The Power of Winning Even When it Looks Like Youre Losing

The Power of Winning Even When it Looks Like You’re Losing Competitive nature I was a late bloomer when it came to the on-line Scrabble game Words with Friends, somehow not discovering the game until last fall. Not surprisingly, I was immediately hooked. As of this writing, I’ve played 136 games, 105 of which I won, 30 of which I lost, and 1 of which I tied (that was my 15-year-old very precocious nephew). I’m a competitive person, and have been since playing backgammon with my dad at a young age. He would never let me win. I like to play to win, and expect others to do the same. When I first started playing Words with Friends, I lost about one out of every three games. Then I discovered the Word Strength tool that tells me if I’ve found the highest possible scoring word. That kicked my level of playing (and my average word score) up a few notches. I always attempt to identify that high-scoring word, even if I don’t end up playing it. If I don’t find it, I feel defeated. Tempted to quit? I have learned something about myself as a competitor: I don’t like to quit. Not finding the highest scoring word feels like quitting. If I’m losing a game, I create a new game for myself to try to close the gap. Sometimes I succeed. I’ll tell you one thing: I have never resigned a game because my opponent played a 100+ point word, or because I was behind by 100 points, or for any other reason. I will always finish my games, and if I lose, I lose fair and square. In fact, as much as I don’t like to lose, winning all the time is almost worse. At one point I amassed a 34-game winning streak and actually complained about it. What was the point of playing if I always won? I am motivated by challenge. I will keep playing someone who beats me every time, because one day I will win and I will feel awesome about that. Not everyone is like me. I had one opponent last week who beat me two games in a row. I was celebrating having a worthy opponent and was excited to keep playing with her; then when I started to beat her by a significant margin in our third game, she abruptly resigned. Similarly, another opponent who pulled out ahead early in our game resigned when I overtook her by changing her word, AZINE, into HYDRAZINE on a triple-word score. What happened to the thrill of the fight? I shared my experience with my hairdresser and she told me about a friend who started a competition amongst her friends as to who could take the most steps in a day. When her friend felt sick the first morning of the challenge, she quit the whole thing. She was that unwilling to lose, or to work hard to come from behind. I’ve heard of people who quit while they’re ahead, which to me means building on your wins and not letting yourself go stale. I’ve recently heard this called “flipping on the up” â€" making a strong move when you’re at a peak to amplify your success. But quitting when you start to fall behind is, to me, a sign of someone who is not willing to feel hurt or to fight through the tough times. Setting yourself up for a comeback In sports, comebacks are the most thrilling stories. You may recall the 2004 Boston Red Sox, the first team ever to come back from a 0-3 record in the American League Championshipâ€"and to then clinch the World Series in a sweep. This was their first World Series win in 86 years. Similarly, in the resume writing world, some of the most powerful bullets are the ones that report a turnaround. Someone who pulled a company, a department or a team out of a slump is a valuable person to have around. That’s a person who doesn’t let bad news get them down. From what I can tell, the best way to stay motivated to win when you’re losing is to believe it’s possible to winâ€"and at the same time that there’s a real possibility of losing. Convincing yourself there’s no way you’ll win will not motivate you, and thinking you’ll always win will also not motivate you. Studies show that teams who are slightly behind are actually more likely to win than the ones slightly ahead. That’s the point where the possibility of winning is real, and so is the possibility of losing. That edge is what gets the adrenaline going and pushes people into high gear. How do you respond when you start falling behind? Do you quit while you’re ahead and use your success to reach your next goal, or do you quit when you think you will lose? How does this show up in your life? Invite me So… Who wants to play Words with Friends with me? Invite me at brandyesq.

