I've been thinking about how frequently we demonize competitors. Here's a hard truth: 99% of the time your competitors are ethical, hard-working, good people.
When you think your competitors play dirty…ask yourself, are they actually breaking any laws? Competition is tough…deal with it.
The Psychology of Respectful Competition
In sports psychology, there's a concept called "competitive respect"—the idea that acknowledging your opponent's strengths actually improves your own performance. When athletes respect their competition, they prepare more thoroughly, stay more focused, and perform at higher levels.
The same principle applies to business. When you respect your competitors as worthy opponents rather than enemies, you approach the market with a different mindset. You study them more carefully, learn from their successes, and push yourself to innovate beyond what they're doing.
Flow State and Peak Performance
Sports psychologists talk about "flow state"—that magical zone where athletes perform at their absolute best. One key trigger for flow state is having a worthy challenge that matches your skill level. Too easy, and you get bored. Too hard, and you get anxious. But when the challenge is just right, you enter flow.
Great competitors create that perfect challenge level for you. They force you to stretch beyond your comfort zone while still being within reach of victory. This is why the toughest competition often brings out your best work.
The Toughness of Competition Benefits Your Customers
The toughness of competition is inextricably linked to benefits for your customers. If you truly want what's best for your customers, you should want tough competition.
Think about it: when competition is fierce, companies are forced to innovate faster, improve their products, and deliver better value. Your customers get better solutions, lower prices, and more choice. That's not something to fear—that's something to embrace.
Mental Models and Strategic Thinking
Elite athletes use mental models to prepare for competition. They visualize different scenarios, plan responses to various situations, and mentally rehearse their performance. This preparation gives them confidence and adaptability when the pressure is on.
In business, studying your competitors gives you similar mental models. You understand their likely moves, you've thought through your responses, and you're prepared for different market scenarios. This strategic preparation is what separates winners from also-rans.
Copy Good Ideas (Legally)
Expect your competitors to "steal" your good ideas. You should shamelessly copy their great ideas for the benefit of your customers if you aren't breaking any laws.
This isn't about being unoriginal—it's about being smart. If someone has figured out a better way to serve customers, why wouldn't you want to learn from that? The goal isn't to be different for the sake of being different; it's to be better for your customers.
Study Your Competition Like a Sports Team
I don't agree that you should never think about competition and only focus on customers. Your customers are certainly thinking about your competition. They are kind of like the audience watching a great soccer match.
I can guarantee you soccer teams study the competition before games. They analyze their opponents' strategies, identify weaknesses, and plan their approach accordingly. Why should business be any different?
Give your customers a game for the ages. Study your competition and crush them fair and square.
Adversarial Growth and Resilience
Sports psychology research shows that athletes who face strong competition develop greater resilience, mental toughness, and adaptability. They learn to perform under pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and find ways to win even when the odds are against them.
In business, strong competitors serve the same function. They force you to develop these same qualities—resilience, adaptability, and the ability to perform under pressure. Without strong competition, you might never develop these crucial business muscles.
Play to Dominate, But Stay Ethical
That doesn't mean you shouldn't also play to dominate. IMO, you should. But be grateful for great competition.
Great competitors make you better. They force you to raise your game, think more creatively, and work harder. They validate that your market is worth fighting for. Without strong competition, you might get complacent.
The Bottom Line
Competition isn't the enemy—mediocrity is. When you have strong, ethical competitors, everyone wins: you get better, your customers get better solutions, and the market gets more innovative.
So stop demonizing your competitors. Start studying them. Learn from them. Compete with them. And most importantly, use that competition to deliver something extraordinary for your customers.
That's how you win—not by hoping your competitors fail, but by making sure your customers succeed.
So give your customers a game for the ages. Study your competition and crush them fair and square.