When a person takes on a challenge with a binary outcome, they choose how they frame success or failure:
- The Lose-Lose:
- I expect success.
- If I fail, I will be disappointed.
- If I succeed, no big deal.
- The Win-Win:
- I respect this challenge.
- If I fail, I will learn.
- If I succeed, great!
The first choice is tempting; on the surface it appears to be a posture of confidence and humility. But entitlement lies just beneath the surface. The outcome is a lose-lose.
Lucky for us, we always get to choose.