Business Plan - Beauty Salon Free Essay Example, 1500 words

Leasehold expansion will sum to roughly $31,400, and salon apparatus will cost roughly $29,000. The salon owner will put in $700 for cash-on-hand at initial date. Initial Requirements Initial Expenses Rental fee deposit $1,716 Others $0 Total initial Expenses $1,716 Initial Assets Cash needed $600 Additional Current Assets $700 Long-time Assets $60,500 Total Assets $65,500 Total Requirements $67,418 Products and Services Stylin Salon is a fashionable full-service salon that will provide a wide variety of services that incorporate: Nails: pedicures, manicures, sculptured nails and polish. Hair: The services will include curling, cuts, shampoo, weaving, relaxers, waving, colors, and conditioning. Skin Care: The services will include Massage, European facials, and body waxing. Strategy and execution summary Proficiency at what the company will do, ensuring a pleasant environment for clients, and good customer service, will be significant to executing the business plan. Competition Strategy Stylin salon wants to set itself away from other similar salons, which can provide only one or two types of services. Maria operated in such a salon, and she realized, through talking with her customers, that they needed all of the services that the company is proposing. They were very frustrated since they had to get their hair made at one salon, and nails done at another salon. We will write a custom essay sample on Business Plan - Beauty Salon or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Even though the hub of Stylin Salon is hair services, the company desires to provide their customers the expediency of these other services in one salon. There are a several salons like the Stylin salon in Oregon, although they are mostly in the very upper classes parts of Oregon and neighboring areas. The company does not have any intentions to compete with these salons. Instead, it wishes to provide an average ground for those customers who cannot quite pay for those expensive luxury salons. The business environment will be a relaxing one where the service providers can pamper be clients. The salon will offer soft drinks to customers as they go in for service. They will position the TVs in the hair-drying and waiting area. Such unique services and comfort encourage more clients (Cressy 15). Marketing Strategy The salon is going to apply a very simple marketing strategy. Contented customers will be the excellent marketing instrument. Once a customer leaves the salon with a different look, she or he is spreading the identity and superiority to the public. The majority of the customers will be recommendations from on hand clients.

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Saint Patrick Free Essays

Saint Patrick was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland, in the year 387. His parents are Calphurnius and Conchessa. When Patrick was sixteen, he was carried off into captivity by Irish marauders and was sold as a slave to a chieftan named Milchu in Dalriada. We will write a custom essay sample on Saint Patrick or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Dalriada, he tended his master’s flocks in the valley of the Braid and on the slopes of Slemish. When he was working the fields, he acquired a perfect knowledge of the Celtic tongue. His master was a druidical high priest, in which gave Patrick an opportunity to become familiar with all the details of Druidism from whose bondage he was destined to liberate the Irish race. Warned by an angel after six years, he fled from his cruel master and bent his steps toward the west. He traveled about 200 miles to Westport. He found a ship ready to sail and after some rebuffs was allowed on board. In a few days he arrived in Britain, but now his heart was set on devoting himself to the service of God in the sacred ministry. After wandering in dense forest for twenty-eight days they were found by others and eventually Patrick made it home to his family. He remained with them for a few years, and then decided to pursue the priesthood in answer to dreams he had about returning to Ireland. After a number of years, while he was on a short visit to the continent, probably Gaul, his name was proposed to lead a missionary expedition to Ireland. He set out around the year 432 as a bishop, and went to the headquarters of the Ulaid in Emain Macha, and there established his first church at what is now Armagh. From there he traveled predominantly in the north and west and made many converts, and trained many priests. After some time, his integrity was questioned, resulting in an inquiry at the hands of the British bishops, but he was subsequently vindicated. As the Ulaid were pushed out of more and more territory, Patrick moved with them to spend his last days in Down, from which he wrote his Confession. He died March 17, 461, in Downpatrick, Ireland. Kilpatrick still retains many memorials of Saint Patrick. His feast day, St. Patrick’s Day, is March 17, or the day he died. How to cite Saint Patrick, Essay examples

