Competition
Athletes live in a world of competition — and so do we. Few aspects of modern life can escape the pressure of competition. Charles Darwin confirmed that competition is possibly the key driver of the natural world, and humans are no exception. Survival rests on competition — for partners, for jobs, for money and ultimately for success, however defined. Some readers may disagree, but I believe competition is healthy, and most of the time comes with benefits that outweigh the risks.
Individuals motivated by competition:
Improve their skills
Learn to manage stress
Appreciate the talents of others
Boost their confidence
Organizations and companies also benefit:
Competition in the business world fuels growth and forces manufacturers to innovate and develop unique products for their customers. I spent nine years working in the marketing department at Colgate-Palmolive Canada, and was fortunate to observe senior level executives who focused on understanding the competitive landscape and anticipating consumer demands — because they knew this was exactly what the competitors were doing.
Competition for research funding drives scientists and academics to think deeply, not only about what problems or issues should be investigated, but also to yield better solutions to improve daily life.
Competition in healthcare can lead to tangible results for patients: more efficient care, better use of resources and long-lasting results.
Human nature also displays the ugly side of competition, and not just in athletics. Cheating, corruption and aggressive bullying contribute to an atmosphere driven by greed and hunger for victory. It’s worth considering a lesson from the Winter Olympics. In the timed events such as bobsled, luge, skiing and speed skating, the difference between first and tenth place is often measured in hundredths of seconds. This means that all the athletes are excellent and it’s unnecessary to be twice as good as your competitor — because nobody is. Remaining competitive often needs only a very small margin of improvement.
Some years ago when I was in clinical practice, I received a brief note. Just a few handwritten lines from a patient thanking me for persevering through a complicated and lengthy treatment that fortunately turned out successfully. The patient was the president of one of Canada’s largest courier companies, a pressure-packed, highly competitive business, yet he found a few minutes to express his personal appreciation. It was a powerful gesture that I have never forgotten. Competition can be challenging, and sometimes nasty, but I think success in life often turns on doing very small things very well.
