Badminton
and Oscar
“Eight are disqualified for losing on
purpose”
This global headline summarized well the disgraceful and
shameful act which played out on the worlds largest stage—the recently
completed Olympic games in London. After
an unexpected loss by a powerful Chinese doubles badminton team, eight players
on the South Korean and Indonesian teams appeared to deliberately play badly to
avoid meeting the stronger Chinese team in the next round of games. The Indonesians were successful at losing (or
throwing the game) but the South Koreans even though trying to lose still
managed to win and fell into the playoff they did not want with the world
champions. Both teams were disqualified
from further competition.
“Oscar Pistorius knocked out of
London 2012 Olympics but his achievements will resound for years to come”
The above is a far different headline which appeared in the
local London paper, The Telegraph. Oscar Pistorius is arguably the story of the
2012 Olympics. Yes, there’s Mark Phelps
and his record setting achievements of most gold medals and total medals won by
anyone in history. Certainly Gabby (Gabrielle
Douglas) is a candidate for “the story” with her all-round individual gold
medal and team gold medal in gymnastics…and only 16! And I’m sure you have your own Olympic heroes
which merit consideration as the outstanding headline of the 2012 games.
But I’m sticking with Oscar as “the story” of the
Olympics. Born without fibulas, he had
both legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday. His battle to compete began early in his life
and reached its zenith this year when Oscar qualified to run the 400 meter
semi-finals. Never in the history of the
Olympics had a double amputee competed in the Olympics but this South African
marvel shocked the world by running through trials to get to the semis.
“The whole experience
is mind-blowing,” Pistorius said afterward.
“My aim was to make the semifinal.
It’s a dream come true.”
No, Oscar didn’t win.
In fact he was caught from behind by Venezuela’s Albert Bravo and
finished in last place. When Oscar
crossed the finish line, the winner, Kirani James of Grenada was waiting for
him. The two men exchanged the pinned
identification bibs on their shirts making a statement that Oscar Pistorius had
arrived as an Olympian.
“He’s an inspiration to all of us,” James said.
As I’ve followed the two stories above—the cheating
badminton players and the double-amputee Oscar Pistorius—the contrast in
character could not be starker.
Deliberately losing so one might somehow win is cheating, is deceptive,
and cheapens what competition is all about.
Contrastingly, putting your heart and soul into winning, placing
everything you have on the line and then falling short—losing—is honorable,
laudable, and even motivational in our games, recreation, and business.
Individuals, firm and company leaders are confronted
frequently with choices on how to win.
One way to win is to throw caution to the wind, cede to pressure,
abandon our values and take a short cut which in the longer term is almost
always costly…and a loser. The more
lasting, honorable and ethical choice is to embrace a value system which is
sensitive to all stakeholders and which in its occasional failings is more
determined to be successful in the future.
The two broad choices of how to win are not only different
but reflective of who we are and what kind of company or firm we have. One is a loser perspective. Winning may occur but it’s a cheap win, an
unfair win and is always short lived.
The other connotes true leadership and a winning perspective. A true winner always strives to be
successful, plays fairly and, when he occasionally falters, will be more
determined to avoid mistakes and find innovative, fresh and fair ways to beat
the competition.
Cheating so we might win?
A real loser! Whether it’s
badminton or Enron.
Striving with purpose and passion to win? A real winner! Whether it’s Oscar Pistorius or The
Aerospace
Corporation.
Ad astra
Per aspera
David A. Costello, CPA
