This weekend, I had one of those proud parent moments that really makes you stop and think. My daughter had a mountain bike race, and going into it, she was fired up to beat a particular competitor. She’d been training hard, she was focused, and she wanted that win.
But then, something happened. The other racer tried to pass her, and their handlebars bumped. The girl behind my daughter fell. Thankfully, she wasn’t hurt, but my daughter was really shaken up by it. She kept going, but by the time she crossed the finish line, she was in tears—not because she didn’t race well, but because she felt bad for the other rider. Even though it wasn’t her fault, she couldn’t help but empathize.
Here’s the part that really got me: during the race, she kept looking back to make sure the other rider was okay. Then, after finishing, she went over and hugged her. Both of them apologized, and later on, the other girl came up to my daughter, gave her another hug, and apologized again.
Watching all of this unfold made me so proud—not because she won, but because of how she handled herself. She left everything on that course, gave it her all, but at the end of the day, her biggest concern was how the other rider felt.
It was a real reminder of what sportsmanship is all about. Competition can be tough, but it doesn’t have to come at the expense of kindness. It’s not just about who crosses the finish line first—it’s about how we treat each other along the way.
My daughter’s leadership in that moment reminded me that in life—whether it’s in sports or business—the real wins come from showing empathy, respect, and integrity. Sure, we all want to succeed, but how we get there—and how we treat others while doing it—is what truly matters.
Thank you for reading! We hope this post inspires you to see new opportunities to strengthen your marketing strategy. At HSME, we’re here to support local hardware stores in navigating today’s marketing challenges and helping you connect with your community, both online and in-store. If you have any questions or want to learn more about how we can support your business, feel free to reach out to us in any one of our channels or send us a message.
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About Renee C Gray and HSME
Renee C Gray is the founder of Hardware Store Marketing Experts (HSME) with over 25 years of experience helping local hardware stores thrive in the digital age. Dedicated to bridging the gap between tradition and technology, Renee understands the unique challenges of small business owners and provides practical, authentic marketing solutions that resonate with your community.
