Society rightly endorses desirable behaviors and qualities in its members. Some norms are promoted while others are discouraged through shaming, ridicule, or outright discipline. Perceived virtue is ever-changing with time, and no one individual determines the course of these societal norms. Rather, it tends to be influenced over time by the events, circumstances and the collective experiences of the masses.
We find ourselves today in a peculiar moment in history where moguls, barons of industry, and entrepreneurs are seemingly reviled for success. So why has society, in general, begun to cast dispersion upon those who compete and emerge victorious in industry? Is it because companies can be portrayed as merciless, nameless, faceless monsters without souls? Why has achievement and success become automatically related to fraud, corruption, and lack of a moral compass?
It seems as though nobility now falls upon the underdog, the loser, and the self-proclaimed victim. Let us not identify with losers or grant hero status to those who fail to prevail. On the contrary, let’s aspire to greatness and gladly accept the challenge that awaits us on the field of battle.
Let’s examine the role of the champion and the lessons to be learned from the fabled competitor. What overlooked virtue does the champion (albeit a company or an individual) extol that we can learn from?
1) Competition is the truest form of fairness. Some would argue that within a competition, since only one prevails, the other contestants are treated unfairly. Not so. The context of the competition is sublimely fair – if the same rules apply to all – and the losers walk away with something the winner does not: insight into why they lost. While the winner only gains validation for their strategy and effort, the losers gain valuable insight that sets the stage for the next encounter. If acted upon properly, these insights provide rich growth opportunities and feedback into the appropriateness of the previous strategy and the nature of the preparation.
2) Competition enriches the human experience. Keying off some of the same logic in the previous point, competition exposes gaps and opportunities for growth. We deliberately reach our potential through applied effort. Knowing where to invest that effort often comes from experiencing failure. Even if we only compete with ourselves, we expand our skills, knowledge, and experience every time we step into the ring to compete.
3) Competition and cooperation are not mutually exclusive notions. The success of one organization or another is not merely based on the potential or determination of some charismatic top dog. Effective teamwork is nearly always the primary factor. The power of teamwork is in the counter-intuitive synergy that says: the success of collaborative and engaged individuals is always greater than the sum of the root parts. We accept this paradigm in sports without question, but often try to pin business success on over-simplified ideas of leadership. True and enduring success always involves extensive and enthusiastic teamwork.
4) Competition improves the landscape for everyone. Whether you contribute directly to the enhancement of our society or not, the minute improvements made by business competitors is yours to enjoy. Victors leave indelible marks on the landscape in the form of new products or services, innovative practices, remarkable places to work, and economic progress. We all benefit from the constant barrage of competitive activities that steadily improve the quality of life for everyone, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic station.
Ideas, organizations, products, and individuals all must prevail over the competition in order to assert their rightful position in society. The current pressure to discount or impugn the successes of the victors represents a troubling distortion of the virtuous nature of fair competition. We should admire the victors and aspire to emulate those who have triumphed, so that one day we might share in the satisfaction of achievement. Anything less promotes stagnation and surrenders to the demons of sloth and despair. Improvement naturally springs from choosing inspiring heroes and not hesitating to jump into the ring. Dare to compete; for fortune favors the bold.
Lean in and Lean on.