Life is a competition or a challenge ? How about yours ?

Life is not a competition, but a challenge. 

I don’t recall what has touched off the thought, but over this new year break I had a little insight into the vital difference between a challenge and a competition of life.

Either God nor Nature is creating us. Nature and God never fails to remind us every second that We are the unique and most successful right from you killed 20 million other sperms before you are formed and till date. Amongst the 7.2 Billion people, everyone of us is unique and everyone of us have at least one difference with one another. Then what is the purpose of competing with others? because, Everyone has their own unique track for their destination.The truth is none of us have to succumb to the spirit of competition. There is no competition with one another but only challenge with our journey. 

A competition is something like a sport event where there can only be one winner. It is an event where the winner is determined as a function of relative position. A challenge is an event where there can be multiple winners because winning is determined as a function of achievement based on static criteria.

People often say, 'my work is so competitive', 'my business faded down, due to competition'. That's why people do not teach business tactics and maneuver to others. It does shows mere jealously and selfishness than competition. There is a much difference is saying 'I should win' and 'I alone should win'. Life is so simple- Learn, earn, Teach others and let them also earn. Then this blue planet will be heaven and its riches and glory shall be distributed properly to everyone. 

Opportunities are swimming inside the lake of life. Whoever puts their nets will surely get it. Opportunities seldom gets reduced when number of nets increases and where you put your net, matters. 

Life is not about reaching first, but reaching your destination you set. The distinction here might seem trivial, but I believe that we can find some valuable benefits from being able to distinguish between a competition and a challenge.

Life is so simple. 

If you believe yourself, you see your life as a challenging one.

If you fear yourself, see the life as a competitive one.

Competition is defeating other's life,

Challenge is succeeding your life. 

Conceive and steer your life in a right way. 

You can put max 2-3 goals if you consider life as a competition. Your team can put 11 goals if you consider life as a challenge.

I will give an example which may give you a good insight.

In case you and your colleague are both looking for same promotion and as the time for the decision is approaching fast, your colleague asks you for your help in finishing a presentation task because that specific task is something that you excel in. Just assume that you're not mandated in your job description to agree to help on this task. Do you help out?

There are arguments both for and against helping. Let's break down both of them:

case 1 : 

No, I don't want to help him. Why should I help him? If He's so qualified for this promotion then why does he need my help? Then when I agree to help him and the rest of his presentation is lacking he can blame me for its failing? No, I'll just let him crash and burn and be there to pick up the pieces. That way I'll look even better to the bosses, and he'll look much too incompetent to handle the promotion. This is my opportunity to stand out!

Result: You refuse to help out, citing your own heavy workload, and the task is finished by your colleague. The presentation turns out to be decent, but not as good as it could have been. The colleague receives glory for doing the best he could under the circumstances, but the company fails to receive the increased revenue it had hoped for as a result of the presentation. The company continues on as a limited growth business, unable to expand as it had anticipated. You get the promotion because the colleague is deemed "not ready" for a position of such responsibility. It means a meager salary raise for you, and a similar increase in revenue for the company. You're happy with your decision. Not much else changes.

Or, case 2 :

Sure, I'll help you. I couldn't let him give this presentation that represents the company without it showing the company's best work. And because I'm most fit for the promotion, I am the company's best worker. I wouldn't want the company to look bad when I know I'm capable of producing better. If this presentation fails, then the whole company fails. When the bosses find out I have helped him they'll be so impressed with my willingness to help my opposition for the promotion in the name of what's good for the company that there will be no way they don't promote me. This is exactly the opportunity I need to show what I've got. This is my opportunity to stand out!

Result: You agree to help out, despite your heavy workload and together you finish the task. The presentation turns out to be excellent, resulting in a large number of sales for your company. Your colleague receives a lot of praise for him hard work on the task and you are also mentioned as someone who sacrificed for the betterment of the company. The large influx of sales allows the company to grow faster than originally planned and now they are looking for two people to be promoted rather than one. Remembering the unselfishness and teamwork that you and your colleague showed on this most recent task, as well as its high quality output, the bosses decide you and your colleague are deserving of the promotion. The company continues to grow, perhaps faster than it would have had the presentation not been as successful, and in a few short years, you and that colleague have risen to two very prominent, powerful positions within the company. It means an enormous salary raise for you, and company culture is much more pleasant and cooperative.

I don't know about you, but I would definitely prefer the case 2 and recommend the same. Sure, it doesn't always work out that perfectly, but the point is in order to get ahead yourself, sometimes you have to help others first. In this particular case, by helping your colleague first, you, him and the entire company benefits. 

“Real learning comes about when the competitive spirit has ceased.” ― Jiddu Krishnamurti

-Regards,

Joachin Joseph