The Dash to Victory is Not a Dash, Per Se!
If you are amidst competition in your field, you have to stay on top of what you aspire to achieve. And, when the path to the destination is a long drawn one, it is not advisable to spend your energy before it is absolutely necessary.
While competing at the highest level, the resolve of all competitors is equally top-notch. What matters at this level, is the judicious use and timely exposure/disclosure of one’s resources or faculties. It is akin to preserving one’s winning hand until the very end.
Let us take the example of a 5000 metre track event in a competitive setting. In most cases, one who wins in the end does not start off as a leader in the race. Victories by leaders who lead in a race from start to end are either very few and far-between, or are characterized by weak or no competition.
In majority of the cases, the ultimate winner is not so obvious to the observers. Does that mean that an underdog has a better chance to win? No, not exactly. Rather, it indicates that a lot more goes into ensuring a winning performance in a competition than meets the eye.
To better understand this phenomenon, let us analyze the 5000 metre event. It is a very challenging event in athletics both in terms of distance as well as the intensity of sustained effort that needs to be packed into it.
Closely watch how seasoned professionals run this race. A champion’s approach is somewhat similar to the following: -
Phase 1 - Initial assertion: A champion starts strong so that he/she forms the leading pack. Also, when the champion breaks away from the crowd early in the race, it ensures that he/she does not have to get bogged down by inhibiting factors that result in loss of momentum at the very start. These are generally experienced as elbow-pushing and toe-stepping manoeuvres that tend to waste a lot of time and energy of those who subject themselves to this ordeal.
Phase 2 - Gauge the competition:
Phase 3 - Finish strong:
Now, if you liken a champion’s approach to how you should be approaching a competitive scenario, you would realize that the execution of 3 phases above needs a lot of preparation and homework. Please do not shy away from preparing yourself, or else, you may not find yourself lasting long enough in the leading pack.
At this moment, I feel the imperative need to acknowledge that this is not the only approach that guarantees success in the end.
Last, but not the least, here are some principles you must consider before you subconsciously saddle yourself with all undertakings as competitive activities: -
- Know that competition applies to only those scenarios where more than one participants fight/compete to achieve a single common objective. A company offering similar product/service as yours is not your competitor if it operates outside the area of interest of your company.
Not all development/improvement efforts should be treated as a race. Like, do not compete with your team-mates while working as a team.
Irrespective of the state of your preparation, do not underestimate your competitors as they may have prepared equally well.
Apart from planning, preparation and a systematic approach, tenacity helps.
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