Woody Allen has been quoted as saying the 80% of success is just showing up. Although there is obvious humor in that quote, there is also a good deal of truth to it – in both directions.
If you show up and participate, you have a lot better chance of having your talents noticed and being asked to take on added responsibilities and gain greater opportunities to advance.
At the same time, we see lots of examples whereby success is defined by just showing up and not really accomplishing anything. I grew up at a time when even being on a championship team didn’t guarantee you a trophy. Today it’s not uncommon to see every member of a youth league team win a trophy – even if the team has a losing record. Earning a grade in a class based upon effort rather than achievement is a form of being successful just by showing up.
The opposite can also be true. There is undoubtedly too much emphasis upon winning in many settings – classrooms, athletic fields, and performing arts venues. “Late bloomers” in various achievement areas often drop out before reaching their full potential because attention is lavished upon the winners at a particular point in time – even though their successes may subsequently plateau or flame out.
How do we reach a happy balance? In my opinion, I think that we have to reward both excellence and participation. We need to encourage “showing Up” and trying one’s best – even if it’s not good enough to win an A grade or a trophy. Equally important is allowing oneself to experience a variety of activities and to allow the process to sort itself out.
Over time we can learn that we are winners at some activities and non-winners at others. By maintaining such an attitude, we never have to give up striving to achieve, and we never have to give up participating and enjoying those activities that will never provide us with a trophy.
So, while winning isn’t everything, it’s not nothing either. The same holds true for showing up. It’s not everything, but it’s not nothing either.