LIFE AFTER DEFEAT

Many years ago, during an interview, a reporter asked the great heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali in 1971 after his loss to Sonny Liston, how he felt about defeat, he replied:

“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated,
Can reach down to the bottom of his soul
And come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win the match”.

The profound wisdom of this statement has remained with me since then and continues to serve as a powerful reminder each time I undertake a task or give advice to anyone.

The word “Defeat” can be viewed in two ways. In one sense it signifies the disappointment, the
embarrassment and frustration of failing to achieve our goal and as such, set us up for continued failure. On the other hand, it could signify that an attempt has been completed, lessons will be learnt and success is better assured.

Success and Defeat are equally important components in our growth and development.Unless
we suffer the pain of defeat, we cannot know the true joy of success. Hence it is so important that we expose our children to experience the “downs” of defeat as much as we encourage them to seek the “highs” of success. By protecting them from knowing and dealing with failure, we do them the greatest injustice of all.

All of us can no doubt think of instances of people who have come back from embarrassing defeat to resounding success in many aspects of their lives. In my own case, I believe the earliest and most impressive example occurred when I was less than 10 years old. I clearly recall the occasion when a very close friend announced to my father that his business had failed and he was forced to declare bankruptcy at the age of 55. Undaunted, he started a new business and by dint of dedication and hard work grew it into a multi-million dollar success within a few years. I remember asking him the reason for his success, his reply was “I learnt all from losing everything.”

In 1980, as a result of a series events, some predictable, other beyond my control, despite
having attained substantial success both socially and professionally, I made the decision to relocate to the USA. The move, at best, was daunting, the pressure upon my wife and young family was formidable and the uncertainty of the future course was substantial. However, despite several periods of significant doubt, in my mind defeat was never an option, and ultimately success was inevitable. I learnt more about myself during this period than at any other time in my life, being guided by a motto which continues to guide me:

“It does not matter how many times you fall.
What matters is that you get up each time you do.
You will fail only if you do not get up”

Throughout the ages, the history of successful men is invariably based on the many defeats they encountered and the resulting lessons learnt. For after all is said and done, the true measure of a man is not that he has succeeded, but rather that he overcame defeat.

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He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.
……. Napoleon Bonaparte

The taste of defeat has a richness of experience all its own.
……..Bill Bradley

If you learn from defeat, you haven't really lost.
……Zig Ziglar

Victory is sweetest when you have known defeat.
......Malcolm S. Forbes

I learned much more from defeat;
That I ever learnt from victory.
…….Ben Stein

Victory has a thousand fathers,
But Defeat is an orphan.
….John F Kennedy.