In recent days, the video of the new NIKE ?Winning Isn’t for Everyone campaign (DOES Am I a Bad Person has gone viral on social media
When watching the video, I immediately projected myself for some forty-something years, when, at the age of six or seven, I participated in my first judo competition in pre-primary school called Lobinho. My parents report, and I remember some flashes, that at the moment of fulfillment that precedes the beginning of the fight between the judokas, my opponent simply began to cry and gave up fighting with me. The reason: my face of “bravo” or, in the case on screen, my face of “ma person”.
This personal and real story is not about the reaction of my little classmate, who may not even like judo, or any desire of mine to hurt him and other junior opponents.It also does not mean that honor, sportsmanship and righteousness fall behind in the pursuit of victory as the only thing that matters. This does not mean victory at any cost. What prevails, yes, is personal sacrifice, focus on the goal to be achieved and the determination to never give up.
Let's go to the whys of this context.
Since I met the profile assessment tools created in the 40s, I have come to deeply understand this remarkable passage in relation to my behavior and its why. Because always wanting to overcome myself and be the best in everything I do is definitely a strong point of my personality and is an innate characteristic. I was never satisfied with the second, third position; even less with the elimination in the first fight. Things that, incidentally, happened several times over more than a decade fighting and competing in tournaments of the city and state of Sao Paulo at the time. As much as happens to anyone throughout life in sport, in study, in employment, undertaking, taking place.
Before proceeding, I emphasize that I do not wish to address any business aspects about NIKE and its businesses, brands and staff. Just call on those who read this article for a reflection:
Since when? And more, why is it bad to want to be the best?
Around the world and especially in Brazil, aiming for the top, victory, profit is very common to be considered a bad thing. They say that those who wish are arrogant or selfish, not empathetic and aggressive, among many other adjectives with a negative nature.
It is better to praise the tears of defeat and welcome the defeated than to praise the confidence of those who manifest that the conquest of victory is their only goal; always. Winning or losing.
On another day, I watched a contemporary philosopher saying that to sympathize with the failure and defeat of others is easy; it is difficult to rejoice in the success and success of others. And that on this occasion, when you get some success, when you get along very well, you will know who is really your real friend. Until then, I had not thought of this situation with this bias. Very interesting to imagine who would genuinely vibrate or not with their achievements. Perhaps there is the mental mechanism that condemns many of us to be the “mas people”. Perhaps it is envy, reproach.
There is also the aspect of collectivism from a social, philosophical, economic and religious perspective, which emphasizes that we are interdependent, which is opposed to individualism in all areas of life, leaving aside the disputes and achievements of individuals, even if this is the smallest minority that exists, that is, each of us as an individual.
Other variables are the latin american culture, through which the virtue of conquering by merit and individual effort is not disseminated in society everything that is desired, whether it is a sports victory, a car, a house, a new professional or business position.
This combination of factors results in a perverse situation among the “boas people”, that almost nothing is under your responsibility as an individual, outsourcing mistakes, failures and unachieved results to others.
Long before having children, I decided that no, this should no longer be perpetuated. At least not in my family. Even less in my company. I believe that NIKE, in a way, will contribute to that thought change, also wishing that other companies, brands and people reinforce the idea that we need not only instigate desire, but also praise the vocation to win. Being sure that this is not for everyone.
I conclude by remembering that these “ people” are those who, in the most diverse areas, not only in sports, have led and lead society to reach new heights as civilization and humanity.I often say that, if it were not for these people, we would be inhabiting the caves to this day. You have already understood my point and thought of some names and events that changed the world through someone's vocation to challenge the status quo, perform the unthinkable, or even then impossible.
So the next time you come across one of these “ or” people in person or on social media, try, before labeling, to remember that it is nothing about you.
Particularly, I am not a fan or a great user of sports products brands, but I admire NIKE's vocation for victory and its business history.I loved this movie!
So am I a bad person?
