Getting What You Expect
A legend from the Middle East tells of a servant in Baghdad who came to his master one day with a great concern.
"Master," he cried, "Someone bumped into me in the crowded market place this morning. When I turned around I saw it was Death. I caught his eye and he gave me such a strange and terrifying look that I am now in fear of my life."
"Master, please lend me your horse so that I may flee...with your help I can be far away in Samarra by nightfall."
The merchant was a generous man, and leading the servant to one of his fine horses, he sent him away.
Later, the merchant was strolling through the market place where he noticed Death standing in the crowd and said:
"Why did you frighten my servant this morning and give him such a threatening stare?"
"I did not threaten him," said Death. "It was a look of surprise...I was astounded to see the man this morning in Baghdad when I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."
Playing not to lose is a negative, energy-draining style of living that tends to be self-fulfilling. It has no upside -one cannot score goals while defending one's own goalmouth.
When we are playing not to lose, the best that we can hope for is to minimize the number of fears that turn into reality.
Playing to win, on the other hand, has a limited downside and an unlimited upside - the right kind of odds, as any gambler would agree.
Lance Secretan
"Reclaiming Higher Ground: Creating
Organizations that Inspire the Soul"
