Competition: A Principle of Success

Why are some IPCs Diamond Pearls and others Jades or Corals? Why does it seem some just have all the luck? And is it luck, or is there something more at work? There are certain things top IPCs do that increase their probability for success. In fact, these principles are not unique to our industry; successful people and companies use them all the time. One of these principles is the ability to see competition as a positive force.


Competition in Athletics

When we think of competition, we often picture athletes. Competitors in athletics could be your opponent, yourself, past records, etc. The competition is what drives the athlete to become better at what they do. For example, Tiger Woods’s goal is to better his previous score, win the U.S. Open or the Masters, or become the winningest player to ever pick up a driver. These goals, however far-fetched they may seem to the common person, drive Tiger to hone his swing and his putt until he can guarantee 100% accuracy with every drive. The pursuit is long and arduous, but the successes along the way encourage him to keep going.


Competition in Business

We see the same thing with companies. The “Cola Wars” is probably the most famous example you can find of corporate competition. The rivalry between Coke and Pepsi forces each of them to become better and look for more opportunities.

Recently we’ve seen this again in the gaming industry. Nintendo had to find a way to compete with X-box and PlayStation. Competition was intense. Both Sony and Microsoft lose money with every gaming console sold in hopes of recouping their investment on expensive games. Nintendo didn’t have the resources nor the desire to compete in that type of market. Rather, they decided to include everyone in their target market, so they made their machine easier for everyone to use. They called their product the Wii. The result? You now have to get yourself on a waiting list to even buy their product. Competition drove Nintendo to create the Wii.


Competition in Your Group

Competition sometimes sounds rough, but it creates activity and efficiency. We need to look at our teams and find out what sort of competition we can incorporate to inspire effective activity. Don’t pit members of your organization against each other—this creates internal strife. Rather, find outside competition (i.e. another group, a title, a bonus, a record set by someone else) and unite your team behind it. As you work together, you will collectively find solutions to take you closer to your goal, you will become more effective, and you will gain momentum in your organization like you’ve never before experienced.