If you look up the definitions of winning, a winner, and victory in Merriam-Webster Online dictionary you will find the terms mean far more than beating the competition in a sporting event, or any competition for that matter. Merriam-Webster defines winning as "the act of one that wins", then refers you to the term victory. One of the definitions for victory is "the achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties". A definition for a winner is "one that is successful especially though praiseworthy ability and hard work". Another definition is "one that wins admiration".

Putting this together leads to my definition of a winner - a winner is someone that reaches their potential as a person though hard work and overcoming the obstacles and challenges life often throws at us. I believe we should win admiration not from living a life of self-indulgance but living a life that has a positive impact on the lives of others. So a winner in my view has nothing to do with status, stats, wealth, title, competition wins, or any of the criteria society often uses to define a winner. Being a winner has everything to do with simply doing your best and using your successes and achievements to make a difference in this word!

A winner is someone that has worked hard to build a relationship or a succesful marriage, a key to making a positive impact on their children. A winner is a special olympics athlete that is an inspiration to everyone, a missionary or anyone that gives up personal comfort to help those in need, a teacher, a coach, a good waitress or waiter that brightens the day of her or his customers, an athlete that does everything to help the team, even if only helping to make the starters better.

The name of my business "Expect To Win" is a statement of faith! Faith in my view is a key factor in reaching our potential. I understand many of you may not share my views on faith, but share I must because I believe a faith in God is what it takes to reach our potential and make a difference in this world.

I have spent four years writing a book that will be titled "Winning and Faith - The Connection" (it is currently titled "Expect To Win"). It is a basic Theology 101 type textbook for the common person using many sports examples. I enjoy using sports analogies because I believe sports is a microcosim of life, therefor lending itself to many life analogies. All content is supported by Biblical scriptures and well respected authors are referenced. Click here to go to a page that provides a link to the book and more background concerning the content.