The Art of Losing.

"If you can't beat them, make them break the record."

The art of losing comes from understanding that no one is the best. There is always something that can be improved upon, even world champions place 2nd sometimes. I have yet to meet a team with a 100% Q rate and 100% win rate. We can only ever be the best we can be, and personally I believe that "losing" only makes us better. Competition is a clock and a course. Other handlers aren't competition...they are mentors, teachers, examples, research and friends. Although they may not realize it, they are all those things and much more. Without them I'd never push. Without them I wouldn't race against the clock. Without them I'd never strive to be better or know what I was capable of. You can lose to a clock and a course, you can only learn from those you run against.

"The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday"

"Losing" is only a negative term if you're focused on ribbon- based results, the reality is that you cannot lose with the correct mind set. Placing low, or even NQing is not losing; it is an educational experience. You learn where you can be more efficient, faster, which skills you need to teach or at the very least you are humbled for a moment. No matter how good you are, you are not perfect. But who would want to be? Imperfections are what motivates us. If you couldn't get better you'd never try.

Flaws propel us forward.