“Competition is easier to accept if you realize it is not an act of oppression or abrasion – I’ve worked with my best friends in direct competition.” – Diane Sawyer
This quote leaves you with a proper sense of how to respond to competition if you have been allowing your competition to slow you down. Remember that your competitors are not fixated on leaving you unable to produce, but are looking to expand upon their own operations. To understand this, you have to let go of some ego that is telling you that any competitor you see has you in their sights.
It Isn’t An Act Of Oppression
Others aren’t focused on reducing your capability to produce or perform, as that would take away from the energy they have for their own tasks. This is a self-correcting concept, as any person who was spending their time trying to compete with you to reduce your growth would also slow down their own growth, leaving them less able to succeed further down the road. The only people that are able to grow quickly are the ones who focus on their own material, so they won’t bother to aggressively compete with you in hopes of slowing or reversing your progress.
The Best Production Comes From Competition
In the quote, Diane points out that she worked with her best friend in direct competition. This can be some of the best competition there is, with results arising rapidly. At the same time, whether with close friends or distant strangers, your most energetic activity and task completion will come in the face of competition. This is why you can’t run away from endeavors that place you up against someone. Jay-Z said “Don’t run from the pain, go towards it”, and although competition doesn’t necessarily match up with causing pain, the concept remains that you want to head to where the competition is. Showing up is the majority of the battle, and the rest will be doable.
Focus On Your Own
You only have enough time to focus on your efforts, let alone feeling bad about how others are doing compared with your work. It can only slow you down, and you have material to progress forward on.