Welcome your competition

I was proud of Tiger Woods and disappointed in the PGA.
Tiger was in a duel Sunday at the World Championship in Ohio.
Professional tournament golf has to be a pressure cooker.
Not only money but your reputation is at stake with every stroke.
A PGA official tried to hurry the players in their final shots.
This rattled his competitor, Padraig Harrington. He hurried his shots.
That was a disastrous decision. Padraig fell four strokes behind.
Tiger remained calm. He won $1.4 million. Yes, $1.4 million.
He then complained about the official — but not for himself.
He thought it was wrong to hurry Padraig Harrington.
Tiger welcomed the competition. He knew it made him better.
He wanted his competition to have a fair chance to win.
The PGA fined him. They should have given him a medal.
You’re probably not the only lawyer, doctor or shoe store in town.
You’ve got competition and maybe it’s — shudder — Wal-Mart.
Welcome the competition. That’s right. Welcome it.
Competition will make you better. You’ll try harder.
‘Jerry, are you nuts,’ you’re thinking. ‘Wal-Mart can eat my lunch.’
Wal-Mart might eat your lunch, if you let them.
Find ways to compete. Find your niche. Out-perform Wal-Mart.
It’s the only way to develop loyal clients who love you.
Lack of competition may make you smug, lazy, arrogant.
If you’re the only game in town, I’ll bet you aren’t competitive.
I’ll bet you aren’t customer focused. I’ll bet you’re self-satisfied.
Competition makes our country the best in the world.
Be the leader. Make your competition work harder.
Believe me, you’ll both be better for it.
For more on leadership and competing, please click here.