Tag: Leadership

The photo shows me hurting on the bike. Writing this hurt too. I’d take the bike pain any day.

Last night I sat in a freezing cold church hall attending the annual general meeting of the Addiscombe Cycling Club and became a loser. Our club captain of the past ten years was standing down and another club member and I were up for election. He got it, I didn’t.

In brief, my competitor offered more of a very successful, proven formula. If it ain’t broke why fix it? I offered something a little different, and in doing so mine was the riskier option. There were 36 people present. He received 20 votes, I received 8 and the remaining folk abstained. I congratulated my competitor sincerely on his win.

In the aftermath I felt a mix of disappointment and stupidly, some anger. I hope I didn’t show the latter – that would have been pretty pathetic. Stuff like “Why didn’t they pick me? Don’t they know change is good for you blah blah rant moan.” It stayed in my head. At least until now.

Today I reflect. I look again. Nearly a quarter of the assembled members supported the something different option. That’s not bad, not bad at all. In fact it’s pretty good. My sincere thanks go to those eight people.

These feelings reminded me of an opportunity I lost last year. I got down to the final two for a position of external adviser to a local authority board. And then I lost. Back then I was initially angry. And on reflection I realised that was wrong. I made it all the way to the final fence in my first few weeks out on my own. I should not have been angry, I should have been excited.

I’m learning that losing is an essential part of putting yourself out there. And if you use the lose to encourage yourself and others to better things, then losing is good for you. So is getting over yourself – I’m still proud to wear the shirt.

What have you winners lost lately?