The 100 Day Challenge, Day 37:

As I get ready to go watch the Vermont State Division I Boys Basketball Championship, I thought I would write a quick post about competition.

How you approach it is definitely a mindset.  You developed yours over the years you have been alive, the competitive experiences you yourself have had, what others have taught you, and what you have learned from watching others.  Keeping a balanced perspective on competition is a challenge for many.  And then theres that little thing about winning and losing- and what a big controversy that can be today!

The competitive spirit, I believe, can be very important to success.  For instance, in my business clients who are in sales, I see evidence daily that the competitive spirit helps them to step up to the plate in a stronger way.  Those with the competitive spirit will do more preparing and put more energy into their presentations.  This is not done to the detriment of their potential clients, quite the contrary.  Unless you are unscrupulous (and I know this can be possible), the potential clients are going to get better service, presentations and enthusiasm.  Competition causes everyone to step up their play if they want to stay in the game.

Have fun with situations that require competition.  Allow the experience to bring out creativity in you that you didn’t know you had.

When people want to win at someone else’s expense, that in my mind has gone beyond competition.

And tonight…………

……..may the best team win!   And may the players and fans enjoy watching a fantastic game where someone will actually lose the game, but everyone can be a winner just because they were there.