Recently, @marcandangel tweeted the following quote:
You can raise the bar or you can wait for others to raise it. Either way, it’s getting raised.
This quote fit in line with the message I wanted to bring forth about competition. It is all around us and it comes in many forms.
A scientist rushes to release certain research findings before another one, in order to be able to take most of the credit for a certain method or novel finding. A website maintainer uses methods to raise a site’s Google ranking so that their page shows up before other pages, sending more traffic to the site. A real estate developer races to purchase an area that has recently become available on the market. A stock trader looks to quickly buy a stock while it is cheap before many others take notice.
Competition is all around us. While there are some less-competitive regions, like the top 10% of any category, because there are fewer people near the top, competition is as prevalent as procrastination and stress. Anywhere there are some folks who are not as competitive, pro-active people are ready to swoop in and out-compete them and make them not as relevant.
Video Game Example
Take for example a video game. It is exciting to those who play it, until a sequel or new game comes out, and suddenly, the game that was so cool, now looks old, and is less enjoyable to play. If the new game was not a sequel, this would mean that the competition, AKA the other developer, lowered the profits of the developer of the older game. It is not that the new developer has some intention of bringing the other developer down, but that there is demand for a cooler new product and the older one loses out. This relates back to the quote at the beginning of this article. Competition might be delayed in showing up, but it shows up soon enough.
Bakery Example
As another example, take two bakeries that are within a couple of streets of each other. In this example, one is newer and the other has been around. If the older bakery sticks to its normal sales cycle while the newer bakery sells pastries that are fresher, or that cost less, or which are of a noticeably larger size than that of the older bakery, people will start to head to the newer bakery, including those from the older one. If the older one doesn’t adapt their sales style, the newer bakery will earn the reputation of being fast-paced and up-to-date and all those terms that signal that they are the place to purchase at. Reputation takes time to build, but once it is there, it is hard to alter except through comparison with the reputation of an up-and-coming competitor.
Always Be Ready To Compete
What you want to do with the knowledge that competition is always around is come ready to compete. If there are times where you take your position or ability for granted, remember that there is always someone ready to encroach upon your reputation or customer base or skill set. The more vigilant you remain, the less likely it is that you will be surprised by a competitor that makes your creation outdated or makes your skills look ordinary.
This vigilance includes keeping an eye on those who are around, and those in the same field as you. You have to see what efforts are being made, if light challenges are being presented to you, and if there is something that is becoming a trend which you are not participating in. Participation is the majority of the issue in competition. If you are participating here and there, you will not get run over, but if you are staying out of the limelight and are off the stage, people can make their way past you easily. Stay in the path.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: eduardsays
June 17, 2010 at 4:46 am
Hey Armen,
I always like to be 2 steps ahead of my competition. You have to be very good to get there, but once you do, you are more able to focus on doing your stuff right, and finding even better ways to do it, without the concern about competition.
Twitter: Armen
June 17, 2010 at 10:58 am
Hi Eduard.
2 steps ahead sounds smart. I think you are on the right track with that. When you are ahead like that, it is uplifting to you at all times and also keeps others from catching up.
I like that you point this out. Once you are ahead, it gets quite easy to maintain it as long as you don’t get cocky.
Twitter: jazzarati
June 17, 2010 at 2:34 pm
While being a leader is incredibly useful I think it should be forgotten how useful competition can be. If you are interested in furthering your field of work then having others come up and even surpass you provides brilliant opportunities to learn from the best, stand on the shoulders of giants and even grow a field through giant ventures.
I think a ‘we are all in this together’ approach is a useful one.
Twitter: Armen
June 17, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Hi Jarrod.
You have some validity in what you are saying. It’s somewhat difficult to agree with the “we are all in this together” portion as I see that some of the most successful put out an image that “we are all in this together” but actually set themselves into an upper echelon of individuals and guard that region.
We certainly can learn from them though, but not always with their actual support.
I must say, reading this post made me hungry just at the words of “bakery”! Yum, I’d love some bakery from either one, the one ahead or the one behind competition.
Ah competition is so exhausting, Armen, especially in corporate world. I am so much happier when I have decided I am happy with my own place and can on the side pursue my other passions – but you speak true words!
Now if only I had some bakery. I have such a craving. Thanks a LOT!!
Twitter: Armen
June 18, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Hi Farnoosh.
This was my goal. This is why I discussed bakeries. It is pretty tough to beat a good pastry shop or bakery. One time I got a bunch of pastries for my friend’s birthday and all enjoyed.
Competition sure is exhausting when it is engaged upon. I can’t recall a time when I went against the opposition or competition and didn’t use a lot of energy. I get what you’re saying about pursuing your other passions.
See what I did. Now you’re not Farnoosh, but are instead “Farnoosh who requires a fruit tart”. I change people like that.
Armen: I think you make a good point about looking at the people around you who are doing the same thing and have similar interests. I don’t know if I would call myself a competitor, but I have always found it valuable to learn from those people around you that are doing things right and in a great way. We can really learn a lot by just looking at what other people are doing and integrating some of their best practices.
Twitter: Armen
June 20, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Hi Sibyl.
