Danny Meyer (@dhmeyer), the founder of Shake Shake, recently shared an interesting perspective on the Tim Ferris (@timferriss) podcast about types of competitors. Here are the 3 kinds of competitors - and which one is the happiest:
The Professional Competitors: These are the individuals who compete purely for the sake of competition itself. Let's refer to them as "the professional competitors."
The Smashers: These competitors have the desire to compete in order to crush their opponents. We'll call them "the smashers."
The Inner Competitors: This group of competitors strives to compete with themselves, constantly aiming to improve and grow each day. Let's call them "the inner competitors."
When it comes to leading a more fulfilling life, I find it intriguing to connect these three types of competitive individuals with their ability to achieve happiness.
"The professional competitors" often struggle to truly enjoy life because their happiness is fleeting. They may experience brief moments of satisfaction when they win or outperform others, but this joy is short-lived. Their constant pursuit of competition leaves them trapped in an eternal cycle, always seeking the next challenge or opponent. It's similar to those individuals who perpetually chase material possessions, hoping to find happiness through materialism. In both cases, there is a never-ending search for fulfillment that remains elusive.
"The smashers" face difficulties in building a sense of community since they tend to view people primarily as potential competitors to be defeated. Their constant focus on surpassing others hinders their ability to form meaningful connections and cultivate a supportive network. Moreover, their disregard for the well-being and respect of others can have repercussions in the workplace, making it challenging for them to earn the respect and cooperation of their colleagues. Without a strong sense of community and positive relationships with others, these types of competitors may struggle to find lasting happiness and fulfillment.
"The inner competitors" are the ones who have grasped a valuable life lesson: our purpose is to grow and improve every day. Simply competing for the sake of competition holds no significance for them; they seek a deeper motivation. The idea of competing to crush others also holds no appeal, as they value community and recognize the power of collaboration over competition. The only path that makes sense to them is to compete with themselves, continually pushing their own boundaries, learning, and evolving. It is through this self-improvement that they find true fulfillment, reaching new levels of happiness and satisfaction in life.
So, here's the question: which type of competitor do you identify with? Now that you are aware of these different approaches, which kind of competitor do you aspire to become? By making a conscious choice, you open yourself up to experiencing unprecedented levels of joy and fulfillment.
On my end, I've embarked on a journey of giving talks and conducting trainings aimed at helping individuals in the workplace foster collaboration and unleash their inner competitive spirit. The goal is to empower them to compete with themselves, leading to heightened satisfaction, productivity, and stronger personal connections.
Trust me, you've got something special in store when you bring a Brazilian happiness researcher to your work!
Rodrigo Baena
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