My mom sent me a quick email yesterday. She was talking with one of her elementary school students who was really upset that she had lost the student council election. My mom briefly told the girl about me and asked if I might be able to pop by campus next time I’m in town.
You see, I’m a loser.
Yes, I have the nice biography page on this website, but let’s share the other points of my biography.
In elementary school, I ran for student council president. I lost the election to the girl who was originally going to help me with my campaign.
In middle school, I helped a friend run for student council election. He lost.
The following year, I ran for student council election. It was the closest election in the school’s history triggering 3 runoff elections between the two finalists (the school required 51% of the vote rather than 50%+1). On the third and final recall, I lost the election by a total of 19 votes out of 800.
I ran for freshmen class president. I lost that election.
Then I had my mini-winning streak culminating with my election as the District Governor of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District of Key Club International.
After three and a half years of wins, I experienced my final win when I was elected VP of Publicity for my hall council in college. I then lost the remaining elections for every position in college.
I ran to be Secretary of one of my campus groups. I lost.
The following year, I ran to be president. I lost.
I ran to be Vice President of Activities for the Student Government at ASU. I lost that election.
Yes, I lost almost every election in college.
And yet at graduation, I received the award the Outstanding Male Leader of my graduating class of over 8,000 students.
I’m a loser, but I still had the chance to be a leader.
Leadership isn’t about title or position. It’s about actions and our ability to work with others.
There is nothing wrong with losing.
Just make sure you know the difference between losing and quitting.