Beating the Odds
The news story that has dominated the headlines for the last week and will likely be talked about all year long was the huge upset at the Kentucky Derby. The winning horse, named Rich Strike, won the biggest horse race of the year despite being an 80-1 underdog. People love the story of an overachieving underdog and that is because we all want to beat the odds. Rich Strike’s achievement will likely be talked about for years to come.
Dreaming Big
We all dream of having our moment of glory and we often imagine what it will be like to have our day in the sun. We dream of fame, glory, and the riches that come with it. However, most of us will never be famous and odds are we will not become overwhelming rich with money and that is okay. We must think about what being wealthy really means. Modern society defines being wealthy as being in the top 1% of people in terms of net assets but having all the money in the world does not bring joy or happiness. What we need to do is define what being wealthy means to each of us. For some, being wealthy means being able to help to others. For others, being wealthy means living a wholesome life with a large family and many friends. Wealth is a word that can be defined several different ways. This leads us to ask the question, what do we really want and what brings us joy? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Everyone has a different dream, and everyone defines success differently. Find what makes you happy and no amount of money or fame will matter.
Beating the Odds
Everyone has been told, at some point in their life, that they are not good enough. This could be at work, when playing on a competitive sports team, or when being turned down for a job. Being told no is a fact of life and we must get used to it. Beating the odds is what we do after we are rejected. It is easy to feel discouraged, upset, and to try to pretend we were not turned down but that accomplishes nothing. Part of the reason why Rich Strike’s story will be told for years to come is the horse and its team did not give up. The jockey, trainer, and owner were likely told that they had no chance of winning, but they competed anyways and found a way to succeed. If they can do it, despite being 80-1 underdogs, what is stopping others from beating the odds? The real answer is nothing and nothing should stop people from competing and trying to overcome obstacles. Part of growing up and being an adult is making mistakes and learning from them. We will all fail, we will all fail in embarrassing ways, and we will all fail publicly. What matters is how we respond to falling flat on our faces. If an athlete loses a game, they can either give up or work even harder for their next opportunity. This statement can be applied to just about anything we do. If we fail, we can go back to work, we can learn from our mistakes, and we can push forward until we find a way to win. Hard work and perseverance are how we beat the odds. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Belief and Support
One of the hardest things that happens to all of us is moments of self-doubt. We have all had moments where we second guess decisions and worry about the consequences of our actions, and that is okay. However, we must remember to never stop believing in ourselves. We are all unique and we all have winning characteristics. We must never forget this. When times are tough, and we feel trapped in a situation remember that you are a strong individual. Think about your successes and build on those for the future. Think about the lessons learned from mistakes and use it to make yourself a stronger person. In addition, remember that none of us are ever alone. We all have friends and family and some sort of support system, and we must not be embarrassed to rely on them. If you do not feel comfortable asking them for help, there are countless organizations that are willing to provide support in time of need. Do not be embarrassed to reach out to them. For every cold-hearted person in the world, there are thousands of kind and loving people. We must focus on the positive and get through tough times with a we can do it mentality.
The story of Rich Strike’s historic Kentucky Derby win is inspiring. It proves that professionals, who spend all their time researching and making predictions, can get it wrong. It shows us that we should never give up before the race is over, and we should always strive for greatness. People will always make opinions about others and what they are capable of, it is up to us to prove doubters wrong. Rich Strike’s success proves this and that is why the story of this house will inspire people for years to come.