It's not hard to win when you're consistent but consistency alone doesn't guarantee winning.
The first win is always memorable, often carrying a timeless essence of experience. What I mean by that is the experience itself can be superimposed with something that is beyond time. I can vividly remember the first time I won the MVP of our high school soccer league.
To provide some context, the journey was far from smooth. Because early in the season, a sprained ankle had me off the field, which means spending weeks in physical therapy. The frustration with each missed practice was akin to a volcanic that's about to erupt.
Eventually, I did return but this was just after mid-season. I naturally felt out of sync and lagged behind my teammates.
On top of that, the taunts from some classmates stung harder than expected, but paradoxically they also fueled my resolve to trained harder than ever, pushing myself to regain my form and also prove my doubters wrong.
Perhaps, without that fuel or intensity to give my absolute best at the last minute, I may not have won the title.
For me, the MVP title itself wasn't just an individual honor or a symbol of victory; it was a validation of dedication and a message to never give up on your goals, irrespective of the odds stacked against you.
On The Field
In sports, the first win can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can be a springboard for future success, boosting confidence, motivation, and belief in one's abilities.
However, the elation of victory can also harbor a potential pitfall. This satisfaction of winning can also lead to complacency, a sense that the hard work is over. Which causes athletes to ease off their training regimen, neglecting the constant improvement that is crucial for sustained success.
This is why the first lesson of winning is crucial: don't let the first victory get into your head. Yes, this is a time for celebration but we also have to remember that the journey towards excellence is a continuous process.
Better use the momentum from your first win to fuel your determination and push yourself further to higher heights, as true champions do.
This naturally leads us to the second lesson, which is staying hungry and humble. The first lesson tells what not to do and the second lesson tells how not to do it.
Staying hungry and humble is an age-old adage that perfectly captures a difference between continuous winners and one time winners.
In my view, winning is a game, an art, a science, and staying hungry and humble is the secret sauce that refines it all.
Staying hungry ensures we approach every challenge with the same zeal and determination, constantly seeking ways to improve one's abilities, both physical and mental.
But more importantly, It keeps one focus on the journey, not just the destination, acknowledging that there's always more to learn and achieve.
Humility grounds you, reminding you that success is rarely a one-person endeavor.
In sports, this fosters gratitude and respect for the coaches who guide you, the teammates who support you, and even the opponents who push you to be your best.
Being humble also allows us to learn from our mistakes, celebrate the victories of others, and create a more conducive environment for growth and improvement.
Off The Field
Beyond the field, the 'cardinal lesson' of not letting the first win get to your head and staying hungry and humble translates to various aspects of life.
In business, winning your first major client or closing a significant deal doesn't always guarantee sustained success. It can be tempting to rest on your laurels, but that will be a sure fire way to fall behind, especially in the current business dynamic environment.
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