Comments on: Lance Armstrong & Jonah Lehrer–What are We Willing to Do to Win?

By: the Infinite Monkey speaks: on authenticity | steadily skipping stones

the Infinite Monkey speaks: on authenticity | steadily skipping stones — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 12:08:53 +0000

[...] Lance Armstrong & Jonah Lehrer – What are We Willing to Do to Win? [...]

By: bardessdmdenton

bardessdmdenton — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 23:22:18 +0000

‘I believe my journey as a writer has been a lot less about developing my talent and far more about developing my character.’

Excellent post–how important it is to keep ourselves grounded, always consider our integrity and never forget that sharing is better than winning. Thanks for sharing.

By: coachdaddyblogger

coachdaddyblogger — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:48:58 +0000

So much brilliance here.

Finite awesomeness is a concept that, if you admit to it, your everyday becomes much easier. I know when I don’t have it. On those days, I can appreciate where I am all the same. And hope for a resurgence tomorrow.

I’d rather fail with my own stuff than succeed with someone else’s.

Good stuff, KL.

By: Back with a Vengeance « High, High, Higher!

Back with a Vengeance « High, High, Higher! — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:29:16 +0000

[...] can get back up with a better and clearer sense of appreciation, purpose, and determination. I read a great post this morning by one of my favorite bloggers that talked about people’s desires and pressures [...]

By: Suzanne Lucero (@S_Lucero)

Suzanne Lucero (@S_Lucero) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:05:41 +0000

Great how lessons from the world of sports can be applied to writing.

My own rule is similar. Never EVER put anything in writing (especially on the internet, which is absolutely FOREVER) that might come back and bite you in the ass. This includes plagiarism, libel, and creative quoting.

To paraphrase a well-known ad campaign, Just DON’T do it.

By: susielindau

susielindau — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:55:00 +0000

I don’t know if it is my good Catholic upbringing or just the way I was made, but it wouldn’t even occur to me to cheat or steal. How amazing that the blogger stole “Cracked” blog posts and Lehrer “created” quotes.The only good result is in being busted, they become poster children for what not to do…
I am an athlete although on a very small scale and have equated what I do to running a race. One thing I have always said is…. “You can’t cross the finish line without running the race.” I plan to be huffing, puffing, and sweating bullets when I finish mine.

By: Jessi Gage

Jessi Gage — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 22:45:29 +0000

Thanks for the thought-provoking post, Kristen. I love the challenge to think about our own characters. One of the things I love most about the romance genre is that the heroines are often impeccably moral. There are lessons to be learned from women who will sacrifice just about anything to do what’s right.

By: Janet Wolfe

Janet Wolfe — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:04:56 +0000

Wonderful post and so many great responses. In the athlete/writer comparison, writers seem to be more like gymnasts or skaters, no absolute best time or highest jump to measure us. And when we send our little words out into the world, we hope and hope to get good scores from the judges…our readers.

Sometime when I worry that not everyone is going to like what I do, I remind myself that Charlotte Bronte didn’t like Jane Austen’s books, and Mark Twain slammed Louisa May Alcott and James Fennimore Cooper.

Whenever athletes or writers cheat to win approval, they only cheat themselves. Better to be true and take the bitter with the sweet.

By: Marie Loughin

Marie Loughin — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:01:46 +0000

Wow, thank you for that. I start to feel very alone in my refusal to join the “like” chains and take other shortcuts towards indie publishing “success.” It pains me to watch my sales languish while others’ sales pass me by and I start wonder if I’m just shooting myself in the foot for no reason. And yet I know how I’ll feel if I go down that slippery slope.

Please feel free to take a day off and repost this article periodically to remind us all.

By: Author Kristen Lamb

Author Kristen Lamb — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:06:19 +0000

Yes, but if he used drugs to achieve this, then he really isn’t the best because he isn’t competing on level ground. The other athletes didn’t use drugs and so , therefore, the number one slot has been effectively stolen. That’s like using roller blades to win the Boston Marathon and then claiming you are the fastest runner in the world because you were faster than the other competitors who actually ran the entire race.

And sure he will always be remembered as #1, but it will forever be tainted by his “alleged” ill deeds. Granted there is no “proof” but there are pictures of him in places he shouldn’t be. As my grandmother always said, “Never do anything you have to explain.”