Choose a Worthy Rival
There is a distinct difference between having an enemy and a rival.
And, each of us needs a rival. An enemy is someone who we hold hatred and hostility towards, and in some cases, we hope harm befalls them. A rival is someone (or entity) that is after similar levels of success, reward, recognition, or excellence as you. A rival is a competitor - they drive you to be your best self, put in your best effort, and keep you curious about the best strategies. Sinek (this month’s book author) posits that we need to select a rival - not just any rival - a worthy rival. A worthy rival is not someone we’re following on Instagram seemingly living their “best life”. A worthy rival is someone whose apparent strengths seem to be our weaknesses. Worthy rivals don’t make us feel insecure or incompetent. Those are feelings associated with an enemy or nemesis. A worthy rival challenges you to be crystal clear about the game you’re playing, pushes you to elevate your work, and gives you a realistic view of the opportunities ahead of you.
So, leader...who is your worthy rival? Who do you perceive as an expert in something that triggers you to reassess your approaches and reevaluate your current practices? A bit of healthy competition is good for us. It keeps us sharp and reduces complacency. And, let’s be clear - having a worthy rival is not about winning - it’s about choosing someone (or entity) worthy of measuring yourself against, worthy of being a mirror to your current state, and worthy of your respect. Without worthy rivals, we wouldn’t have the technological, medical, educational, or consumer product advances we enjoy and benefit from today. I encourage you to stop comparing yourself to others and find a worthy rival worth your choosing. And, if you need someone, I welcome the invitation to be your rival...we’ll both be better for it!
Quote for Growth
“A worthy rival is another player in the game that is worthy of comparison - that in some way, shape, or form reveals to you weaknesses you have that are opportunities for you to improve yourself.”