Success is in helping others to win
Success is in helping others to win
Kenyan runner & Olympic Bronze medallist Abel Mutai was leading the cross-country race at an event in Burlada, Navarre, in December 2012. He was only a few meters from the finish line, but got confused with the signs and stopped, thinking he had finished the race. A Spanish man, Ivan Fernandez Anaya, was right behind him and, realizing what was going on, started shouting to the Kenyan to keep running. Mutai did not know Spanish and did not understand.
Realizing what was going on, Fernandez pushed Mutai to victory. Fernandez said that he didn’t deserve to win and chose honesty over victory.
A reporter asked Ivan, “Why did you do this?” Ivan replied, “My dream is that one day we can have some sort of community life where we push ourselves and help each other win.” The reporter insisted “But why did you let the Kenyan win?” Ivan replied, “I didn’t let him win, he was going to win. The race was his.”
The reporter insisted and asked again, “But you could have won!” Ivan looked at him and replied: “But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor of this medal? What would my Mother think of it?”
The values are transmitted from generation to generation. What values do we teach our children and how much do you inspire others to earn? Most of us take advantage of people’s weaknesses instead of helping to strengthen them. https://www.linkedin.com/embeds/publishingEmbed.html?articleId=8774516595893162589
What a rare and noble gesture. In our schools, colleges, at home and in the society, we are constantly told that opportunities come rarely and we need to seize the opportunity and go for the kill.
Many a times we set the trap for our competitors to fail and then ride over them. How many times have we helped our competitors to succeed. We are taught that we must stand out with competition. But rarely told that
Ivan Fernandez Anaya taught us what true success means. Well, will we see more of Ivan Fernandez in this mad world of cut-throat competition….. only time will tell. Its about time that we realize that with Success, its also a test of character
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