The Weekly Word

Week Two (Competition) - November 24, 2024

Welcome to the second edition of The Weekly Word! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this journal. I greatly appreciate you! The purpose of this weekly journal is to generate a random adjective, verb, or noun. From there, I will describe this word from my own perspective and express how it has positively influenced my life. The second word generated in this series is “Competition.” According to Dictionary.com, “Competition” derives from the word “compete”, which is a verb meaning to strive to outdo another for acknowledgment, a prize, supremacy, profit, etc.; engage in a contest.

I absolutely love this word. I believe competition is the reason the world runs as efficiently as it does today. Everything around you that has grown or innovated is a derivative of competitive nature. I think there are two avenues through which someone can be a competitive individual: internal competitive nature and external competitive nature. These are two different ways to motivate an individual, but the results are the same.

Being an internal competitor could be seen as someone who constantly looks in the mirror and reflects on their own thoughts. This method can be applied to the past or the future. In the past, this approach could be viewed as a you vs. you method, comparing yourself to a previous time in your life. What are you doing now that will make you better than you were yesterday? How about last week? Last year, even? I believe that life is a constant reminder of how your competitive nature can propel you to be better than when you were compared to earlier times. How does one get reminded, you ask? Evaluations have been consistently implemented throughout my life. Some examples include testing in school, watching film in the film room with coaches, max days in the weight room, and monitoring my sales weekly. Whether you know it or not, you are constantly being judged and evaluated by something or someone. What will ensure you are trending in a positive direction? Your competitive nature! The way you approach your day and look at yourself in the mirror will either positively or negatively impact your evaluations. Embracing your competitive nature will ensure that you are constantly trending in a positive direction.

Internal competitive nature can also be viewed futuristically. I’ve always been a firm believer in having a vision. The ways to pursue that vision include having a detailed plan, sticking to that plan, and establishing small goals. I learned this technique from my Defensive Coordinator at Assumption, Coach Woody Blevins. Coach Blev did an INCREDIBLE job of putting my teammates and me in situations where we visualized ourselves making big plays just hours before kickoff. I believe this technique instilled confidence in myself and the person next to me. After college, I still find myself using this technique when pursuing my vision. I believe this technique set us apart from our opponents, putting us in opportunities to compete confidently.

The second avenue through which one could demonstrate their competitive nature is externally. This can be seen as a you vs. something else scenario. When thinking about this method, I always picture an animal and what it does to survive. What separates that animal from others and enables it to survive? The feeling of survival. That specific animal needs to compete constantly to ensure it doesn’t perish. The same mentality can be applied to any individual person. The world is constantly trying to find a way to elevate you or de-elevate you. It is your choice to figure out how you will separate yourself from your group of people and guarantee your growth. I feel that I am a very obsessive external competitor. When I want something, I make it clear to anyone in my path, and I will think about it until I achieve what I desire.

An individual competes every single day. Whether it is externally or internally, there are always factors that influence how one person decides to grow on a daily basis. Your choice is how you channel that competitive spirit and steer it towards success and positivity.