The Thrill of Victory…A Talking Bear and Other Battles Won

This past week signaled March Madness at my house. Not the typical frenzy most households have over NCAA hoops, but something that spurred within me a competitive gene I thought was long dormant after leaving corporate, the new iPad. Personally I could care less about electronics, so it wasn't the new technology that had me hooked, it was the thrill of the chase.

About 25 years ago there was a new toy on the market called Teddy Ruxpin. It was a cute furry bear that moved its mouth and eyes while reading children a story. There were books and accompanying cassette tapes with a variety of stories. My son was young, it wasn't on his wish list and I doubt if he had seen it advertised, but his momma had.

In the rush of Christmas shopping, a friend called to tell me a local store was receiving a shipment of bears in that next day. Caught up in the exclusivity and scarcity of the product, I was determined my child was going to have one. Isn't that what manufacturers and advertisers count on? At 4:00 a.m. I joined countless other sleepy mothers huddled over their coffee , bundled against the cold, in a line that stretched around the building and down the block. All were warriors in hopes of scoring the Holy Grail of the season.  My child was among the privileged that year on Christmas morning to have the talking bear under his tree. He gave it a cursory glance and ran straight to a large red ball I purchased at the grocery store as an afterthought. No moving parts, no glitz, no glam just a plain old bouncing ball.

Those same feelings of snaring the prize crept in this week when my husband casually wondered if anyone had any  iPads left. This was Friday evening after they had been on the market since morning with the news reporting retailers had sold out within hours. He called a few places with no luck, then my aggressiveness took over and it became my mission to find one we could pick up on our way to meet friends for dinner, making location crucial to the mix, not to mention a short window of time.

We called the usual suspects with no luck, but then happened on a major electronics retailer not known for being on the cutting edge. In the past they normally run several weeks out on stocking the latest trends. Not to be deterred, I called them, knowing they were enroute to the restaurant ,and found the make and model he wanted. We were able to get to the store, buy the iPad and still make our reservations.

It's funny how a thirst for victory can overshadow the prize and certainly can make many throw caution to the wind in how they achieve it. Countless people have sold their souls for success, jobs, promotions, material wealth, etc. only to find an emptiness once it was achieved.

 I've yet to turn on his iPad, but take heart that unlike the abandoned bear, my husband does love it. Sometimes he even takes it to bed.  And we've nicknamed it Teddy Ruxpin. Ah, the thrill of victory.

Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key.