SUCCESS = Compete with Yourself only!

There is mis-conception in almost everyone's mind that success means competing with others. At least that is what I was taught by everyone for quite sometime. Therefore we end up comparing ourselves with others. That often leads to frustration, and self rejection. As a child many including my parents, teachers, relatives and others compared me with other kids. I was always surprised as to why they do so. Because, I have some qualities which others don't! I am not physically well built, but others are! Some have luxurious life, which I am deprived off! When there is no equality, and evenness in facilities, scenarios, and resources then does such an comparison sounds logical?

However, as I started observing, and reading about successful personalities, I am now confident that they were successful because they did not compete with others, but they compete with themselves. For instance, do you think Mahatma Gandhi would have been successful in leading India to its freedom and liberation, if he would have competed with contemporary leaders of his time? Certainly not! Because, it would have been hard for him to find leader of his stature and vision - who could dream of leading nation to freedom, and if he would have decided to compete against his peers, I am confident he would have not been successful enough as he was! But the secrete of his success is that he competed with himself, his belief, his dreams, his work ethics, his dedication to the cause, and thereby he continued to raise his bar of performance higher and higher all the time.

There are numerous examples of several legendary successful persons, who never competed with others but with themselves. Late Dhirubhai Ambani would not have raised empire called Reliance and Sachin Tendulkar would not have been loved as "master blaster" all across the globe, if they would have competed with others. Each of these individual competed with themselves only. When you compete with others you not only waste time, create uncomfortable scene around, but you also look ability to improve. Thereby when you compare and compete with others your chances of being successful individual degrade. When a spinter run the race, though it appears that he or she is competing with others, but in reality he / she is competing with himself or herself. They are actually improving their own performance compared to their last one. Therefore,

SUCCESS = Compete with yourself only!