跟孩子談競爭

昨天吃完飯跟孩子們談了一下如何看競爭。

Dad usually don't have too much time to discuss with you about life. Today I want to make a little discussion about competition. 

In your school, it's a nice environment, the school tries to make everybody happy and doesn't emphasize on academic competiton. For example, at graduation, there is no number one or number two who receive awards as some other schools do.

So I am afraid you might have an adverse atitude toward the concept of  competition.

If you do that, I want you to change that.

Competition is good, when you get out of school and to the society, it's all about competition. Don't be afraid of other people that compete with you. You are all pretty smart kids. On the other hand, don't be shy to compete with other people. By competition you win precious resources, either a good college education, a good job, or money from an investor, that you will better use than the other guy you beat, to create value for the society. 

There are three stages of competition.

The first is just winning: I beat you! That makes you feel good, and the other guy feels bad... That's kiddy stuff. At your age, you got to be beyong that.

The second stage, you win, you know you have attained a higher level than previously you did. And from that point on, you work towards a further goal. You lose, you look at the guy who beats you to see what you can learn from him. Win or lose, that's not the end, but the beginning for another competition, each step you try to improve.

The third stage, which may be a little difficult for you to comprehend. You look beyond yourself when getting into a competition. The goal is for everybody to improve. Say you are in a team, be good yourself is not enough, you need to use your skill to help the others to make the whole team to function better.

So keep it in mind, competition is not a bad word.