"Please Show Me my Opponent": Where's My Competition?

One day I was in the office, and me and a few of my former coworkers were talking about our futures and what not. One coworker said that she didn't want to move to a certain city because of "all the competition". I looked at her and said, "So? Are you not competition yourself?"


You can't be so focused on the "competition" that you begin to doubt yourself and your abilities. What are you scared of?! If anything, let competition motivate you. You and only you know what you are and are not capable of! No one should ever make you doubt your ability. I wouldn't care if you were about to go head to head in a dance competition with Beyonce! If you know you're a dancer, you just better get up there and wave that hand from side to side, pop lock, and do whatever it is that you do! You should be so confident in your ability that you're not even fazed! Yeah, she may be Beyonce, but you're YOU!  Tell  her she better ask somebody! You can't be so intimidated by others that you freeze up and back down! If that's the case, you'll be backing out of everything life throws at you. We live in a competitve world! That's just how it is, and if you don't see yourself as being able to compete with others, then you may want to pursue a career that's less competitive, like a cattle herder or something.

That's why I have much respect for Michael Jordan. Some would say that he is as cocky as they come, but honestly, he just knew what he was capable of. He knew that he was great! Whenever he stepped on the court, he was never worried about who his opponents were because he knew that his opponents would remember the day they played him! The only person he was trying to be better than was himself. He was so focused on the game that he didn't see competition. That's what you should be focused on! PERFECT your craft, whatever it is that you're great at. You don't have time to be worried about what Betty Lou or Luther Joe is over there doing.  Do what you have to do to become better. If that means putting a few extra hours in at the gym, do it. If that means missing out on a few nights of tequila and beer with friends, so what! Tequila probably put you on your butt last time anyway! You need a break! Forget the competition, focus on YOU! There's already on Jay-Z; there won't be another. There's already one Oprah; there won't be another. There's already one Michael Jordan; there won't be another. Sorry to tell you that, but it's true! BUT who's to say that you can't be just as good or even greater! It's solely up to you because your competition cant stop you. The only one who can stop you is you! So, what are you going to do?