Second Place Was Not in Lombardi's Playbook

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:03:54 EST

There have been volumes written over the years describing and measuring success in a multitude of ways. What is success, and when do you know you have achieved it? Success may be measured by financial standing, achievements in your course of life, and the respect you earn from your family as well as your peers.

To succeed in life means attaining the goals you set for yourself, working honestly toward them, and being true to yourself when considering how you reached this place in life. Vince Lombardi, the beloved Hall of Fame football coach, wrote often about what it takes to succeed in football as well as life. To him, football was the perfect example of the game of life.

Winning was the most important goal in terms of success. He said, "The will to win is EVERYTHING". Simply playing the game isn't enough. You must work harder, longer and more efficiently than your competitor.

Taking comfort with just getting by will never allow you to reach success. Lombardi said, "Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit". Second place in an Olympic event affords no smile from the contestant, and such should be the case in all avenues of life.

"The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender". This was another quote from Lombardi. Once you set a goal, set out on the road to achieve it, and get closer to it every day, the successful person will never quit.

You may never reach your goal, as something or things may get in the way. However, your effort must continue in spite of obstacles in front. Keep working toward the finish line. As Lombardi said, "We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time".

We may not have the obvious intellect, an Ivy League Education, or NFL caliber physical attributes, but we all have the ability to demonstrate a winning attitude. Lombardi said, "The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have".

Set lofty but not impossible goals. Work honestly towards them. Never be satisfied with coming close. You may not reach every goal set for yourself in life, but the effort you show will gain the respect from your family and peers. In the end, success will be yours.

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Second Place Was Not in Lombardi's Playbook