HOLISTIC - Focus on yourself

The only way to beat the competition is to stop trying to beat the competition.

.

Trying to beat the competition is one of the biggest mistakes teams, athletes, and coaches make. They’d do far better to focus on the process of performance, which is quite different.

When you focus on defeating an opponent, you’re focusing on something largely outside your control. This creates tension, pulls your attention into the future, and often takes you out of the present moment. 

In order to achieve the goal, we must stay fixed on the process of achieving the goal.

Jim Collins, bestselling author of Good to Great and Built to Last, listed twelve myths regarding great companies. Myth number one: “The most successful companies focus primarily on beating the competition.” 

The reality, Collins says, is that:“Visionary companies focus primarily on beating themselves.”

The same is true in sport, business, and life. The highest performers don’t obsess over outcomes. They focus on what they can control:

Actions – The behaviours, habits, effort, preparation, and execution required today.

Decisions – The choices made under pressure. What to focus on, what to ignore, and what standards to uphold.

Perception – The meaning we give events. Is this a setback or feedback? A threat or an opportunity to learn and adapt?

The competition may influence the result. But your actions, decisions, and perception influence your performance. And performance is where your greatest leverage exists.