Love Is More Important Than Winning

I’m running Colorado’s first tournament of the year, the Monumentum Debate Tournament. My club is kicking off a small 78-student 6-round competition. Here’s something I’d like to get across to the competitors:

Love is more important than winning. [Tweet this]

It sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? I mean, debate tournaments are about winning. It certainly isn’t about losing! I train my kids to go for the win, do all you can to outthink, out prepare, out do your opponent.

But I don’t want my debaters to just win, I want them to be champions. The ones who end up on top (like many of our alumni) are in this for bigger reasons than winning. Funny how that happens. You surrender the competitive spirit and replace it with a love for the activity and for your fellow competitors, and you end up victorious.

Here’s another quote to pocket in the mind and heart:

“Instead of outthinking the competition, it’s worth trying to outlove them. Everyone is working hard on the thinking part, but few of your competitors worry about the art and generosity and caring part.” – Seth Godin

Good stuff. It’ll make a champion out of you.