Last night’s Pregonero de Bronce was a 2-2-1 that deserves an analysis that I do not intend to make. However, it is worth saying that I have suspected something for some days, and now, I have no doubt.
Soccer has molded us to the idea that in a match, you win or lose or draw, and in a championship, there can only be one winner. When I play one of my online chess matches, I am clear that I will win, lose or maybe draw. In a tennis match, the odds are even smaller because there is no draw: you either win or lose. These are zero-sum games of championships or competitions in which there can only be one winner.
In the movies we find more sources of competitive inspiration, because the fight between bad guys and good guys always has a winning side, and usually, the bad guys lose. Between cowboys and Indians there is but one known ending; in star wars or mud warfare, I cannot recall a single scene where both sides have won. All too often, the ending is happy and it is one side that wins while the other loses.
That’s why in our usual competitive scheme, it’s hard to think it’s true that we might have all won, because when we’ve heard it, it sounds like a cheap mass troop rallying cry, or it’s simply perceived as a big lie for a crude rescue of the losers’ spirits.
However, on a night like the one at Pregoneros, it is demonstrated once again that there are non-zero-sum games, or those in which many or almost everyone can win, although it is clear that not everyone wins in the same proportion.
For example, Garnier BBDO and Jotabeqú won more statuettes than the other agencies, and this is undisputed, as it is a proven fact. For this, a warm applause and for my friends in these great agencies, my respect and admiration with transparent sincerity. Likewise, Publimark won a beautiful statuette and was the third agency of the night to win clearly, so I stand up again and with a special affection, I also applaud their award.
As well as others, Tribu had four mentions in the same number of categories, and for this, if we were talking about ranking, it was also confirmed that it was one of the agencies that won a little more. Then, all the advertising teams also won, with or without parchment, because the experience enriched and stimulated, provoked and challenged, ignited and possibly detonated creative growth processes. Despite last night’s 2-2-1, we all won and it is important to understand that well.
Grupo Nación excelled once again and set the perfect stage for this constructive and positive dynamic, sponsoring those who do so much for their company every day. La Nación also won and for this reason, the sum continues to prove that there are games where everyone wins, including those who, in addition to working hard in the organization, took out their checkbooks and paid for the party.
Cases like the Pregonero or the Volcán are so especially positive, that even those who do not participate win, although somehow zero or almost nothing when it comes to recognition. Such was the case with Tribu last year, where we gained little or nothing by not participating in the Pregonero, while much we received by participating even and with little or no expectations. “This is a game,” I was told last night, only it is important to stress that more is gained by those who participate, as the others become mere spectators.
In the context of winners of a statuette or scroll, however, it is worth recommending a “know how to win.” We can sow encouragement and encouragement to others, or we can sow envy and resentment. We can understand the uplifting dynamic of propelling our whole country to more and better creativity, or we can allow ourselves to become enraptured by the addictive honey of special recognition. We can bathe in me-centric joy to declare ourselves “winners,” or we can take the opportunity to show level, class and stature in the event of having won a little more than others.
Likewise, for those who did not get what they expected last night in statuettes or scrolls, there is room to recognize ourselves legitimately challenged to fight to win more the following year, or to be filled with bitterness, envy and jealousy for the fact that there were some who won more. In other words, it is also advisable to “know how to lose” even if we have all won at least a little.
To close this morning’s broken down essay, something we already know: whatever you do, do it with class. Wherever we are or whatever the circumstance, without losing the style. Whatever the quest, simple and elegant. So wherever your encouragement came from last night from this esteemed Bronze Town Crier, with total conviction I say to you that we all win.
_____________________________________
PS
To The Nation, to each and every one of you in this great company, thank you from the bottom of my heart for this enormous contribution.
