I admit. I’m addicted to losing. There is something about that rush of losing that just makes me feel alive. Just knowing that I have to claw my way back, intrigues me for some reason. I don’t know if it’s something in my DNA being the child of an immigrant single mother or if it’s something that happened to me along the way. But if it was something that happened to me along the way, it was probably football.
I remember watching my first Super Bowl in 1986. It was the Bears versus the Patriots. I was living in Rhode Island so everyone around me was obviously cheering for Tony Eason and his rag tag group of soldiers with funny helmets. It was actually my first ever football game. So I didn’t know what to expect.
The excitement for the game went into overdrive after the second play when Hall of Famer Walter Payton fumbled the ball and the Patriots scored a quick field goal. After that, however, it was almost two decades of disgrace…but I loved it.
You see, briznit, the thing you may or may not know about me is that I really do like to feel good. But I realize that winning all the time can get old (that’s why I rarely watch Patriots games nowadays). When you lose, you appreciate winning so much more and I feel like a win after a loss or two is so much sweeter.
The Underdogs
So many people ask me why I even care. The underdogs are underdogs for a reason. Well, it’s because I see myself as an underdog. I think a lot of us are underdogs, to be honest.
The way I see it, the way you and IÂ were taught in school kinda puts us all in the category of underdogs wouldn’t you agree? I mean I remember being taught the state bird in elementary school. While that’s a novel concept that may have value at cocktail parties, I think things, like learning foreign languages, playing instruments, developing athletics, and learning common social tendencies and biases, is much more beneficial for a child growing up in the 21st century.
But I’m not here to talk about education so to speak. I want you to know that being an underdog is actually pretty cool. I want you to imagine what it was like for me as a little kid growing up, watching my team lose game after, after game, after game. It was sad, it hurt, but the feeling I had when they won their first Super Bowl was unimaginable. I actually looked into how much it would have cost to buy a Super Bowl ring for myself. (I ended up making one out of plastic and glitter in the end)
It’s Really About You
So as I said, I love underdogs and that’s why I love being an entrepreneur. It reminds me every day that there are real people that find a way even though they don’t have all the advantages of others. You know honestly, I just love to see people like you succeed, so whatever your dream go get it. I’m watching…
Jerry “underdogs overcome” Washington
P.S. It is so hard for me to watch the Patriots today with all their winning and stuff. I need to find a new team. What or who is your favorite underdog? Maybe I’ll start cheering for them 😉 Talk soon…
