---
title: Play To Win - It’s Not What You Might Think. At Least In My Opinion.
description: To win or not to win? Should you or shouldn't you and how do you know?
---

# [SELLING IN THE 21ST CENTURY](https://www.rickroberge.com/)

[![header-sm-linkedin-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465400397-png/images/header-sm-linkedin-blue.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickroberge) [![header-sm-twitter-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465371692-png/images/header-sm-twitter-blue.png)](https://twitter.com/RainMakerMaker) [![header-sm-google-plus-red](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-462412948-png/images/header-sm-google-plus-red.png)](https://plus.google.com/+RickRoberge/posts) [![header-sm-rss](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-480298330-png/images/header-sm-rss.png)](https://www.rickroberge.com/rss.xml)

# [Science for Sales Rock Stars](https://www.rickroberge.com/)

## [Play To Win - It’s Not What You Might Think. At Least In My Opinion.](https://www.rickroberge.com/play-to-win)

![](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RR.jpg?width=35&height=35&name=RR.jpg)

 By [Rick Roberge](https://www.rickroberge.com/author/rick-roberge)   May 2, 2014, 10:56:56 AM

*This is a guest post by **[Trent Smith](http://www.linkedin.com/in/jangostudios)**. Trent is the founder of **[Jango Studios](http://www.linkedin.com/in/jangostudios)** in South Carolina and spends most of his workday helping attorneys grow their practices.* 

So, today it seems everyone wants to win. You know, we hate to lose. Whether it’s that job, a contract or significant other, the bottom line is we hate to lose. But if we stop to think for a moment and define what winning really is; it goes beyond one upmanship or the loss of that new job or significant other. It taps into the core of who we really are. It’s what defines us as a person. In order to truly win, one must go beyond ego.  At the core of winning there are three things:

1.) We must accept ourselves as who we are

2.) We must develop the ability to accept things as they are.

3.) We must not compromise.

These three things might seem simple; however, they deeply define us. If you cannot accept yourself as who you are, then it’s very difficult, perhaps impossible to accept things as they are and if you cannot accept things as they are, then you will compromise.

**But who defines winning?**

If you listen carefully, there’s a lot of static in the air. Everyone’s telling you what you can and can’t do. You have these voices in your head. The impossible in your mind. Why? Because your reality is shaped by your experiences and defined by society. These self limiting beliefs shape your future.

**What about losing?**

Get over it. Everyone loses. To be human is to lose. If you’ve never lost then there’s a problem. Either you’re not human or you’ve never let go. Set your expectations for the unexpected.

Unfortunately, so many of us get caught up into the expectations defined by society that we literally lose our own identity, which is paramount to long term success and happiness. Put another way, losing your identity is the antithesis of happiness.

Stop and think for a moment. Remove money from all thoughts, remove self serving ego from all thoughts, most importantly remove fear and ask yourself who or what would I be today? What do I truly desire? What would I devote my time to? It’s not as easy as one might think. Why? Because we’ve become conditioned to believe that success is defined by: preconceived id of right and wrong, material things, who we associate ourselves with, and unsuspectingly, yet most influential, what others think of us.

How does this affect your outcome? Go in with preconceived ideas, you’ll come out with sub-par results.

***From Rick: Trent actually wrote most of this article quite a while ago, but never published it. When he shared it with me, my initial reaction was almost unnerving. I thought about not sharing it, but frankly, I don't know why. I hope that it makes you think.***

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

### Want updates as they're published?

#### Enter your email:

<https://plus.google.com/116082120720832878924/posts?rel=author>BTW, do you have an idea or question that would make a good article? Would you like to write or co-author it? Either way, **[send me an email](mailto:therainmakermaker@gmail.com?Subject=Blog%20article/author%20idea)**.

