Competing with yourself

I’m not a big fan of competition.

For many people, the race to the finish line is irresistible. No matter the game, something drives them to seek nothing less than first place.

The idea of first place doesn’t motivate me. Whether I place first or 31st, it feels about the same. I don’t have any particular elation when winning, so it’s extremely hard to justify putting in more effort for the same result.

There is one form of competition that excites me, however. It’s competition with myself.

For example, if I want to get better at photography, I’ll compete intensely—with myself. Today, I’ll take photos, but tomorrow, I’ll think hard about what’s good and bad about my photos from yesterday, I’ll seek advice on how to improve them, and I will keep that all in mind when taking new photos.

If I’m playing a sport, or running a business—something where I’m competing with others—I’m more focused on how my own performance compares to my performance the previous time. That motivation may cause me to succeed against the competition, but it’s not necessary. Even if by some external score I have lost horribly, I might feel immensely satisfied that I’m winning against my former self. Likewise, if I’m winning by the external score, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m winning internally.

Neither form of competition is inherently better, just different. Some people like one, and some people like the other.

Reflect on which type of competition you thrive in. It could be a mix of both. Once you know, you’ll be able to seek environments where you feel driven to succeed.