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