Definition of Competition

From Merriam-Webster, competition:

The act of competing; rivalry for supremacy, a price, etc.: The competition between the two teams was bitter.
Ecology. The struggle among organisms, both of the same and of different species, for food, space, and other vital requirements. The antonyms of competition vary by its context:
In conflicts, it is peace.
In politics, it is communism.
In opposition, it is harmony.

Notice that collaboration and cooperation are not opposites of competition. Two themes must remain central to any discussion or application of competition. Competition is first and foremost a method of self-improvement. Second, competition is the mother of all creation. It is irrational to believe in evolution and not competition. They are inextricably linked.

Imagine the cooperation and planning to get here

Competition is inherent in all living organisms. To attempt to ignore or negate it or otherwise extinguish it through conditioning is statist, psychologically unhealthy and denies the inherent contribution of a healthy self-ego. Often maligners of competition are merely citing examples of its misapplication.

Sharing, another powerful skill, is also misapplied often with potentially scarring consequence. Sharing without self-preservation or advancement can engender frustration, anger, self-denial, or self-immolation and martyr complexes. These self-defeating life stories are taught by denying the legitimacy of the ego. Shall we denigrate sharing because it is not taught correctly? It is much more common to meet people with great ideas who are afraid to speak up, than it is to meet people who speak up without ideas.

Because competition implies measurement, it is also maligned by mistaken conclusions about its results or feedback. Misapplied scorecards are no reason to denigrate the race or the football game. These series of articles postulate that competition is an inherent trait of all organisms with necessary and beneficial rewards. A more intimate understanding of competition would result in its more universal application in society, rather than its suppression.

Collaboration and self-awareness

Competition at its best produces healthy self-awareness and emotionally balanced self-promotion. Competition teaches collaboration devoid of childish pettiness at one extreme and over extended egos at the other. Competition is first and foremost an effort in self-actualization; a competition with oneself. This is true regardless of its stage or forum. If one competes well and to their potential, there is no shame in a loss.

Multi-dimensionality of competition

There are four aspects to being human; spirit, intellect, emotion and physicality. The challenge and inherent benefit of competition is that it holistically addresses all four, and challenges an active synergy of them. All competitions address all four aspects.

A great percentage of sports training time focuses on the development of emotional and intellectual states as opposed to physical conditioning. In the same way, many organizations are struggling not for lack of intellect, but because they are ignoring the body (organization) and spirit.

Evolution and creativity

In nature, creativity is adaptability and evolution. Creativity or evolution by its nature implies the birth of the new, replacing the old which dies. So it is in life. Artists break through to new heights by leaving something behind. New technology replaces the old. Shall we have protected the workers in typewriter factories? Death is part of creation.

Competition begets evolution, creation and innovation. There is no other way. It is only in life and death struggles that there truly is a loser. Learning to compete well reduces the chances of losing in such circumstances.

Organizations can be said to fail or lose when they go bankrupt. As an organism, they are subject to life and death struggles. This occurrence has been called creative destruction, although adding the word ‘destruction’ is redundant and implies an incomplete understanding of creativity. Organizations in theory could last forever. In reality they do not, to the extent their bureaucracies do not adapt and continue to create.