We're diving into a thought-provoking question from one of our first paid Substack subscribers: Does winning really matter? It’s a loaded question, and we tackle it head-on—exploring the balance between success, growth, and the process of improvement. Can two teams have equally meaningful experiences, even if one wins more? Is winning the ultimate goal, or is the pursuit of excellence what truly counts?

From personal coaching experiences to reflections on legendary figures like Gino Auriemma, we break down what winning means at different levels of competition. Plus, we share insights from our ongoing research on motivation—surprisingly, winning isn’t always the primary driver for athletes. Tune in for a candid discussion on the value of winning, how to define success beyond the scoreboard, and why the process might matter more than the outcome.

Episode Highlights:

[1:15] - The key question: Does winning matter?

[3:40] - How winning influences team culture and buy-in

[7:25] - The challenge of defining success beyond wins and losses

[12:10] - Personal coaching lessons: finding small wins within the game

[17:00] - What research says about motivation—why winning isn’t the top priority for athletes

[21:45] - The Gino Auriemma story: shifting the focus from championships to daily improvement

[27:30] - Balancing recognition and staying process-oriented

Links & Resources:

Follow us on Substack and leave your thoughts in the comments at impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

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