**[Rick Roberge](https://plus.google.com/116082120720832878924/posts?rel=author)**

## About this blog

*This blog is for, by and about  
Sales Rock Stars,  
RainMakers,  
Entrepreneurs  
(and/or those that strive to be)*

## [Read My Articles on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/rickroberge)

## [About Rick](https://www.rickroberge.com/contact-me)

**[The Original](http://therainmakermaker.com/)[RainMaker Maker Blog (pre-2012)](http://therainmakermaker.com/)**  
[**Remote Bookkeeping**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy)[**Made Easy**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy)  
[**Awesome Website Design**](https://www.inbounddesignstudio.com/contact/)

Search RainMakers & Sales Rock Stars

Search

### Subscribe to Email Updates

### Posts by Month

- [November 2025 (19)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/11)
- [October 2025 (18)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/10)
- [June 2025 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/06)
- [May 2025 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/05)
- [April 2025 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/04)
- [July 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/07)
- [June 2023 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/06)
- [May 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/05)
- [March 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/03)
- [January 2023 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/01)
- [November 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/11)
- [May 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/05)
- [April 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/04)
- [March 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/03)
- [February 2022 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/02)
- [January 2022 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/01)
- [December 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/12)
- [November 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/11)
- [October 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/10)
- [September 2021 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/09)
- [August 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/08)
- [July 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/07)
- [June 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/06)
- [May 2021 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/05)
- [April 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/04)
- [March 2021 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/03)
- [January 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/01)
- [December 2020 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/12)
- [November 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/11)
- [October 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/10)
- [September 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/09)
- [August 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/08)
- [July 2020 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/07)
- [June 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/06)
- [May 2020 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/05)
- [April 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/04)
- [March 2020 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/03)
- [February 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/02)
- [January 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/01)
- [December 2019 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/12)
- [November 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/11)
- [October 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/10)
- [September 2019 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/09)
- [August 2019 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/08)
- [July 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/07)
- [June 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/06)
- [April 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/04)
- [March 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/03)
- [February 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/02)
- [January 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/01)
- [December 2018 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/12)
- [November 2018 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/11)
- [October 2018 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/10)
- [September 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/09)
- [August 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/08)
- [July 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/07)
- [June 2018 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/06)
- [May 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/05)
- [April 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/04)
- [March 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/03)
- [February 2018 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/02)
- [January 2018 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/01)
- [December 2017 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/12)
- [November 2017 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/11)
- [October 2017 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/10)
- [September 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/09)
- [August 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/08)
- [July 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/07)
- [June 2017 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/06)
- [May 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/05)
- [April 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/04)
- [March 2017 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/03)
- [February 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/02)
- [January 2017 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/01)
- [December 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/12)
- [November 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/11)
- [October 2016 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/10)
- [September 2016 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/09)
- [August 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/08)
- [July 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/07)
- [June 2016 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/06)
- [May 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/05)
- [April 2016 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/04)
- [March 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/03)
- [February 2016 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/02)
- [January 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/01)
- [December 2015 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/12)
- [November 2015 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/11)
- [October 2015 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/10)
- [September 2015 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/09)
- [August 2015 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/08)
- [July 2015 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/07)
- [June 2015 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/06)
- [May 2015 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/05)
- [April 2015 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/04)
- [March 2015 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/03)
- [February 2015 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/02)
- [January 2015 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/01)
- [December 2014 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/12)
- [November 2014 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/11)
- [October 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/10)
- [September 2014 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/09)
- [August 2014 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/08)
- [July 2014 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/07)
- [June 2014 (11)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/06)
- [May 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/05)
- [April 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/04)
- [March 2014 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/03)
- [February 2014 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/02)
- [January 2014 (14)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/01)
- [December 2013 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/12)
- [November 2013 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/11)
- [October 2013 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/10)
- [September 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/09)
- [August 2013 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/08)
- [July 2013 (11)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/07)
- [June 2013 (12)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/06)
- [May 2013 (12)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/05)
- [April 2013 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/04)
- [March 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/03)
- [February 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/02)
- [January 2013 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/01)

see all

© 2026 Rick Roberge

Website designed by [Inbound Design Partners](https://www.inbounddesignpartners.com/)