not teaching,
still THINKING …
Competition can be a good thing when it leads to a person looking inward and assessing personal philosophies.
That’s one reason we encourage having a credo — a practical way to consider what guides you when you make decisions. A credo is a way to check in with yourself during times of crisis, doubt or worry.
Competition can trigger such feelings. But instead of comparing yourself to others in a harmful way, make it a practice to learn from others. Here are some simple tips:
- Get to know others’ websites, blogs, podcasts and publications because each one has a distinct personality
- Read others’ mission statements
- Routinely check out others’ “About Us” information
The result? The more you know about others, the better you can adapt that knowledge to your own thinking. Compare and contrast. This practice can be positive reinforcement for what you already do and how you already think; it also can be a cue for change.
(These two profs are no longer teaching at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, but we are still thinking.)