Competition: Part 1

Compete or Beat?

Competing is exhausting. No. It is exhilarating. Actually, it’s a combination of both tiring and thrilling. It’s like finishing a marathon. Your body is physically exhausted, but the excitement and satisfaction is overwhelming. Have you felt this?

As I typically like to start these newsletters, let’s define the word ‘Compete.’ According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word ‘Compete’ is defined as:

To try to be more successful than someone or something else. 

This seems rather limiting. Is competing external or internal? It’s clear that the dictionary definition of competing is external. One person is trying to achieve more success than another person. To me, this definition of ‘compete’ centers around beating someone or something else. It implies that one person is trying to prevent their opponent from being successful rather than both opponents trying to elevate themselves. 

Let’s use an example. 

When my team is victorious over another team, does that mean that we outcompeted them? Should the opponent feel discouraged about their loss? Or, are there instances where the loser on the scoreboard is more successful than the team that won the game? There are lots of reasons teams or individuals win games and oftentimes it has nothing to do with outcompeting their opponent. Winning does not always mean you were successful, and losing does not always make you a failure. You must extrapolate further. If my team won, was I personally successful?

Not necessarily.

Reframing Definition

I had the privilege of reading the book, Win Forever, by Pete Carroll and Yogi Roth. This book challenged me to reshape my personal definition of competing. I define ‘Compete’ as: 

Challenging yourself to become the best you are capable of becoming in a given moment. 

Yes, my definition combines the findings of both John Wooden and Pete Carroll. Competing has nothing to do with your opponents. It has everything to do with personal growth. Each moment you compete is an opportunity to learn, grow, and absorb information that allows you to become a better version of yourself. Simply put, internal competition is a growth mindset. External competition is a fixed mindset. 

If competing is external, then that means my success is determined by someone else’s performance. I don’t like that. Actually, it feels like I’m playing a game of chance. For example, when I compete against an opponent and lose on the scoreboard, a fixed mindset says, they won, I lost, end of story. No opportunity to grow. 

But, if competing is internal and I lose on the scoreboard, a growth mindset allows me the opportunity to get better because my opponent just helped me discover which areas of my game need improvement in order to maximize my potential.

Reframing my definition of competing has allowed me to reflect inward. I like to view competing as something that I can control. If I can control it, then I can change it; and if I can change it, I can grow. It is a growth mindset. 

My Implementation

I am in constant pursuit to maximize my potential as a player, employee, friend, partner, daughter, and person. I want to be at my best and have my opponents, teammates or peers be at their best. There’s no loser when everyone is trying to learn and grow. We all get better. We all benefit.

In an athletic setting, a direct approach I use to reframe my definition of competing is by redirecting my thought process. Even when I’m tired. For example, when I am losing to a teammate in a swim set instead of feeling frustrated or upset that they are swimming faster than me, I intentionally recognize that their efforts are pushing me to become faster. It is because of my teammate’s outstanding effort, that I am able to become better. Thank you, teammate.

In a work environment, when my colleague takes the initiative to begin a new project without guidance, I do not view this as a threat to my own personal achievements. I use this as inspiration to take initiative in my own work life. I thank my colleague for helping me think more proactively and become a more diligent employee.

To compete is about maximizing your own personal potential. (Thank you, Win Forever) It is not about beating an opponent, teammate, colleague, friend, competitor, etc. It is about being in a constant pursuit of personal growth. And, it’s also about supporting those around you in their journey of personal growth.

To compete is to have a growth mindset.

How do you define the word ‘Compete’? Let me know your thoughts! You can email me at: Bella@bellabaia.co 

Thanks for reading! :)

Citations:

Carroll, Pete, et al. Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play like a Champion. Portfolio, 2011.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/compete?q=competing