Earlier, I had addressed the importance of “practice,” (Practice, March 3, 2017) which if done correctly will lead to improved performance. Two well known adages reflect on performance:

1) “If at first you do not succeed, try try again”; and

2) “Its not the winning, its the taking part that counts.”

Unfortunately, both quotes suggest that the speaker is addressing a loser. The first prods a redo performance (perhaps practice makes perfect); the second calls for a participation trophy.

In my youth, I belonged to an athletic club, which sponsored children teams. It fostered both learning the sport basics through good coaching, stressing fair competition and good sportsmanship. Their member’s lounge, displayed numerous trophies among a prominent, ornate plaque, which sported a poem in Gothic lettering:

“When the one Great Scorer
comes to write agains’t your name,
he writes not whether you won or lost,
but how you played the game.”

In truth, “how you play the game” frequently determines whether you win or lose. Obviously, the poem focuses more on good sportsmanship than on athletic prowess, both of which remain important respecting good performance. While taking part is important indeed, striving to win fairly becomes the greater goal. “Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.” (Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694—1773.) However, Leo Durocher, baseball player/manager (1905—1991) favored winning over good sportsmanship with his notorious quote: “Nice guys finish last.” Striking a balance among those objectives is essential.

From the performance and sportsmanship criteria, which prepares one for life, an egalitarian approach birthed the “participation trophy” era, intended to build esteem among children irrespective of talent, desire and performance. Some psychologists claim that building children’s self esteem merits more importance than rewarding excellent performance. While empathetic for the former, I do not believe that rewarding mere participation should replace awarding excellence. Beyond the ephemeral joy of receiving a participation trophy, it provides little preparation for life. In university or career, no one is rewarded for answering “present.” Excellence merits an award; showing up merits no more than an attendance certificate.

Why work on improving performance, when everyone receives the same reward? An entitlement mindset, though perhaps attractive at an early age, does not prepare one for the real world.