Besting Competition

William “Bud” Hart, of Haverhill, shares “Success Principles”—ideas for living a greater, better and more accomplished life, and building habits that stick. He also coaches clients to incorporate strategies for boosting their mental and physical performance during everyday living.

William “Bud” Hart, of Haverhill, shares “Success Principles”—ideas for living a greater, better and more accomplished life, and building habits that stick. He also coaches clients to incorporate strategies for boosting their mental and physical performance during everyday living.

I grew up one of seven children in a very competitive family (that has never changed). Going through childhood and adolescence, I didn’t always enjoy trying to be first at everything and deep down I’m sure I realized it wasn’t possible. But that did not keep me from feeling I had to try.

I think it is natural to be competitive, it’s embedded in our being.  The key is not to obsess over the competition.

The road to winning isn’t always straight and it’s not always pretty. It can be downright uncomfortable at times and even exhausting. But I wonder, if there wasn’t anyone around to provide us a measurement of our talents, or, to tell us how and when we are doing something wrong, would anyone ever see the chance or, even want to improve anything?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”

It does take tenacity to stick to your own guiding principles in an environment that tries to one up you in everything. And it can be very easy to lose sight of your own path for the sake and thrill of short term competitive gain.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t look forward to competition. I’m simply saying it’s important to realize that it’s impossible to be the best at everything, every time and it’s the personal learning and growing that comes with competing that is its true value.

When it comes besting competition, my advice, take your wins and loses gently, look at them carefully and learn from them.  Whatever course you decide upon be true to yourself.

Following the advice of Emerson I gave up a long time ago competing with my brothers at golf. That’s not saying I didn’t enjoy the competition (and especially winning), it’s just that my mind and heart were never in the game.

I’m fine with that.

William “Bud” Hart is a certified “Mindset” Coach, Accountability Partner and Business Consultant. Founder of Hart Group, www.hartgroupma.com.

One thought on “Besting Competition

  1. Bud…I enjoy your columns here on WHAV…thanks for writing them.
    As the ideals of liberalism have proliferated our culture, competition and being ‘first’ have become secondary. We now have kids playing youth sports where scores are not kept, no MVP awards are given, and everyone gets a trophy. Colleges no longer ask for SAT scores. The thirst for being number one has been replaced with making sure feelings aren’t hurt and everyone has the same end result.

    The competitiveness, competition and innovation that made this country great has literally been legislated out of society, at least in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts legislature recently passed a bill that would impose a 20 cent per mile surcharge on ride share companies Uber and Lyft. Portions of that tax revenue will be “given” to taxi companies who have lost customers/business as a result of the better service ride share companies provide. Imagine? They failed to compete and innovate but are being rewarded by liberal lawmakers who don’t want their feeling to be hurt. It doesn’t get any more insane than that !