The Pyrrhic Victory and Why You Need to Be Wary of It!

There are times in life when you think you have won, but ultimately you have lost.  The price you have paid is greater than the victory you have won.

Today’s post comes from our favorite farmer, Rhymin’ Ted.  He will introduce you to a concept called a pyrrhic victory, why you need to be wary of it, and what you can do to avoid it.

I will let him take it from here…

As always Rick I’m very flattered by your humble request,
To share my words of wisdom, I’ll do my very best

It’s been a little while since I posted on this blog,
But before I get to that, I need to walk my dog.

Now that I’m back after taking Rover for a pee,
It’s time for us to talk about the pyrrhic victory.

So, As We Embark Together on This Self-Improvement Mission,
I Think We Need to Start with a Rhymin’ Definition…

A pyrrhic victory is not one that you will wish to incur,
And after you read this post, I am sure you will concur.

You are probably wondering how this little phrase came to be?
For that, I will need to take you way back…to 279 BC!

There was a King Pyrrhus of Epirus who battled the Romans and ultimately won,
But he lost way too many men – some were old, and some were young.

His victory wasn’t worth it because it came at too high of a cost,
So, even though he thought he’d won, he ultimately lost.

My next example will help you understand this concept even more,
It comes from the world of business and has nothing to do with war.

AOL won a hostile takeover with Time Warner back in 1999,
At the time it was hailed as a deal that was extraordinarily fine.

But shortly after the deal was completed, the unsustainable tech bubble burst,
10 years and billions lost later, AOL spun off Time Warner ending a merger seen as one of history’s worst!

So, a deal that at first seemed like the work of a brilliant Jedi master,
Turned out to be nothing more than a complete and epic disaster.

Now that we’ve seen an example of how it can ruin corporations,
Let’s take a little look at some more personal applications…

You may have won a custody battle with the person you used to be married to,
But high legal costs and alienated children will have you feeling blue.

The fence you put up to annoy the neighbor makes it feel like you have won,
That is until you realize it has completely blocked out the sun!

You think all those extra hours you are working will give you a better life,
The problem is it’s ruined your marriage and cost you your lovely wife.

Running a lot of miles at a really steady clip,
Has helped you drop a couple pounds but also messed up your hip.

Stealing that girl from her boyfriend seemed like the right thing to do,
That is until karma reared its ugly head and she ended up cheating on you.

Taking that big dump cleared you out and really made your day,
But clogging up the toilet was way too big a price to pay!

To avoid pyrrhic victories there are a few things you can do,
So, pay attention to this sage advice that I’m about to give to you.

Strictly focusing only on the goal could result in complications,
So, before you act and make a move, think of all the implications.

Remember not to sweat the small stuff that’s keeping you up at night,
Instead always keep the big picture firmly in your sight.

There are times in your life when you need to cut your losses and quit,
Otherwise, you may have to deal with an even bigger pile of shit.

Thinking about only yourself is a negotiation sin,
It’s always better to create a situation that ends in a win-win.

Opportunity costs are something else you need to keep in mind,
Missing out on other things may really put you in a bind.

My final point is to remember to keep your motivations in perspective,
Keep your eye on the prize, and always remember your ultimate objective.

I want to make sure you leave this post with absolutely no confusion,
So, before I sign off let me sum things up with this brief 2-line conclusion:

Always be careful not to get too fixated on the final score,
Just because you win the battle, doesn’t mean you have won the war!

That’s my post on pyrrhic victories which I hope will make you better,
And my usual words of inspiration below are how I will end this letter.

When all in your life seems lost and you feel like you are at your wit’s end,
Simply turn on your laptop and go to the blog that’s always there like a good friend.

Stop feelin’ sorry for yourself and get up off your big, fat rump,
Because it’s time to kick some ass and Prime Your Motherf’in’ Pump!

See ya!
–Rhymin’ Ted

Use It or Lose It – How to Avoid the Pyrrhic Victory

As Rhymin’ Ted suggests, there are a few ways things you can do to avoid pyrrhic victories:

  Think of implications that your actions could have.

  Don’t sweat the small stuff, focus on the big picture.

  Sometimes you need to quit while you are ahead.

  Think win-win – there is enough in this world for everyone.

  Be cognizant of opportunity costs or what you are missing out on by choosing a certain course of action.

  Remember what your ultimate objective is.

When to Use It:

There are a few areas of your life where you need to be wary of the pyrrhic victory:

  At your job.

  With respect to your relationships.

  Living a healthy lifestyle.

  Going out to dinner or traveling with friends or family -you may end up getting your way in terms of doing what you want to do, but they may end up resenting you.

What Do You Think?

  Can think of any personal examples of when you had a pyrrhic victory in your life? Please share in the comments below!

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