There is a certain amount of flair that goes along with the idea
of “winning at all costs.” The phrase exudes total commitment and dogged
determination. It carries with it the idea of complete focus and unrelenting
drive. But can it also get us in trouble?
I think it depends on what “winning” looks like. Is it a
promotion? A personal goal? A net worth milestone? A certain level of social or
economic status?
It all hinges on how meaningful and impactful the objective truly
is. If the “win” is not worth the price to achieve it, winning at all costs
might leave one destitute.
How valuable is millions of dollars in retirement if your
health is so poor you cannot enjoy it? How meaningful is the corner office at
work if you go home to an empty house because you sacrificed your family to
secure it? How fulfilling is social prominence if you have had to abandon your
values and convictions to achieve it?
When the “win” is misguided or poorly defined, winning at
all costs is often far too costly. If we are not careful, we can too easily sacrifice
the essential for hollow victories. We must define what matters most in our
lives and tenaciously protect it, even at all other costs.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul?” – Mark 8:36
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