Comments on: What They Say About Winners

By: Maggie

Maggie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:46:13 +0000

Reading this essay, I felt relief. When I’ve tried to be all I can, to be helpful,
to excel and just plain feel good, I’ve at times been shocked and really hurt
by the venom of others, including family members and people I thought were my friends. It’s difficult, but it’s nice to know that others have experienced the same thing.

But the universe threw me a great tool I use in pursuing the life I want. In the last couple of years, I had a minor medical crisis and had cancer surgery. No one messes with you when you more or less say “I had cancer. I’m doing as I like.”

I’m sort of reinventing my life now. It’s tiring and the lack of support is disappointing, but I’m going for it.

I’m glad I found this site!
Cheers!
Maggie

By: ArrVee

ArrVee — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:38:07 +0000

the real winners are those who set out a goal for themselves, and decide for themselves that they have won, regardless of the real-life contest (if there was one at all). Winning is relative to oneself, and what others say to the contrary are relative to themselves.

people who aspire to win in their own personal challenges applaud those who win in theirs, since it gives them hope that they too can win. People who pull others down have very low self-esteem and don’t see any hope of personal victory, and need other losers to commiserate with them.

of course all these are easier said than done, different for each individual, and that’s why winning is a very personal matter.

By: Kendra

Kendra — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:24:36 +0000

This line was something I needed:

…”Winners who possess self-confidence and focus are often labeled as arrogant by those who lack both qualities…”

I just went through a rough time and this quote couldn’t have came at a better time. Keep writing, I enjoy your outlook on life

By: Trackback from KUNU

Trackback from KUNU — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:35:44 +0000

[...] I had a sudden dose of this strange phenomenon when I won the Matthew Good video contest way back when. Amongst the waves of positive feedback came a lot of negative and ignorant feedback that, at the time, I did not expect. I had never posted a video that had more than 1000 views on YouTube and all of the sudden Born Losers was on it’s way to 30,000 views in a matter of days. It was both exciting and nerve wracking having so many strangers view my art at once. I had never had such a huge forum for feedback and the quantity of negativity was something I wasn’t prepared for. Looking back, a lot of it was probably out of envy while the rest was ignorance. [...]

By: Akila

Akila — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:50:24 +0000

Chris, thank you for this post. It almost brought tears to my eyes. I had just read the whole horrible saga of George Sodino, the man who murdered the 3 women at L.A. Fitness. My husband emailed me a few minutes later to let me know that there was a hummingbird floating outside of our house sucking nectar from a flower. I was in that moment where the horribleness in this world seemed to outweigh the beauty and wonderfulness of this world. But, then, I read this line from your post, “It’s easier to bring winners down a notch than it is to rise to their level.” There are crazy people out there but I am glad that there are more people out there who are fighting hard not to be knocked down.

By: Shirley Keller

Shirley Keller — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:27:44 +0000

Regarding your “Yarn Harlot” comments. I went to the website (thanks to your link) and read about half the story and then decided it was too much negativity on this wonderful Sunday. I wrote her and told her if I was in her position when I saw the emails, or posting, or from where ever they emerge I would use DELETE. I would not waste my time reading her negative website, nor trying to reason with the unreasonable. It never works. Arguments cannot be won. We either agree to disagree if our opinions differ or there is no reason to continue. Anyway, all this stuff just fuels fear. There is too much negativity in the air. The media picks up on something, amplifies it to death. You are even doing it when you expound on how we must all watch out if we do well in life. What would happen if we all just turned the tv off when they start in on the fear mongering? What would happen if we just delete every time a negative person who wants to bring everyone down appears? Without an audience what will people like that do? Just some thoughts. Thanks for yours.

By: Shirley Keller

Shirley Keller — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:20:03 +0000

Lance Armstrong is our hero. He resisted cancer at the same time my husband was fighting his cancer. My husband is also a bike rider. And with the exception of the week of surgery, and the last few days of radiation, he showed up at school teaching his students, and he rode his bike. I am as proud of him, as I was watching Lance win the Tour, that first time. Then each and every time we watched our hearts were with Lance, identifying with the strength one must draw to survive cancer, and probably most of life! Anyway, we applauded his retirement and hoped he’d find ways to jump in and do the good works of the foundation. I guess the total push of the Tour was too much loss for him. So he came back. And third, my goodness, was incredible at his age, and time to prepare considered injury, etc. We too cannot wait until next year. Whether he comes in first or last, he adds class and intelligence, and brings attention to what it takes to survive, priceless value. But I do admit, I will be rooting to see Lance on the number one spot on the podium.

By: Lori

Lori — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:07:15 +0000

Those that feel the need to knock the great ones down a peg or two are acting from the place of a fragile ego. Let them criticize, verbalize and show the world how insecure they are while the great ones like Lance Armstrong ride on into the sunset with the satisfaction of a job well done.

By: Trackback from Vagabond

Trackback from Vagabond — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:40:22 +0000

[...] Criticism is often motivated by the discomfort some people feel when others succeed. It’s easier to bring winners down a notch than it is to rise to their level. Winners who possess self-confidence and focus are often labeled as arrogant by those who lack both qualities. – Chris Guillebeau [...]

By: Trackback from Ryan Stephens Marketing

Trackback from Ryan Stephens Marketing — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:37:24 +0000

[...] What They Say About Winners – Chris Guillebeau (The Art of Noncomformity) “Criticism is often motivated by the discomfort some people feel when others succeed. It’s easier to bring winners down a notch than it is to rise to their level. Winners who possess self-confidence and focus are often labeled as arrogant by those who lack both qualities.” [...]