Jim's Secret Thoughts

“Competition is a sin.” - John D. Rockefeller

The unwillingness to explore alternative options creates the need for competition. As a competitor, intolerance is inevitable. You discriminate against those you regard as competitors, those who, in your opinion, have what you want. You are so focused on your opponent, new and better methods are ignored. If you treat your competitors this way, how do you think they’re treating you? Everyone wants a piece of the pie regardless of the cost. This mindset condemns the weak and timid in society. They’re viewed as indispensible and unworthy by the highly successful and competitive individuals.

When there is only one way, the path crowds with people trying to push themselves ahead of the line. A good analogy is a sale the day before Christmas. Time is limited and everyone wants the same item, so lines form and tempers flare. The moment the door opens, people push and shove to get what they want. Competition is a truly a selfish activity. The competitor wants to win and do so at the expense of all opponents. When you compete you are not thinking of the success of the others, but only of your own success. So often we want to take away from our competitor in order to gain more for ourselves. We see no other way. This comes from the mind set of limitation – there isn’t enough to go around.

In order to make profit we must also take the business away from our competitor. The story of the sale before Christmas is a simple example; a more subtle form of competition is among leadership positions. No matter the business or organization, whether it is a hospital, church, or sports team, it has a leader. Acquiring a leadership position is difficult and therefore these positions are coveted and treasured. This role brings with it an air of importance. In many instances, this new attitude changes their true self and creates a mindset of the need to protect their position. This mindset of competition creates an environment where anyone who demonstrates better qualities or has a better relationship with the staff, congregation, or team becomes a threat to the leader. This need to guard against potential threats causes the leader to treat their subordinates unkindly and with suspicion. As a result, every moment they’re fighting for their position by competing against those around them.

So it is in the interest of the leader, even if his job is to help others improve and advance, to prevent anyone else from gaining too much experience or too much influence, so as not to be a threat to the leader’s position and authority. Therefore they prevent promising individuals with productive and innovative ideas from advancing with the organization making sure they cannot break out and reach a higher level than them. They even convince them that it is a privilege to work for them. This is common tactic used to manipulate others into a false belief. In a religious setting, this is particularly dangerous.

It may not be a deliberate act to keep others in their place. But because of the competitive mind set there is the fear and thus the automatic reaction to keeping others in their place: “I am the leader, you are the follower”, “I get paid for this, you don’t”, “I know what’s best, that’s why I am the leader.” Most may not be so outwardly arrogant, but in the sub-conscious mind these thoughts linger and cause the feelings of fear of survival, thus producing the result of enforcing subordination.  These thoughts result in manipulating the people into submission. The majority of society honestly has faith in their leaders. Leaders know this and misuse their position as they rule their flock.  These leaders view themselves as deities and expect you to surrender your ego and give your devotion only to them. When this happens, you no longer control your life and your happiness is ruled by others.

This is a destructive path.  Competition suffocates creativity, love, and kindness. In fact if you display any of these gifts you are looked on with envy. Is it any wonder that some just take a defeated surrender? They live in a grey existence, caring less about their life forcing them to live on a survival basis with no hope in sight. Feelings such as Uniqueness, importance, and worthiness are buried deep within. This absence of emotions pits every one against each other. How can there possibly be peace and friendly productivity in such an environment? This attitude permeates not only the business world, but also in sports, media, and religion. Why do so many different denominations of the same religion insist on evangelizing the areas dominated by other denominations? Competition! Competition is based on a lack of love. If you win the other loses. Your profits mean the other’s loss.

Leadership does not have to be like this. A leader should be leading people on and not holding a position to keep others back. A true leader will benefit when others rise to their level or even beyond – then the leader has fulfilled part of his position. A leader who hinders advancement for fear of his position is not leading but ruling. A ruler only has subjects who obey; a leader has fellows to show the way.

- An extract from Wings of Change by Jim & Katharina Murdoch