Reframing Success Through the Eye of a Child: Lessons from a Simple Drawing

A simple drawing from my 7-year-old completely reframed how I think about success. Winner vs. Loser… or Something Else?

The other day, my 7-year-old daughter brought me a drawing she drew (the one with red circle at the bottom). On one side was her drawing, labeled “Winner.” On the other side was her stuffed toy’s drawing (Actually....also drawn by her), labeled “Loser.”

Curious, I asked her:  “What’s the opposite of winner?”

Without hesitation, she replied: “Loser.”

Then I turned to my 10-year-old son with the same question. By now, he knows that when Papa asks, the answer isn’t always straightforward. 😜 

He paused, thought for a moment, and finally said in a questioning tone:

 “Completer?”

I loved that. We all refined it together and agreed: The opposite of “winner” isn’t “loser” — it’s finisher.

Because in life, it’s not just about being first. It’s about persistence. Determination. The courage to see things through. And that’s worth celebrating just as much as “winning.”

By the way, I was delighted, when my daughter showed me another drawing she made the next day, where she wrote "Finisher" rather than "Loser". I am so proud of her! 😃 

What do you think? Should we celebrate more finishers in our lives?