Your love for winning should always be greater than your hatred for losing.
Others often tell me that they hate to lose more than they like to win, and I am afraid that this is the wrong approach. Hating to lose is natural and it is a feeling that any competitive individual should feel while trying to achieve greatness. However, a love for victory should always be greater than a hatred of losing — and occasionally individuals lose sight of this. Focusing on the positive rather than avoiding the negative allows for greater effort and an earnest individual’s true passion to shine through. Whether it be for business, sports or another endeavor, focusing on the good allows one to utilize their attitude, outlook and preparation to achieve the greatest result.
Hating to lose is a part of the mental makeup of competitive people – and it is necessary. I hate to lose as much as anyone alive. But, this should not be the primary driver. The thrill of victory and the desire to be the best at whatever path an individual has chosen, and the love and passion that comes with it is the most important driving factor. So, don’t be afraid to lose. Otherwise you will never take real chances. And continue to hate to lose because otherwise you lose your competitive edge. But keep on loving to win more than hating to lose because that is what is going to make you perform your best – and win.
Founder, The Anthem Group