The only yardstick for success our society has is being a

"The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else." These words from John Madden ring with a truth that resonates deeply in the heart of modern society. We live in a world where the champion—the one who stands victorious, who climbs to the top of the mountain—is the one who is remembered, celebrated, and immortalized in the annals of history. Success, in the eyes of many, is measured solely by the trophy that is won, the victory that is achieved, the glory that accompanies it. Madden’s quote speaks to a society that too often overlooks the journey, the effort, and the perseverance of those who strive but fall short of the ultimate prize. In our world, to be a champion is the only measure of worth that counts.

In the ancient world, the concept of being a champion was just as powerful. Consider the stories of Greek athletes in the ancient Olympic Games, where the victorious athlete was celebrated with the highest honors, while those who did not win faded into obscurity. The Greeks valued victory above all else, seeing it as the ultimate proof of an individual’s strength, skill, and favor from the gods. The Olympic champion was more than just an athlete; they were a hero, an embodiment of human excellence, celebrated for eternity in songs, statues, and tales. Athletes like Milo of Croton, a six-time Olympic victor, were revered not only for their victories but for their ability to achieve the unattainable and to claim victory where others had failed. The lesson of the ancients was clear: to be a champion was to be immortal.

But while the champions were celebrated, what of the others? Those who competed fiercely but never reached the summit of the podium? The ancient Greeks and Romans rarely focused on them, and their stories were often lost to the sands of time. Socrates, one of the greatest minds in history, was a man who challenged the very foundations of Greek society, yet he did not seek victory in the traditional sense. Socrates never claimed the title of champion in the Olympic sense, nor did he amass wealth or status in the conventional manner. Instead, he sought truth and wisdom, yet his name is remembered not because of material triumphs, but because his teachings changed the course of philosophy. Socrates was no champion in the eyes of his society, yet his legacy has endured for millennia.

John Madden’s quote challenges us to reconsider what it means to be a champion in our modern world. Society has become obsessed with victory—with winning at all costs—often forgetting the value of effort, growth, and learning that come along the way. We elevate the athletes, the entrepreneurs, the superstars—those who reach the top and claim the prize—while those who work tirelessly in the shadows of their disciplines are often forgotten. This relentless pursuit of victory has led to a world where people are constantly measuring their worth against others, creating a culture where failure is seen as the ultimate defeat rather than an opportunity for growth.

Consider the example of Michael Jordan, often considered the greatest basketball player in history. While his six NBA championships and countless accolades have solidified his place as a champion, the road to his success was paved with hardship and setbacks. Jordan was famously cut from his high school basketball team, a failure that could have defined his life had he given up. But he persevered, not only to become a champion, but to redefine what it meant to win—not just on the court, but in life. Jordan's story teaches us that the journey is just as important as the victory, and that resilience and hard work often matter more than the final score.

Yet, Madden’s words remind us that society has a tendency to forget those who don’t win, even when they sacrifice, dedicate, and strive. They are lost in the sea of mediocrity, labeled as failures, when in fact they might have achieved far more than anyone can measure. The lesson here is not to undermine the value of victory but to remember that the journey—the growth, the learning, the challenges overcome—holds intrinsic worth. The pursuit of championships should not blind us to the process itself, nor should we forget that not all triumphs are defined by tangible awards. Some of the greatest triumphs in life are the small victories that occur when we rise again after every fall, when we keep fighting even when the world forgets our names.

So, what can we take from Madden’s words? We must strive not just for the goal, but for the process—for the wisdom gained through our struggles, the strength we build through our perseverance. We must teach our children that the journey itself is just as worthy as the final prize, that to face adversity with dignity and honor is a victory in its own right. To be a champion is not simply to claim the trophy, but to embody the spirit of resilience, the willingness to rise each time we fall, to persevere when it seems impossible. The true champion is not remembered for the victory alone, but for the courage to keep fighting, to keep striving, and to never give in, no matter the outcome.