Playing to win is very different than playing not to lose.
For example have you ever watched a football
game (or any game for that matter) when one team is winning by a large
margin, a blowout, but then the opposing team decides that they have
nothing to lose? They throw caution to the wind and start playing with
total abandon. By taking bigger chances and going for broke, the team
starts to score quicker, taking larger risks and getting larger
rewards. This team is playing to win. The other team,
who was winning by such a large margin, changes its focus, they start trying to
play cautiously and protect their lead. This is playing not to lose.
By the final quarter, the team that is playing to win has caught up to
the other team. What seemed impossible a few quarters earlier becomes a
reality: they pull off a come-from-behind win.
How did this happen? Fear of losing can take one’s eye off a desired goal.
Let
me give you another example from my own life. When I was just starting
out in business I was very aggressive. I was willing to put everything
I had on the line to succeed (mind you in those days, it was not much);
nevertheless, it was all I had. For each new initiative, I would have
to bet the farm on my ideas, and I never hesitated. I was always
willing to use my house, my car, my time, anything I had for collateral
on my ideas.
As I started to have more
success and acquiring a comfortable lifestyle, however, I became less
and less willing to risk it. Around 1997, we hit some bumps in the road
with one of our major clients, and they decided to put our contract out
to bid. I got nervous. If we lost this client, we would be in a
vulnerable position. I decided to purchase another business that would
potentially replace that income if we lost the major client.
The point to this story is this: I did not want to buy this other company, and I knew it was not a good idea. I was acting out of fear of losing, however, I did it anyway. Instead of focusing on how to win, I was focused on playing not to lose.
In the end, that decision turned out to be one of my biggest mistakes.
The company I purchased not only lost money for us, but it took us three
years and many resources away from focusing on what we really wanted.
I
am not suggesting that you throw all caution to the wind. But when you
approach a new decision, it might be worth asking yourself, “Are
you playing to win or playing not to lose?” When you’re
acting to prevent a loss, it takes momentum away from a good sound decision to move forward to win. |
