Healthy Competition

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” -Teddy Roosevelt

The best athlete
wants his opponent at his best.
The best general
enters the mind of his enemy.
The best businessman
serves the communal good.
The best leader
follows the will of the people. All of them embody
the virtue of non-competition.
Not that they don’t love to compete,
but they do it in the spirit of play.
In this they are like children
and in harmony with the Tao. -“Tao Te Ching” by Lao-Tzu (translated by Stephen Mitchell)

“Art is about the maker. Its aim: to be the expression of who we are. This makes competition absurd. You are creating the work that best represents you. Another artist is making the work that best represents them. The two cannot be measured against one another. Art relates to the artist making it, and the unique contribution they are bringing to the culture…Being made happy by someone else’s best work, and then letting it inspire you to rise to the occasion, is not competition. It’s collaboration…Great art is an invitation, calling to creators everywhere to strive for still higher and deeper levels.” Rick Rubin: The Creative Act: A Way Of Being

“If I ever do anything in my life, I’m going to make that good an album. I was so happy to hear it that I went and started writing ‘God Only Knows.’ ” -Brian Wilson on The Beatles Rubber Soul

“God Only Knows’ is the best song ever written.” -Paul McCartney.

“Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper never would have happened.” -Beatles producer George Martin

A healthy sense of competition (or really “collaboration” per Rick Rubin in the quote above) should invite, inspire and energize you. It should fill you with joy at what’s possible. Ala The Beach Boys and The Beatles going back and forth on making two of the greatest albums of all time.

An unhealthy sense of competition just leaves you feeling depressed, enervated and at worst, envious.

You’ll know which kind you have by how you feel and if you’re moved to take action.