My Mother, My Hero Essay Example For Students

My Mother, My Hero Essay My mother, Luana, was a very compassionate and beautiful person. She was nurturing and attentive to me and my three younger sisters. When I was 12 years old, a friend of mine from school committed suicide and my mother was there with me to comfort me and make me feel better. Having been exposed to something so tragic at a young age, Im glad my mother was there to explain things to me. She cared about people so much that she spent a lot of her time volunteering at a nursing home. My grandmother became really sick and my mother made my grandmother move in with us so she could take care of her. My grandmother was diagnosed with dementia. Dementia is a very hard disease to deal with especially when its a close relative. My mother was patient and compassionate with my grandmother, never losing her patience with her. She instilled this quality in me. My mother was eager to learn new things. I can remember her going to college to become a nurse while raising three daughters, working two jobs, one as a waitress and the other a go-go dancer to help pay the bills and her college. She did all this by herself as a single mom. She became sick at the age of 30 with a heart condition, but this didnt stop her from continuing college and becoming a nurse. She was very talented also. She learned to sew and was an awesome cook. She made most of mine and my two sisters clothes, once again because she was a single struggling mother. I remember her trying to teach me to Hula dance; needless to say I never mastered it. Although I did master some of the recipes she taught me, such as lasagna and Indian fry bread. Three years have gone by; my mother was at the time 33 years old working in a hospital, taking care of myself and now another sister is added to our group. She now had 4 daughters. On July 20, 1980 my mother wasnt feeling very well so she lay down for a couple hours. My aunt had come over to visit so we all went out for lunch. My mother had a heart attack and she passed away in the car on our way home after having lunch. My mother was an inspiration to me and my motivator to be successful. I have pretty much followed in her footsteps. I was a single mother of four children working two jobs to care for my family. I am now married and all my children are grown and gone on to make their families. I also had a heart attack and was without oxygen for 45 minutes with brain damage and was in a coma for two weeks. Doctors told my family that I would never recover. I woke up from my coma and had to learn to walk and talk all over again. I have overcome all that they said I wouldnt be able to do. My mother instilled in me to be a fighter and not give up on my dreams. So here I am in college to become a nurse just as my mother was. In conclusion, my mother had many qualities that motivate me such as being compassionate, eager to learn new things, beautiful, talented and nurturing. My mother has been gone for 34 years now and still to this day she is my motivation and my hero. I miss and love her very much.

Being True To Oneself In The Scarlet Letter essays

Being True To Oneself In The Scarlet Letter essays Being True To Oneself In The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter, a novel that takes place in a New England colony, depicts a lady named Hester Prynne who is being punished for committing adultery by wearing a scarlet A on her chest. Hester and her daughter, Pearl, live with disgrace and mocking from the colonists. Reverend Dimmesdale, Pearls father, is also being tortured by his deceptive friend, Doctor Roger Chillingworth, who is Hesters husband. There are many instances of characters not being their true selves. Not being true to ones self causes unhappy consequences. Reverend Dimmesdale suffers for not being his true self. The governor chooses Reverend Dimmesdale to be the judge of Hester. This shows that the people think he is righteous enough to judge her, even though he is just as guilty. Hester takes the blame, but Dimmesdale does not because he is a coward. Reverend Dimmesdale stops being true to himself, and puts on a facade for the colonists so he will not ruin his reputation or lose his job. The only person that Reverend Dimmesdale can show his true self to is Hester. In the darkness of the forest or in the shadows of the night he can be his true self. In the light and brightness of the day he acts as the beloved, respected reverend. He hides his secret for so long that he goes crazy and starts to punish and torture himself. He even carves an A into his chest. He is very unhappy because he knows living a lie is wrong. When he finally reveals himself he dies of shame. Mr. Chillingworth gives up his happiness by hiding his true self. It starts when he decides to not let anyone know that he is Hesters husband. He lives a lie, which makes him unhappy. Chillingworth has to keep this secret and also make sure Hester keeps it a secret. Mr. Chillingworth devotes his life to getting revenge on Reverend Dimmesdale. Chillingworth ...

Mechanical Weathering Defined and Explained

Mechanical Weathering Defined and Explained Definition: weathering There are five major mechanisms of mechanical weathering: Abrasion is the grinding action of other rock particles due to gravity or the motion of water, ice or air.Crystallization of ice (frost shattering) or certain minerals such as salt (as in the formation of tafoni) can exert enough force to fracture rock.Thermal fracture is the result of rapid temperature change, as by fire, volcanic activity or day-night cycles (as in the formation of grus), all of which rely on the differences in thermal expansion among a mixture of minerals.Hydration shattering may strongly affect clay minerals, which swell with the addition of water and force openings apart. Exfoliation or pressure release jointing results from the stress changes as rock is uncovered after its formation in deep settings. mechanical weathering picture gallery Mechanical weathering is also called disintegration, disaggregation, and physical weathering. Much mechanical weathering overlaps with chemical weathering, and its not always useful to make a distinction. Also Known As: Physical weathering, disintegration, disaggregation