Compete with yourself

Competition is part of career life. We compete often with others for jobs, for awards, etc. But the one competition that should be on-going is to compete with yourself. Because it helps you to improve your self awareness, to raise your standards and to bring out the best in yourself.

ENVISION YOUR IDEAL SELF: Whether you are stating from a ‘low base’ or from stardom, there’s more you can achieve and become. So competing against yourself should not be permission to go live in a ‘bubble’ and assume that whatever you do is ok. Your ideal self is working towards your full potential. If you don’t yet have a success circle, create one and let them help you.

GO FOR THE HIGHEST STANDARD: If you’re looking to become successful ‘good enough’ is not good enough. Too many excuses will hold you back. Put the vision of your ‘ideal self’ and the highest standards side by side and work out a plan for how you’ll get from where you are to attaining those high standards. It’ll require great discipline and diligence from you. But of you can do it.

ALWAYS STAY PREPARED: There’s a lot one can plan for but opportunity can show up early or unannounced and it helps to be prepared. That job you want suddenly becomes available, or a new exciting project comes up that needs a leader?. You can’t prepare for every thing so know what you are aspiring for so that you can map your preparedness plan and compete well.

FOCUS ON YOUR NATURAL STRENGTHS: The best you can be in an area you are not strong in is ‘average’, So focus on your strengths, honing them, leveraging them and using them to propel yourself forward. When you succeed with your strengths you know you can do even better and with less effort. So if you don’t know yet what you’re good out, figure it out quickly.

Now take action: What is your key strength? How are you honing it further?