Motivation and Competition

Competition is a rivalry; it is an effort by an individual or group to best another individual or group. As a form of motivation the competitive force energizes our activities in whatever area we are directing it. However, far too often our focus goes astray when our activities become simply a contest to be won rather than an opportunity to perform with excellence. So powerful a force is competitiveness we often lose patience, resulting in winning taking precedence over performance. We do not compete simply for the sake of competition, but as a secondary form of motivation to accomplish a more primal goal. Because of the power it infuses, we are often at risk of overwhelming our original or sponsoring desire by our competitive nature.

In so many areas of our lives there is simply no need to compete. We can excel at most things without our efforts being energized by competition. This is not to say sporting events are not fun but they are much more wholesome when the focus is more on the performing than on the winning. When in business the focus is to serve with excellence, we are naturally more competitive sans the danger of being preoccupied with winning out over others. Especially in business, competitive factors may indeed enter in to our decisions but with an eye toward enabling us to better serve.

So many of our most inspiring brothers and sisters were guided by competitive factors but not motivated by them. Henry Ford was not competing with carriage makers, Albert Einstein was not competing for a professorship, Wolfgang Mozart was not competing for audience share, Thomas Edison did not want to sell more light bulbs than candles, and Johannes Guttenberg was not looking to replace the scribes of his time. Each of these individuals were motivated to use their considerable gifts with excellence, and the rest, whatever it may have been, was to make their application more practical.

When next we are tempted to think of becoming more competitive at anything let us consider what this really means. Are we looking to win simply to enjoy the fruits of winning or are seeking to perform with excellence. Where winning becomes our only goal, we may already have lost.

2 Responses to “Motivation and Competition”

1. Michael Han says:

   November 13, 2011 at 2:43 pm

   Excellent article Harvey!
   The past day, I have been in a fear mode while thinking of a larger successful business competitor potentially coming into this market. Your article reminds me that my focus should be on performing with excellence rather than worrying about losing business to a competitor.

   Mike
2. Harvey Green says:

   November 14, 2011 at 7:53 am

   Glad you found it helpful.. Mahalo