How do you win?

This will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, but I don’t read a whole lot of sci fi. Actually, I read no sci fi. My husband loves sci fi. Because I love him, I read his favorite book Enders Game. And then went with him to the theatre to watch when the book was turned into a movie.

A central conflict in the book revolves around what it takes to win. What’s the cost? What are we willing to sacrifice? What’s on the line? Conflict escalates to the point where this exchange takes place:

Colonel Hyrum Graff: We won. That's all that matters.

Ender Wiggin: No. The way we win matters.

I couldn’t agree more. The way we win matters.

Winning may not be a word you typically use, but let’s play with it for a minute. 

When I think about where I’m headed and when I work with people who are setting goals, I ask this question: what does it look and feel like to win?

When you think about the things you’re trying to accomplish, the place you’re trying to go, the change you’re trying to create, what does it look like to win? What does it feel like? 

Be as specific as you can. Think as expansively as you can.

It’s not just setting the achieving the goal. It’s not just where you end up. It also how you get there.

What does that feel like?