According to Wikipedia, many in the United States believe that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day (which actually is September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish), the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico). In reality, Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican regional holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla. According to the historical record, while outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army that had known no defeat for almost 50 years.

It’s not a major holiday in the U.S., but we treat it with equal regard to other cultural holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year. So regardless of what you believe or if you plan to share a few cerveza’s with your colleagues after a day at the office in celebration of the holiday, I think the today is a perfect opportunity to take stock of your own battles against formidable opponents and how you are responding.

Whether your opponent is a colleague, a member, change, the system or even yourself, are you fighting a good fight? Is the battle actually worth fighting? Are you being honest with yourself? Are you digging in and doing everything you can to emerge victorious?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate your strategy and priorities. Should you really be doing it? Is it worth your effort, energy and enthusiasm? Is this how you want to be remembered? Are you being driven by pride or fear of defeat? If so, all of these
motivations need to be reconsidered.

In the Art of War, Sun Tzu advised: “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight“. It was his first essential rule for victory. Perhaps we would all be wise to heed his advice. Pick your battles wisely and always remember there is as much to be gained in defeat as there is in victory. What people will remember most is how you conducted yourself in pursuit of your goal.

Originally posted @ Associated Knowledge