Issue 017: Can Competition Be Good?
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“A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace.”
– Ovid
Competition. That one word causes many reactions. If you’ve had a positive competitive experience in the past, you’ll remember the excitement. If it wasn’t a good one, you’re probably groaning. Either way, a new challenge could be good for you.
Last week my colleague Nancy initiated a competition. Between cancelled trainings and book events, Nancy felt stuck, unmotivated, and needed some momentum. Most of us have felt this way at least once during the past five-plus months, right? With specific rules and three trainers/speakers whose books launched during the pandemic, the two-hour “Get the Best Amazon Ranking Competition” kicked off. (I said, yes.) As our books were in different categories, we weren’t competing against one another.
The book competition reminded me of a national contest from my sales days. What I loved about that prior contest—everyone could win a big screen TV if they outperformed their highest sales numbers. I was all in. So was my closest colleague Thom. He wanted the big screen TV. I wanted a new laptop I could buy with the electronics gift card. There was also that inner competitive streak. Could I sell eight custom homes in a month? Picture this…my monthly quota was three and my office was a storefront in a strip plaza next to a coffee shop and jewelry store because we were an on-your-site builder. Add to it, my location didn’t have a model home to show or any customer incentives to offer.
What is it about healthy contests that motivate people? I always thought my “competitive nature” came from having three brothers who constantly challenged me. Well, from my research, it does, and it doesn’t.
In a competition, there’s always a colleague or friend who is motivated. We don’t have to motivate ourselves because that person motivates us and it’s easier to join in.
The competition motivates us to improve our performance, especially healthy competitions where we are competing against our best. We want to “up our game.”
The opportunity to win influences our actions. A 2009 study reports “Winning a competition triggers the reward centers in your brain and produces a rush of dopamine (the feel-good hormone).” If you’ve experienced it before, you want to experience it again, which makes you say, “I’m in.”
Back to the book competition—what a whirlwind day. The contest spurred each of us into action, we improved our Amazon rankings, and it sparked Nancy’s momentum. What was more intriguing—how our colleagues and friends responded. They loved the idea, shared it to their social platforms, and cheered us on, becoming part of the experience.
YOUR MOMENTUM QUESTIONS
Is there an area you need some motivation?
How could you create a healthy challenge/contest to jumpstart motivation?
Who would you invite to join a competition to improve performance?
SOLD OUT – 5 Ways to Rejection Proof Your Sales Workshop
The August 5 Ways to Rejection Proof Your Sales Workshop has sold out. A company bought the day’s worth. Another workshop will be planned for September.
Until next time, have a Bounce-Up™ day!
Mj
