Another quote by JFK. This quote is deeper than it sounds.
Once you say you’re going to settle for second, that’s what happens to you in life
– John F. Kennedy
Being number one in anything that requires effort, is hard.
The difficulty to achieve a higher rank is not linear: Surpassing the lower ranks require little effort. Surpassing the middle ranks requires some effort. Surpassing the high ranks require a lot of effort. But being number one requires a lot of consistent effort. Being number one is hard and require a lot of sacrifice and dedication from you. The number one position requires much more effort than being in the top 3-5 positions.
Being number one, requires a mindset, a determination. Once you accept to be second, you lose this mindset and determination. And once lost, you would never be able to regain it again.
