Winning, But at What Cost

The world is glued to our screens watching the best of the best do their thing on the track, fields, water and apparatus. I just love the Olympics. It gives me a chance to be in wonderment at what the human body can be trained to do, to win the ultimate prize, a Gold Medal. But at what cost?

Winning in sports is not just talent, it takes dedication, hours, days, weeks and years of dedication to the task. It includes the sacrifice of friends, food and fun. It separates you from the ‘normal’ way of life. It is the 5 am gym session, the weakened training sessions and the loss of holiday time, while others are on holiday, you are at yet another training session.

And if you do all this and somehow have the magical gene combination and talent and a great coach and parents to pay for all this, then maybe, one day, you will stand on a podium and get a medal. Is it all worth it?

For the spectator, yes. We get to observe perfection in evidence. Master in their craft and the beauty of human composition doing the seemingly impossible. We clap and cheer and when our team wins, we go berserk for a few minutes. We love it. But how long does it last?

We hear of post-event blues. For both athletes and spectators. We all get down after a big high. But for those who have put every ounce of effort into the event, win or lose, experience a huge downward spiral when the lights fade, and the fans go home. We do not manage this too well, on either side. Sure, there are the TV interviews and parades, but deep down, there is real depression, anger and often regret. Is there a better way?

In business, we compete for the prize, whatever that prize may be. We train hard get up at 5 am (sometimes) and do all the right things right to compete in the rat race of life. But winning in the rat race, still means that you are still a rat. Is there a better way?

I suggest balance. I have competed in sports and won a tin full of medals, I have dedicated my life to a cause and seen how isolated it made me. I needed more than to be king rat. Balance for self, work, love and life is key. Sure, winning is great, but participation is better. Burnt out, depressed and close to dead is not participation. And I speak about full participation.

Most of us are not Olympic Athletes, we do not need to push ourselves to breaking point to win. But we do need to participate in a well-balanced, well-structured and fully inclusive lifestyle that feeds our souls, our families and ourselves to overflowing without falling apart.

Stop being a rat and let’s find balance.