Last weekend, I was sifting through some old clothes to discard by way of donation to the LifeSpin Free Store, when I came across a pair of old dress pants. As I searched through the pockets, hoping for that golden lost twenty or fifty dollar bill, I came across an interesting item. It was an old newspaper clipping listing the “best computers stores” in the city. It was a top ten list of sorts, which didn't include the franchise store I was sales manager for back then. For whatever reason, I folded that piece of paper, and stuck it in my pocket… For days I wondered why I kept that clipping. But then it hit me and I remembered…because at that moment, I hated my competition and wanted to be on the top of that list. Finding that frail piece of paper reminded me why the store, my team and I were able to be so successful — because we hated our competition and really wanted to win.

Fast forward fifteen plus years… I think there’s a lesson here. Even today, I think that if you don’t have somebody in your organization or company that is really built or completely driven at some level by competition, that you can’t win. For me the fact that I ripped out that article and the reason that it really drove me means something. Granted at the time. we were nobodies. We were just starting out and we didn't deserve to be included in that list — and I knew it. But I recall, that not being included really drove me. Ripping out that article was purely subliminal, and said “okay (newspaper name) okay.” That is the type of thing that enabled me (us) to have the success we did at that store. Becoming the top producing franchise store in the organization and eventually becoming the go to place for custom built computers in the city.

It’s pretty unfortunate that being competitive is looked upon as a negative in our society today. Even soccer teams don’t keep score anymore and we give trophies to every player. I can respect that and I don’t want to squash or hurt anybody feelings. But I believe that if you don’t have someone in your business or organization driven by competition you can’t win! I think we have fallen behind on teaching what makes an individual successful. That inherent belief in yourself — the ability to have a vision and know you can go for it. Too many are looking over their shoulders to get a friends’ approval.

Being competitive is a trait that should and needs to be respected. It should be imprinted in your business and company. So I say, its okay to hate your competition. You can go be friends afterwards and share a beer, play on the same recreational sports teams, sit at the same table on boards for non profits and charities — but when it comes down to game time, when your in the trenches, and when it matters most for the success of your business, I think you need to want to beat (badly beat!) the competition.

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@BrianBlatnicki