Winning markets really well. When I walked into Academy Sports yesterday, I was immediately greeted by special displays of shirts and caps with the Texas Rangers’ logo. I am just like most Texans. I am thrilled that the Rangers are going places they have never been before in their history as a professional baseball franchise. I also found it very interesting that apparel adorned with the Dallas Cowboys logo was noticeably missing from the front of the same store.  And this is football season!

Losing does not market well…

I must admit that I am not a die hard Cowboys fan for several reasons. As a young boy, I grew up watching Vince Lombardi coach the Green Bay Packers. I must confess I am still drawn to the Packers. But my lack of interest in the Cowboys is mainly indicative of the preference I have for college football. Big 12 Conference College football is enough to keep my interest! But I must admit that I appreciate the Dallas fans that are loyal no matter what.

Losing does not market well, but that has no impact on their commitment to the team. They are going to watch the Cowboys play every chance they get. And they are going to walk deep into the sports store to seek out shirts and caps with the Cowboys logo. And they will also defend their team its critics when that becomes necessary!  They do all of that despite the fact that other fans are quickly abandoning the ship.

I think I want to surround myself with fans that are loyal to their team, because I can’t help but think that loyal fans also make loyal friends. When we are riding high in life, we market well to people around us. Who does not want to be around a winner? But when we are struggling, there are those who will abandon us in a heartbeat.  I appreciate my loyal friends who are around when I winning. But I value even more those that still show up when I am having a losing season in life.

I am thrilled for the Texas Rangers. I really hope that their debut at the World Series will be this year. But I will still show up to watch them in future seasons that may not be as illustrious as this one. I am committing myself right now to thinking about friends who are having a losing season. I am convinced that I need to frequent their bleachers and demonstrate my loyalty in tangible ways.

Who do you know today that is having a losing season? Just remember people don’t market well to others when it is perceived that they are losers. You could be the personal link they need today. Buy a ticket to their heart and sit on the bleachers cheering them until the losing season is over…