INSPIRATIONAL MUSINGS 11 When Second Best Isn't Good Enough Any Longer

— William Lyon Phelps

A certain football manager, a.r.s.ene Wenger took, over as coach of a.r.s.enal football club of England in 1996. He took over at a time the club needed a new direction, the

football club wanted positive results. He quickly swung into action and won the club seven major trophies in nine years, in the process he did something unimaginable, winning the 38 game league without losing a game. His team was nicknamed the "invincibles" for the glorious feat. Then came a stadium project that stifled resources and the once result oriented and admired manager couldn't deliver trophies anymore for a period of 9 years till the club completed payment of the loan it took for the stadium project and ushered in a supposed new era, where resources were now available to sign good players to win trophies again. He signed

good players to bring the club back to trophy winning ways. He won a couple of decent trophies but the fans that have waited for years to see their darling club do great exploits once more have become very impatient, they want the elusive league t.i.tle, the one they haven't won in 12 years, for an average a.r.s.enal fan, coming second in the league is no longer seen as good enough. The manager has become a victim of his own success, anything than a first isn't acceptable any longer.

Haven't we found ourselves in a position like this at some point in life? Where it seems the whole world is relying on us to do something magical, to come up with results regardless of the mountains we are confronted with.

When this happens then it is appropriate to look inwards and ask questions of oneself. Questions like how was I able to achieve results in the past? How can I use the limited resources within my control to maximise results? What has changed in my approach to things that have made me fall short of the standard I have been known for? An inward audit check brings so much freshness back to one's soul so to say when an audit takes place from time to time.

A father with a well-paying job in the past will ask himself this same question if he now struggles to pick the bills at the home front. A former sport legend who now struggles to pick bills after a glorious career will ask same. A former number one chart topping musician or entertainer will ask same question of self.

The next question is how do I get back to the best I have always been used to or known for? You need a new "CHALLENGE". A new challenge will re-energise you, it will bring back lost hope. It will take the emptiness within away, it will recharge your batteries. You might need to change your career and carve a niche for yourself in a new industry or use the bottom to top approach strategy in your existing career to re-launch on a new platform.

I will use another football coach as someone who took up a new challenge to conquer the second best syndrome. His name is Claudio Ranieri, the current coach of Leicester City Football Club in England. He was always the second best all along, no matter the football club or situation. He managed elite clubs like Valencia, Athletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and Chelsea without much success, and most times his efforts were rewarded with rejection because he couldn't give the best his employers wanted. He had to go as lowly as the division 2 of France to re-launch his career after being sacked or released by many clubs.

The journey to the lower division of France as coach of Monaco Football Club eventually landed him at Leicester City Football Club in England where he did the unthinkable by leading a club that battled against relegation from the top tier a season before to the English Premiers.h.i.+p t.i.tle the season after in a most fas.h.i.+onable manner, the first in the history of the club. Claudio Ranier i had to take up a new challenge to become the"BEST".

It's unthinkable in modern football that a coach that has managed elite clubs in the past would stoop so low to conquer. You just have to do what works best for you to overcome the second best syndrome.

A new challenge comes in several ways and must not be ignored when everything appears flat, at times it works to dig in still to get back to one's best but it is wiser to accept a new challenge when it appears like you no longer have the zeal in you to remain at the top. In life's journey you will be faced with situations of this type at different times, it is upto you to choose how you will surmount the hurdles.

Many top shots have a lot of stories to tell concerning this topic, that is why you hear different come back stories in the pursuit of success and fulfilment in life. It is tough to stay at one's best always, it requires a lot of motivation and inspiration. A few people know how to wake up to the same desk every day for 30 years whilst remaining very motivated and excellent, but they are few, if you can do same that's very good but once you know you are struggling to remain the best at what you do please quickly take up a new challenge to get back to being number one.

Finally, it takes a lot of work to become the best and stay as the best, it requires a lot of commitment and dedication since you are swimming against the tide. A lot of people won't give you the chance to bounce back, so don't seek anyone's validation or rubber stamp, do it based on your conviction and energy levels and you will be surprised how quickly you will get back to your best!