Heather and I have always been incredibly proud of our kids. Our daughter Jamie recently earned two silver medals and placed third overall at Provincials in gymnastics. And our son Jake? He brought home a bronze medal at the Canadian Karate Nationals. Clearly, they got their mother’s genes!
While we celebrate both of their accomplishments, I want to take a moment to reflect on Jake’s journey in particular—because there’s a powerful lesson in it for all of us.
Jake has been practicing karate for about six years now. He’s a blue belt and has loved the sport from the beginning. A big part of that passion comes from his incredible Sensei, Matt Bickel, who’s helped shape Jake not just as an athlete, but as a person.
This year, Jake’s path to Nationals was anything but smooth. He competed in a few tournaments early in the season—looked good, fought hard—but just fell short of winning his matches. Here’s where it could’ve all gone sideways. He could’ve blamed the refs, questioned his abilities, or gotten discouraged. But instead, he did something that truly impressed me: he reflected. He thought about what he could do better next time. As Sensei Matt put it, Jake demonstrated the mindset of a champion.
At Provincials, Jake had a strong showing—until he faced the eventual BC Champion. The other fighter was fast and caught Jake off guard, winning 6-0. After the match, I asked Jake, “What will you do differently the next time you fight him?” Honestly, if it were me, I would’ve been too upset to even talk. But Jake took it in stride. He treated the loss as a lesson.
Thanks to his overall performance, Jake made the provincial team and earned a spot at Nationals. Heather and I were thrilled, but we honestly didn’t know what to expect at that level of competition.
To our amazement, Jake won his first two matches—he looked focused, sharp, and confident. He lost the next round to a tough opponent, but it earned him a shot at a bronze medal. His opponent in that match had been dominant earlier in the day, winning 8-0 and 5-0. But Jake was unfazed. He rose to the challenge and won!
Now here’s where it gets even more intense. In karate, there are two bronze medallists—but they still need to determine third and fourth place. And wouldn’t you know it? Jake had to fight the same BC Champion who had beaten him 6-0 just weeks earlier.
I thought, “No matter what happens, he’s already had an incredible run.” But Jake came out with focus and determination. He scored the first point—a big deal in karate, because in the event of a tie, the fighter who scores first wins. The match ended 2-2. Because Jake had scored first, he won the tiebreaker and officially placed third in the nation.
As much as I love bragging about my kids (and trust me, I really do), I think there’s something here for all of us.
We’re not always going to win on our first try. Or our second. But if we keep learning, keep working, and stay positive, good things will happen. Whether you’re in sports, business, or just navigating life’s challenges, the real victory comes from resilience and growth.
That’s the mindset of a champion.