16. Competition is Stressful, but there is no Other Choice
Competition is stressful. Can you imagine a business or an individual having to prove himself again and again?
The United States economy is the richest, and stressful economy because it fosters competition. Many people complain about it but there is no other way. Oh there is. There is always the short cut way of asking government to choose sides, and choose the winner. Indeed, this is playing out in all areas of the world. But everytime the winner wins because of government regulation rather than free competition, we all lose. We end up with products that are more costly, or less than the best.
Every week, four hundred thousand Americans lose their jobs, and another 600,000 change or leave their jobs voluntarily. ON the other hand, about a million or so find new jobs. How stressed is that?
This is the 21st century malady. Competition brings out the best in us. Unfortunately in an effort to get winners, there will be losers. Can you imagine if the Olympics, or the American idol ( or the Philippine elections for that matter) was rigged, and not the best wins? Would you still be interested to watch it?
We have to welcome change, and maybe what separates the winner is the willingness to change, and to accept change.
In a recent survey of executives from the United states and Europe, businessmen were asked: “ What is the opposite of change? The Americans mostly answer: stagnation. The European answer: stability.
What’s your take? I guess our ability to change, and to continue to compete will determine how high we will be able to go.
May 19th, 2010 at 3:09 am
Yes, competition also forces one to be more efficient to enable you to survive, and efficiency leads to better productivity. And as you have mentioned earlier, its productivity that improves the standard of living.
May 21st, 2010 at 9:10 am
we have no choice. we must compete.
June 2nd, 2010 at 12:22 pm
yes competition is stressful. And it will certainly contribute to illness, that will surely make life wonderful. If you realize that, commonsense dictates that you must avoid it.
If you think you have no other choice then by all means embrace it.
July 5th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Competition is not a simple black and white issue of whether we are for or against change. We need to factor in readiness or preparedness to compete at the very least. In many of our basic commodities or products our local producers or manufacturers will easily be vanquished with the entry of foreign competition. As it is they are already struggling. With a stronger and more established competitor it would be like signing a death wish for them. We have to build them up enough for them to stand on their own and be able to compete. Just imagine yourself just starting your own sari-sari business from money borrowed from a strict lender. This will be your main source of livelihood; each centavo or peso earned will go largely to food and bills to sustain your family. A certain percentage of the income should go back to buying new inventory to sustain the business. Since you are just starting you cannot buy yet from wholesalers who require large bulk purchases so you are tied to buying from bigger retailers so your profit margin is slim. Then here comes your neighbor from across the road with the big house. They decide to also put up a sari-sari store but they can offer lower prices, better assortment etc. No way will your customers prefer your store from this very tempting competition. In this example, we all know who will come out victorious. But if the small sari-sari store was given a similar credit line from the wholesaler or if their family suddenly have another source of income and they would not depend wholly on their store alone, then maybe they can have more elbow room to compete in a healthy way. So for #16 I think we have a choice and we must exercise that choice so we can protect our own people and prepare them for bigger challenges. Proper timing and phasing is of the essence. Otherwise the next scene we will see is the mother and father of that family with the small store begging to be employed by their neighbor with the bigger store or risk not being able to provide for their family’s most basic needs.
July 7th, 2010 at 6:48 am
i agree, competition is everywhere nowadays but without competition people tend to just relax. but with competition, people are more eager.
if you will ask me, “what is the opposite of change?” i’ll answer STAGNATION. i agree with the Americans but it doesnt mean i disagree with the Europeans. maybe for them, it is Stability because they already have a strong country. But for Philippines, it will be STAGNATION. Stagnant on being mediocre.
Change is the only constant thing in this world. Change makes a country powerful but it may also weaken it.