Everyone wants to be the first in line, the number one. The aim is always to go for gold, and never to settle for anything less. Though this is the recommended approach, placing second shouldn’t be ignored nor downplayed.
When one wins a silver medal, it is still an accomplishment that is as worthy of acknowledgement as a gold. There are many factors that lead to losing, but there are also many skills that have helped one get that far in a competition. These aspects are gifts that are definitely there, but can be honed further. The advantage of taking second place is there is still a gold standard to benchmark on. The level of the gold winner sets the path way, and all the second placer has to do is follow the road to success. The work of paving the way is taken off, but the role of raising the bar is still up for grabs anyway, for the first, second, and other opponents as well. Losing shows that there is still room for improvements.
Being number two gives one better momentum in the second match as well. When the first placer is being challenged, there’s the danger of complacency. In his mind, he has beaten the second placer before, he can do it again. Number twos are more often hungrier to win. With the stronger desire to win in the next round, new styles are explored and skills are improved on in preparation for battle. In the training alone, as fresh approaches are added in second placer’s repertoire of moves, he already becomes something more than the first who sticks to the formula that works. Number two can easily play on the winner’s confidence level so that he can be underestimated. He can then take the first placer unawares the next time they meet each other.
The second placer is also spared the pressure of the title. For number one, he is given the load of defending the throne. The expectations from him are then higher, and the quality of performance he has to meet is in a different level. As for number two, he has the luxury of focusing only on improving his skills to up his game. He only has to deal with personal expectations of doing better and believing in his capabilities to win the next time around.
The disappointment in losing the second time around is also less for a second placer since he is in a position where nothing is lost.
While number one always takes the limelight, with responsibility and pressure along with it, number two takes a lot of life lessons to bring home along with the silver medal. Humility is one example, and strength of character is another. At the end of the day, what one learns from the experience is weightier. Trophies and medals are kept in a glass cabinet for bragging, all it does is collect dust through the years. But the moral lessons are carried around and useful for years to come.
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