Making the Best Out of Life’s Second Place Finishes

A friend and cohort at Carbon Design Systems, Scott Seaton, made the following comment on my post Selling – How to Make the Best Out of a Second Place Finish.  I think it’s important enough to warrant its own post:

“The interesting point is that there is a bigger picture to the positioning yourself as a strong #2 beyond business and significant others.  It applies to life!  From the time you’re a young kid thru your adult years you’re building a personal and professional brand of one.  You could say that positioning yourself as strong #2 is about taking the long term view when you make decisions.  If we always did that throughout the personal and business aspects of life, then it would be hard to imagine not being more successful.”

Scott is an ace sales person and manager.  In full disclosure, he taught me the point about the value of second place and what to do about it almost 20 years ago.  It’s been a true breakthrough for me as a businessperson.  Scott’s point here drives home the fact that this is not just a good business strategy.  It’s also a good life strategy.  Too many people just quit and move on instead of taking advantage of the work they’ve done and the position they’re in.

So you came in second place.  So what?  What can you learn from the experience and how can you move from second to first?  It’s easier than you might think.

Excellent point, Scott.  Thanks.

Related posts:

1. Selling – How to Make the Best Out of a Second Place Finish
2. Making the Pan-Mass Challenge More Challenging
3. Pint-Sized Vehicles Making Their Way Across the Atlantic . . . Safely