We hear a lot of talk about how to crush the competition and how we need to outsmart, outwork and out-perform them if we are going to become successful in whatever endeavors we pursue.
Not only that but we need to annihilate them, crush them and demolish them. This is suppose to make us feel better about ourselves and what we do.
We are stronger than them. We are better than them.
There can be no in-between. It’s all or nothing. It’s either they win or we win.
There is some element of truth in that mindset and it does give you a long-term view on what you might want to do.
In the world of sports, that’s the name of the game. In some parts of the business world, it’s also the name of the game.
But is this the only way? Is this what we’re all about?
Then we hear it’s a dog-eat-dog-world.
You might not have heard that phrase before but according to yourdictionary.com, this phrase has the following meaning:
It is something or some situation in which there is fierce, ruthless competition. An example of dog eat dog is a competitive sales environment where everyone is trying to beat out their co-workers to make the most sales, even if they have to lie and cheat to do it.
Wow! Can you imagine that?
Is that what we are being asked to do?
Unfortunately I subscribed to that idea for a long time, which led to frustration, doubts, fears and even depression at times.
When I looked so fervently on my competition to see what they were doing and how to annihilate them plus all the other things I was supposed to do to them, I lost my way. I no longer knew who I was or what my mission was.
Have that happened to you? Do you relate to this? Is this the story of your business or your life?
I am glad I came to my senses even though it took a lot of years, setbacks, overwhelm, disappointments, frustration and humility to get to where I am currently.
It also was time that I couldn’t afford because of the stage of life I found myself in – the midlife stage. Time is one of the most lucrative currency that I have and I need to spend it wisely.
Does this mean that I’m no longer competitive? Oh no. I think I’m more competitive now than ever. But there is a difference.
Focusing so much on how to crush your competition can lead to:
1. Wasted time
It takes so much energy and resources to focus on the competition that it leaves you with little or none left to focus on what it is you need to be doing.
As a podcaster, I wanted to be the best in my space. I would listen to other podcasts that dealt with topics like I did, and tried to parse all that they were doing so I could outdo them.
I am in no way suggesting that you should not take time to see and know what your competition is doing. That would ludicrous of me to say that.
However, like I did, you can spend so much time researching what they are doing that you don’t spend time making better what you do.
This can lead to much wasted time and as I stated above, as someone in the midlife stage of life, this is time you don’t have
2. Missed opportunity
I have found that when you are intensely focused on something, it is easy to overlook what else is there.
Have you ever walked by someone and not even notice them because of what your mind, eyes and ears was focused on?
I know I have on several occasions.
I didn’t realize I was doing that until someone called me out on that.
Recently I was at an event. I saw someone that I wanted to say hi to and chat with.
Making my way to him, focused on not breaking eye contact or losing sight of him, I walked right by someone that I also knew without even saying hi.
After I greeted the person I was focused on, the other person who was seated on a chair a few feet away, stood up and said, “so, am I not going to get a hello.”
I felt so bad. I mumbled something and tried to smooth things over.
Why did I miss seeing him?
I was focused on the other person.
So it is with focusing so intently on your competition; you will miss opportunities that could be instrumental in your business and life success.
3. You being a carbon-copy
Let’s face it, there can only be one Apple, Nike, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and one you.
Trying to be like them or do what they do means having a carbon-copy.
One thing I know is that the carbon-copy is never as good or worth as much as the original copy.
You are old enough to remember writing on carbon-copy paper. I think there are places where it is still being used.
The carbon-copy never looks as good as the original. It lacked something. There were smudge and lines that at times made the copy illegible.
That is what happens when you focus so much on your competition. You, without knowing it, are doing and saying things that they do and say. You are no longer authentic. You will be placed to the side because why look your way when the original exists.
Again, this is not to suggest you don’t learn from your competition – know what they’re up to and how they are marketing etc. but not so much to want to annihilate them. You will end up annihilating yourself.
Focus on being the best version of you as possible and competing against your yesterday trying to outdo, outperform and outwork, your past.
What do you think you are missing trying to crush the competition? Would you take a moment and leave a comment below as well as share this article on your social media and other outlets.