There is some relevance here. Whether we are battling someone or not, if they are doing something right, and we know it, it is the right thing for us to do to find out the basis of what they are doing and take the value from it. If someone is contacting customers door-to-door, and is doing well, it is worth trying that door-to-door contact method also.
Twitter: calmgrowth
June 20, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Interesting article, Armen…
On one hand I agree that we should pay attention to those organizations and individuals who we consider as competition.
However, I have to wonder, can we go beyond that mindset?
Most people think, “if you want to win the competition, you must have a better product than their. It’s all about creation.” I do not think so.
It’s all about knowledge! A person who has knowledge, collected either through trial and error, or books, or otherwise, has power over its competitors. Knowledge can make a real difference.
You can increase the standards. In the case of bakeries, a competitor may have better baking and gift with every purchase, and cheaper products, and variety of new products… and he can invest in these things 50.000 dollars…
But if you know that people from that region prefer friendly staff and selling newspapers in the bakery, you can win the competition with a $ 500 investment. Without changing the product, without changing the interior design, or anything else.
So I think it’s far more important to have knowledge than brutal force concentrated on to be better than the competition in everything.
Bye Armen…
Marko — Calm Growth´s last [type] ..Now! Enjoy Your Life Without Comparison
Twitter: Armen
June 20, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Hi Marko.
You make a strong case for knowledge. I have seen it as the main issue many a time. Sometimes I see a person use one piece of knowledge they have over and over to gain profit or advantage or whatever they are seeking because others don’t have that piece of knowledge. A person with a computer hardware issue goes looking for someone with the know-how to resolve it, or some information about how to, because with that information, they are stuck. Knowledge prevents us from getting stuck.
Your point about the customer service being a potential differentiating factor for the bakery does make sense. Sometimes money is not the direct answer, as some research into what people want could go a bit further.
Nice extension of the article here.
I believe that competition is part of life. It is where the principle of survival to the fittest comes. The truth is we will not alleviate ourselves if we don’t find way to go ahead of the other, perhaps it is nature’s way to keep us evolving for the better.
Twitter: Armen
June 20, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Hi Walter.
Smooth way to put it there. We do have to keep finding ways to one-up each other to maintain a presence in society, and this is most likely good for society in general. Well, I would add that one-upping in a relevant way is good for society, but one-upping just for the sake of one-upping or beating another has no value for society, and only provides short-term gratification to the person doing it.
Armen,
I like the bakery example, and like Farnoosh, I am hungry for some pastry now ! adapting to new ways as world changes keeps us surviving. There is competition all around us and some one is always going to be better than us no matter how hard we try.
I am not into competition like sibyl too, Instead of being number 1, my approach is to deliver my best and enjoy the journey.
Zengirl @ Heart and Mind´s last [type] ..101 changes: Change 5 – Smile when you wake up
Twitter: Armen
June 21, 2010 at 9:03 am
Hi Zengirl.
I used my methods to have you and Farnoosh thinking about pastries now. There certainly is competition all around us. I can’t say that someone will always be better than us but there is an abundance of formidable competitors.
That’s cool that you are similar to Sibyl there. There are folks who see competition all around and those who don’t buy into thinking about competition much. We choose our own paths in this regard.
Hi Armen,
I live on a sailboat…I have a reputation for being one of the best sailors in our town. This reputation has grown on its own. I wanted to take my passion and make it my life..so I learned from the best local sailors–every single day I was on a boat learning while I was also investing energy in the other parts of my life. After I learned what the best teachers could teach me, I put my own spin on it, my own personality into it, and I keep learning and practicing. I have now surpassed my teachers not out of a sense of competition, but out of pure growth…and now that passion is my life. This is the same approach I use with my online business and blog. I’m learning and gorwing every single day….
Twitter: Armen
June 21, 2010 at 9:07 am
Hi Joy.
That is a full example there. You took all the guidance your “competition”, or other sailors, had to offer, and adapted it to your style. That certainly isn’t common about living on a sailboat. I can imagine there would be some cool features to having the place that feels like home to you being a moving object. At least your supplies and clothes travel with you. There are good features to every lifestyle.
I think following that approach is going to get you big results. Someone who is successful in one category is often successful in the same way in some other category.
Hey Armen,
It’s Michael aka Inc
I really enjoyed this post man. There’s quite a bit of competition in my school and I really needed something to get me going again.
Great post as always
Twitter: Armen
June 21, 2010 at 9:10 am
Hi Michael.
Thanks about the post. Schools sure are places where competition is almost generated to mimic future working or effort-based conditions. Curved grades are like a signal to alert students that there will later be a pie that only has so many pieces with which to take from.
Hi Armen,
Yes indeed, competition is a very good and natural thing. Evolution intends for us to create grander and grander versions of ourselves and competition is a huge motivator. We are in constant competition not only with those around us but within ourselves. Just as an Olympian must train his mind and body to surpass his competition, he must train his mind and body to surpass his old limiting beliefs. Great conversation!
Twitter: Armen
June 22, 2010 at 7:02 am
Hi Rob.
We are all like partial-Olympians, being judged in detail by someone, either a family member or a customer or so on.
Regarding where you said we are intended to created grander and grander versions of ourselves, Oprah said that someone told her we become more of ourselves over time, like that our original self comes out more as we hide less of it and show more of it off.