A lot of my market thinks more collaboratively than competitively. In fact, many will see this post and think I’m going in the wrong direction. Competition being “constrictive” and collaboration, “there’s more than enough business to go around” being more expansive.
And I get it. Truly.
In fact, I don’t even ADMIT or ACKNOWLEDGE “competition.” So, don’t think about this as an article about THEM. Think of this as an article about YOU. Which camp do YOU fall in? Which CATEGORY of winners? How EASILY are you defeated?
Not always by a competitor, of course…
How easily are you defeated, discouraged, derailed by ANYTHING that comes in opposition of your goals?
How easily do you get thrown off course?
How OFTEN do you anchor yourself to the love of the game?
How you take on the competition,
depends on how THEY view winning.
How you do business,
how far you go, how quickly you get there,
depends on how YOU view winning.
And there are three basic “kinds” of people when it comes to winning. All can win. All DO win.
But only two can be defeated.
The other must — instead — be managed, and they will always go the distance.
**THE ONE WHO WINS A LOT.**
Someone who wins a lot is someone who can at first glance be “intimidating.” This competitor takes a lot of swings… she wins some, she loses some. She likes to win, she plans to win. And she puts in a good effort.
But, with even a MODERATE amount of some applied strategy and effort, the “one who wins a lot” can be bested. You simply have to add another line in your proposal, promise one more benefit, anything to be a BIT better than them.
Easy, peasy. MOST competitors fall into this category. 80% at least. Her primary weakness is that she doesn’t adjust her own strategy to get an edge over someone else.
In a boxing match, it’s the fighter who continues to rely on her “go to punch” DESPITE her opponent’s expertise in avoiding it. She likes to win, but — with a good natured shrug of her shoulders, she graciously accepts a loss.
** THE ONE WHO WINS BECAUSE IT IS WHAT SHE DOES. **
This competitor is a formidable one…. difficult, but NOT impossible to beat. She wins as a habit. It’s what she DOES, habitually.
She plans her own strategy,
and then ADJUSTS according to what she is up against.
She is measured, deliberate, and AGILE…
a formidable opponent indeed.
BUT, she can still be overcome. About 18% of opponents will fall in this category. They are FUN to engage. They are WORTHY opponents.
Their primary weakness is two-fold: First, she’s lit up by the APPLAUSE and AWARDS of winning, not the win itself. You’ll see where this comes into play in a minute. The second weakness is that she can be surprised, and forced “off kilter” with even SMALL surprises… a small concession, a sudden shift, a slight change in direction.
(Question: how EASILY can circumstances pull you off of your game?)
In a boxing match, this is the fighter who lands punch after punch and gets secure in her imminent championship… She’s winning… the ultimate win is just moments away, but she’s NOT ready for a HUGE change in action from her opponent. The measured, DELIBERATE approach that wins so many battles is all of the sudden thrown off by a sudden shift. She’s leaning so far IN… that she is often at jeopardy of falling over when you switch things up.
And then, there’s…
** THE ONE WHO WINS BECAUSE IT IS WHO SHE IS.**
This opponent can be managed. They can be taken the full 12 rounds. With sustained effort, you can minimize their damage. You can abate their competitive drive… but they cannot and will not be beaten, as long as they are breathing.
If they are breathing, they are winning.
It’s WHO they are, it’s not SEPARATE from who they are.
It’s not an ACTION, or a HABIT or an EVENT.
Winning for them is like breathing.
Here’s what sets these champions apart.
It is NOT about the applause or the award for them.
It IS about the thrill of the fight.
It IS about the love of the game.
Winning is PURE for them.
Winning isn’t a goal, it’s a responsibility to their soul.
They aren’t SEPARATE from their goals.
They are ONE with them.
And we encounter everything you encounter:
unfair critiques, betrayals, disappointments and distractions.
But we are LIT UP by direct opposition.
When defending our win…
which is our stance,
since we go into EVERYTHING assuming the win,
is — of course — ours,
we do not hear the crowd or consider the award.
It IS the thrill of the fight.
In a boxing match, this is the fighter who feels cheated — even IRRITATED — by a quick knockout. Why did they EVEN show up if they can’t give us a proper fight? We got DRESSED and drove to the arena for THIS??? This is the fighter who is fully present in every punch thrown AT them and BY them. They are also trained, right? But they rely on — and fully trust — their GUT.
I’m not sure they can be beaten, to be honest.
Can you land a punch? Sure.
But you’ll never know if they “let” you, or if you got one in on your own.
You see, we take EVERY thing and use it to our advantage. So, even when a punch is landed, it’s the slight lump on our lip.. that tinge of blood we taste after your punch, that REMINDS us that we’re alive, it reminds us of what we CAME for, it lights us up…
it prepares us for OPTIMAL performance.
So, which winner are YOU????
Which camp do you fall in?
Do you like to win?
Is winning a HABIT for you?
OR…
are you synonymous with winning? Are you ONE with your GOALS?
I have to be honest, I’m NEVER in the first set of winners. In certain situations, I’m a woman who wins because it’s what I do.. and in other — more CORE to me — areas, I’m a woman who wins because it’s who I am.
I’m curious where YOU fall, and can’t wait to read your comments.
