We live in a time when being #1 is so important to people that they'll do almost anything to get there.
We live in a time when being number one is so important to people, that they’ll do almost anything to get there. I mean look at all the ridiculous new events they add to the Olympics year after year. It’s all to satisfy someone’s need to be on top.
Parents and mentors in a crazed frenzy push kids to extremes, all in the reckless pursuit of being number one at something, anything.
Probably because they never got to be number one themselves.
But I’ve got news for all you over-achievers. Being number one isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. All those people you stepped on on the way to the top will always be there, waiting. Waiting for a chance to pull you back down.
And trying for number one and ending up number two isn’t much better. I mean, who wants to be number two?
After the game your friends don’t come up and say, “Alright! Number two!” They say, “Hey man, good try.” Which really means, “If you just tried a little harder, you’d be number one.” And even if they don’t say it, you know they’re thinking it.
I prefer number three. In the number three spot, you’re safe. You’re in the top three so it’s respectable, you still get a medal, and no one’s going to come after you with a baseball bat or try and push you off the pedestal. Unless of course they’re gunning for number one and you happen to get in the way.
Number one makes you a target, number three makes you a contender.
So shoot for number three. Maybe every once in a while you’ll be number one by accident, but that’s okay because your self esteem wasn’t wrapped up in being the best, so you won’t be physiologically damaged when you slide back into that comfortable third place position.
But stay away from number four, it’s got nothing but baggage.
Issues. Big Issues.
They don’t even get a medal. Maybe they get a ribbon or something.
Transcribed by: Caitlin Y.
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13 Comments
Joseph
I like the number 3. It’s a symbolically holy number. Jesus was crucified at 33 years old. There were 3 people being crucified: Christ plus two criminals, the names of whom I cannot currently remember. There are 3 components to the Holy Trinity. There are 3 majorly famous realms: Heaven, Our Universe, and Hell.
NarniaRocks
Good video. It’s true, too. Study’s say that Olympic bronze medal winners were more satisfied than silver medal winners.
That’s because the bronze medal winners were happy to have a medal at all, and the silvers wanted gold. Of course, gold medal winners were always watching their backs, and someone was out for their head.
The Perspicacious Loris
By the way, I’m sure that you already know this, but California is the third biggest state.
The Perspicacious Loris
T-shirt idea: I’m #3!
oohshiny
Don’t you guys know the playground rhyme, first’s the worst, second’s the same, third’s the best of all the game!
The Man That Sits
Thats why I like the third place
Justin Tucker
haha ok thaks for the response! im gonna check out the google chrome idea (thats what i use) and drop a line in the suggestion box. thanks!
The Informant
@Justin Tucker
I’m not entirely sure there is a way to straight download the episodes, at least the older ones. But would be a good idea to add to the suggestion box. ;) There are Add-Ons on FireFox and Chrome that let you download Flash videos into .flvs and you could convert them to .mp4s or .avis. But yeah… lot of work and some know how. :(
Justin Tucker
can anyone tell me how to download this?? i have 50 recent ones on my zune but i want all the old ones!!
lobe
Glenn Beck needs this permanantly on his front page. Go #3!
Allan
I think I’m glad I wasn’t exposed to the Olympic crowd because I DO have a rise-to-the-top obsession and it’s more beneficial in the business world (frankly, like MOST things ; )
Deelighted
My second favorite George Carlin joke – Next. What’s better than being next? You know it’s about to be your turn. Everyone else is behind you. But you are next. The anticipation of it all is so exciting. My most favorite -stuff. Both are really funny, esp. if you like Carlin.
Meandering
I’m not worried about that because I am #1. #1 Dad, I got a mug that says so.