Sprint placed an add in Wall Street Journal. It read:
"Competition. It is not just better for America. It's better for the planet. Competition inspires us to think about the future. Competition benefits everyone. Mather nature included."
In some ways we in America have lost our competitive edge. As we try to make everyone a winner, winning as good incentive way is lost. As I mused about this I realized there are two faces of competition:
One is a mean and hard face with lines of adversity;
I will beat you no matter, whatever it takes. It is about winning no matter what. It is driven by a win lose, winner take all orientation. I will do anything to win including cheating. It is essentially Machiavellian and simultaneously mutually destructive. Even when I win,I Lose.
One in a hard and firm face with lines of compassion:
I love the challenge of competition as it drives me to excel and causes you to excel as well. Mutually beneficial competition is excellent. It makes both of us better. This kind of competition
Is not about: win loose, but about bilateral winning. It is essentially Christo-centric and is mutually constructive. Win or lose we win as we better each others lives with fair and honest competition.
Good and healthy competition is mutually and societally beneficial. It embraces fairness and honesty and enlarges the sense of community and connectedness.
The competitive edge that drives growth and excellence is lost when it only about winning. There is no incentive to achieve excellence or to advance the quality of living and relationships.
The face of healthy competition has a smile of achievement and competes with a smile of fairness honesty and mutual beneficence.
A good heart is necessary for healthy competition and healthy competition promotes growth and excellence, and good heartedness. Competition without compassion creates chaos and confusion. Competition with compassion and honesty creates and advances community and respectfulness.
So put a good face on competition and see a good face on your competition.
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