Victor

You were born a victor. This year has been very eventful for many. Victory is sweetest after a long fight. Covid-19 has taken a heavy toll in many fronts especially loss of income, health challenges and higher levels of stress. In challenging times, it is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters. Victors persevere the most. Victors push beyond their human limits even when the odds are against them. 

It’s easy to admire victors until they tell you their story. Often, victors fight the hardest but, on the outside, they look like they had it easy. The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up. Matters basketball, Michael Jordan is undoubtedly a man among boys. He summed up his victories in basketball with these words…

“I missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games – 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

According to Forbes, Michael Jordan is worth $2.1 billion as of May 2020 making the 57-year-old the richest former professional athlete in the world. Yes, it’s not all about money. But this is the area most people suffer most severely more than they’d care to admit. Michael stayed the course till he broke through in his career. The Jordan Brand became so big that he partnered with Nike and endorsement deals with Gatorade, Hanes and Upper deck besides an ownership stake in the Hornets and owning multiple restaurants, homes and a car dealership.

While our personal journeys are different, the principles of victory remain the same. In World War Two, Winston Churchill believed in victory at all costs against Adolf Hitler no matter how long and hard the road may be. No matter what you’re going through, there’s victory ahead. Stay the course. Work with others and always remain hopeful. Victory is not won in miles but in inches.

Victory is never served on a silver platter. Victory is often preceded by a ferocious fight. The great boxer, Muhammad Ali said, ‘I run on the road long before I dance under the lights.’ In the words of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, ‘In war there is no substitute for victory.’ Nurture the will to win no matter the pain. All victors prevail and agonize till victory is won. Tennis Star, Serena Williams said, ‘You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.’

DR. K. N. JACOB