Being the Needle in a Haystack: When competition is closer to home
JENNIFER | JANUARY 11, 2016 11:36AM
What a highly competitive world we live in. Most of us are told not to be competitive, but to be different or merely to go with the flow. Not to compare ourselves, but business exposes the complete opposite. Others continue reminding you not to be obsessive about what you love but to flow with the stream of life. Who are these people delivering these messages? If we sit down and assess the kind of people that give us advice, we shall first pay close attention to the way they live, to their actions and their intentions. Then, we must come to terms with the fact that they live their lives, not ours.
As much as we are told not to compete with others, life boils down to competition from the subtlest to the most intimidating ways. If you are denied a job, it is usually because the person competing against you was awarded the position. If you prepare yourself with great tenacity, there is someone else out there trying to do more than you in order to win the same job the two of you are applying to. This brings me to the idea of keeping your thoughts to yourself. Why? You might ask. Regardless of how much we aim to be joyous in sharing our ideas with some friends and family, I have learned by experience that keeping our mouths shut until our goals have been accomplished and/or successful is best bet.
Opinions, Opinions
Everyone has an opinion and while you would love to hear some supportive comments from some of your family and friends, remember that not everyone will be on the same page as you. Someone might completely disagree with your goal in mind. Meanwhile, someone else will possibly give you tips on what they think is better for you to do with that goal. On the other hand, you have the person who wants to change your goal altogether because they think they are doing you a monumental favor. Unless you know what you really want and you are sure that you want to follow that goal or job opportunity, be patient and keep your thoughts to yourself. Feel free to consult a professional or someone you know will support your dreams as they are or who want to help enhance them at your request.
Idea Thieves
How often do you say something to someone else and at some point or another you notice that the same person you shared it with is doing exactly what you said you were planning to do at some point? It happens with everyone from family to friends. From time to time, those same people that steal your ideas think they thought about it first (it may be true, but not when the ideas continue to resemble yours).
Business and Competition
The same pertains to business. Competition is tough and at times people may want to be better than you. We tend to be told that those people will get what they deserve for being thieves or constantly competitive. Statements like these are supposed to help us feel better. Nonetheless, that is not always the case. People can get away with more than we could ever imagine. How does this affect people who have remarkable ideas and want to be recognized for their genius? It could easily shut them down or help them realize that they need to keep their brilliance to themselves and show it only where it needs to be shown; through their product, or performance.
It takes more than a lion to be fierce in this competitive world. Some could care less how it affects others and they will find ways to stomp all over anyone standing in their path. So, what do you do? Stay calm.
JENNIFER | JANUARY 11, 2016 11:36AM
What a highly competitive world we live in. Most of us are told not to be competitive, but to be different or merely to go with the flow. Not to compare ourselves, but business exposes the complete opposite. Others continue reminding you not to be obsessive about what you love but to flow with the stream of life. Who are these people delivering these messages? If we sit down and assess the kind of people that give us advice, we shall first pay close attention to the way they live, to their actions and their intentions. Then, we must come to terms with the fact that they live their lives, not ours.
As much as we are told not to compete with others, life boils down to competition from the subtlest to the most intimidating ways. If you are denied a job, it is usually because the person competing against you was awarded the position. If you prepare yourself with great tenacity, there is someone else out there trying to do more than you in order to win the same job the two of you are applying to. This brings me to the idea of keeping your thoughts to yourself. Why? You might ask. Regardless of how much we aim to be joyous in sharing our ideas with some friends and family, I have learned by experience that keeping our mouths shut until our goals have been accomplished and/or successful is best bet.
Opinions, Opinions
Everyone has an opinion and while you would love to hear some supportive comments from some of your family and friends, remember that not everyone will be on the same page as you. Someone might completely disagree with your goal in mind. Meanwhile, someone else will possibly give you tips on what they think is better for you to do with that goal. On the other hand, you have the person who wants to change your goal altogether because they think they are doing you a monumental favor. Unless you know what you really want and you are sure that you want to follow that goal or job opportunity, be patient and keep your thoughts to yourself. Feel free to consult a professional or someone you know will support your dreams as they are or who want to help enhance them at your request.
Idea Thieves
How often do you say something to someone else and at some point or another you notice that the same person you shared it with is doing exactly what you said you were planning to do at some point? It happens with everyone from family to friends. From time to time, those same people that steal your ideas think they thought about it first (it may be true, but not when the ideas continue to resemble yours).
Business and Competition
The same pertains to business. Competition is tough and at times people may want to be better than you. We tend to be told that those people will get what they deserve for being thieves or constantly competitive. Statements like these are supposed to help us feel better. Nonetheless, that is not always the case. People can get away with more than we could ever imagine. How does this affect people who have remarkable ideas and want to be recognized for their genius? It could easily shut them down or help them realize that they need to keep their brilliance to themselves and show it only where it needs to be shown; through their product, or performance.
It takes more than a lion to be fierce in this competitive world. Some could care less how it affects others and they will find ways to stomp all over anyone standing in their path. So, what do you do? Stay calm.
- Design your projects, prepare for a job search, performance, etc.
- Keep completely quiet and/or focused throughout your process
- Conduct extensive research to see who your competitors are:
- Assess your situation and do your homework
- Learn ways to try to exert uniqueness
- Meet the requirements in the job search by training or learning something new
- Prepare yourself to present what you have on hand or (if in search of a job) how you will Ace the interview process
- Maintain yourself disciplined until you get exactly what you want
- Once you have achieved your goal, go ahead and share your success
- Maintain yourself where you want to be and keep this list in mind until you have created one of your own or seen a better fit
- Finally, be fierce like that lion. Except when you are showing your work!
