Just last week I was working out at a health club when I heard the voices of young children. The club does have a child care room but youngsters are not to be in the workout area or the track that circles it. Nonetheless they were and I watched three, I suspect siblings, race around the track. I would guess they stairstepped in ages of seven, five and four. They would line up at an imaginary mark before one would shout "Go!". The oldest was a girl who would jog slowly, allowing the middle child to run ahead and the youngest to keep pace with her—at least for a little while, and then she would sprint off.

This game replayed itself several times before it got frustrating for the youngest, and soon I heard pleading: "slow down, slow down." They stopped once again and regrouped only for the same dynamic to play out. This time the frustration and pleading turned to sobbing of: "slow down, slow down." And yet he did not quit, but keep running, with tear soaked eyes announcing: "I want to win, I want to win!"

It struck me that we all want to win whatever race we are running; we just have to learn how.

When the contest involves a job search, where the stakes are high, it is important to learn all you can long before the interview begins. Such learning and preparation might be compared to an athletic contest.

Throughout the year a coach is looking to recruit new talent; players that possess the skills that complement the team. Most management texts would say the same about the basic ...

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