Winning Is Not For Losers

Standing in the summer heat, a small team of around twenty military service members were clustered together on a dirt road on some military base, all facing a thick muscled man in fatigues.  This man was the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in charge of them all and he was giving them a pep talk.  “Winning is not for losers,” he half-growled half-barked.  This group of twenty or so service members was meeting for what they thought would be a weekly ruck march, but what in fact was turning into some type of military exercise or test.

“Did you hear me?”  The Senior NCO stood in one spot as he looked at each of his team members.  “Winning is not for losers.”  He paused, probably for effect.  “I don’t hang around with fucking losers.  If you are a fucking loser, you can just curl up and fucking die now.  Save us the fucking trouble of carrying your fucking shit for excuses ass.”

He glanced at his watch, then back at the group of alpha-males.  They were all ready to prove themselves.  It was going to be a long hot day, and it was going to get worse.  The Sr. NCO walked to their right, then turned and faced the forest that surrounded them.  Their personal vehicles were still making popping sounds as the engines cooled.

The Sr. NCO was looking through the trees.  “You need to show me you’re a fucking winner and that you deserve to fucking be part of this fucking amazingness that is the mother fucking United States [military branch].”

He turned to face the group.  “This is a race.”  He briefly paused.  “There will be only one winner.”  He paused again.  “Which of you fuckers wants this this most?”

One or two in the group were already pepped up and shouting brief exclamations.  One guy clapped his hands hard together then shouted, “Let’s do this!”  He went up onto the balls of his feet as he swung his arms forward and back and clenched his jaw.

The Sr. NCO turned and looked at the young man who had vocalized his thoughts and was now warming up for whatever lay ahead.  He looked over each of them.  They had all worked hard to get to this place and had proven their determination over and over.  They had what it took.  Now it was time to shuffle the deck, and maybe reset the pecking order.

“Here’s what’s in front of you today,” the Sr. NCO started describing the challenges they would all face that day.

That day stuck into my head.  I can still smell the dirt from that road, and the damp forest from the rain that had gone through earlier that morning.  I can still hear myself groaning as I hauled ass through that forest and all the obstacles they had waiting for us.

I already knew the world was made up of winners and losers.  I already knew I wanted to be a winner.  That day, I was a loser.  I was the third guy to get through that shit.  The Sr. NCO was waiting for me at the end of it, with a big ol’ grin on his face, like I was going to be the first one through and he had a big ice cream sundae waiting for me.  He slapped me on the back and said, “Congratulations!  You are the second fucking loser!  Consider going harder and faster next time.”  He told everyone the same thing, telling them they were the “third fucking loser,” “fourth fucking loser,” on down the line.  I was not there when the last guy came in, but I was told he received a very special speech reserved just for him.

Maybe in a fantasy land everyone can be a winner, receive blue ribbons, and trophies, but in reality that shit just does not happen.  If you want to win, you need to be the best.  To be the best, you need to work your ass off.

When everyone else is taking a break, you need to be working your ass off, sweating at the gym, studying your enemies or competition, learning how to beat them, improving yourself.  Don’t ever tell yourself you have earned some rest.  Fuck that!  If you want to be a winner, you don’t get to take breaks.  When you finish one project, move on to the next project, find a new race, find a new challenge.  Get ahead, and keep going.  Always challenge yourself.  Never stop.  Even when you sleep, dream about winning.  When you read, read shit that will help you win.

Change your definition of relaxation.  Instead of laying by a pool, relax in a pool by swimming laps.  If you have family, be the best example you can for them, and include them in your success.  Teach your kids that hard work is not something to be scared of, but a way of life.  Spend every moment of your existence making you into a better version of yourself.

“Winning is not for losers.”

“Which of you fuckers wants [it the] most?”

This story was written with someone who wishes to remain anonymous.  If you would like to contact them, in their words, “Tough shit.”