--- title: Why The “Near Win” May Be Better Than Success description: A near win can drive your business to more success. image: https://www.jonespr.net/hubfs/Blog_Images/Blog_363_Success.jpg --- [![](https://www.jonespr.net/hubfs/Blog_Images/Blog_363_Success.jpg) ](https://www.jonespr.net/eight-arms-blog/why-the-near-win-may-be-better-than-success) # Why The “Near Win” May Be Better Than Success BY:   [ Kristin Jones ](https://www.jonespr.net/eight-arms-blog/author/kristin-jones) ![Why The “Near Win” May Be Better Than Success](https://www.jonespr.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/Blog_363_Success.jpg?width=1666&name=Blog_363_Success.jpg "Why The “Near Win” May Be Better Than Success") Embrace the near win At her first museum job, art historian Sarah Lewis noticed something important about an artist she was studying: Not every artwork was a total masterpiece. She asks us to consider the role of the almost-failure, the near win, in our own lives. In our pursuit of **success and mastery**, is it actually our near wins that push us forward? How do you define success? Driving increased sales? Nailing that big account? Or finally getting your dream job? But once you’ve experienced success, what comes next? Art historian Sarah Lewis clarifies the difference between success in a pursuit and mastery of skill. Mastery requires being able to repeat success, time and time again. In this [2014 TED Talk](https://www.ted.com/playlists/209/counterintuitive_career_advice), Lewis points out that in many cases, it isn’t the successes that provide the most drive to continue. It is the near misses.  “Success motivates us, but a new win can propel us in a never-ending quest,” Lewis says, pointing out that Olympic silver medals are often more driven after the games that those who win gold. Near misses, she says, force us to “focus on what, right now, we plan to do to address that mountain in our sights.” I am a firm believer in always reaching for more. Yes, I celebrate the successes. But it is the “almosts” that drive me to be even better the next  time. What “near miss” has helped you keep striving for more? ## 6 Steps To Creating Enviable Brands Download our guide 6 Steps to Creating Enviable Brands to learn the crucial steps you should follow to create an enviable brand for your company. 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