I was a big Larry Bird fan as a kid and I loved watching him play. He had a magic stroke to his three-pointer and was able to take over a game at will.
A lot of what was unseen was how much work he put in. He spent hours in the gym alone working on his game.
He was driven by the fact that someone out there was working harder than him. Even though he could not see them, he did not want someone to be outworking him.
His nemesis became Magic Johnson over the years and they changed the game of basketball to become an intense and respectful rivalry.
Often times, it’s easy to pull our foot off the gas pedal of life and work. However, like Bird, we all have an unseen competitor that is working harder than us right now.
For me, that motivates me greatly. I don’t want to just drift through a day or put out mediocre work.
No, for me, I want to compete. I welcome competition to help me push myself. The work itself becomes part of my craft. I enjoy making people happy with the fruits of my labor and if a competitor helps me raise my game, then it brings value to everyone all around.
Someone out there is working harder than you for sure. That thought can be daily fuel to put in your time and bring the best work you can to the world. Don’t let up. Your competition doesn’t sleep.
