But modern society is not the savanna. Today, is rarely a physical threat. Yet, our bodies don’t know the difference between a sabertooth tiger and a quarterly sales report. When we see a rival company release a cheaper product or a coworker get the promotion we wanted, we feel the same visceral sting.
The race is long. In the end, you aren't competing against the person next to you. You are competing against the voice that says "give up." The Competition
Despite the potential drawbacks, competition is widely recognized as a key driver of innovation and progress. By introducing a competitive element into a market or industry, businesses are incentivized to innovate, improve their products and services, and reduce costs. This, in turn, can lead to increased customer satisfaction, improved quality, and greater efficiency. But modern society is not the savanna
Do not drive forward while staring at in the rearview mirror. If you are constantly copying their features, lowering your price to match theirs, or reacting to their press releases, you have lost the plot. True innovation is customer-centric, not competitor-centric. Steve Jobs famously ignored focus groups and rivals; he looked into the void and built what was missing. When we see a rival company release a
Psychologists call this the "Hedonic Treadmill." You see a rival buy a new car; you feel a pang of inadequacy. You work harder, buy a better car. Then, your rival buys a boat. The treadmill never stops. In this context, is not a motivator; it is a thief. It steals joy by forcing us to define success relative to others rather than relative to our past selves.
You cannot ignore The Competition , but you cannot stare at them, either. If you spend 100% of your energy trying to beat the other guy, you have 0% energy left to love your customer.