Friday, Feb. 19, 2010

It is the season of competition.

On television, teams from all around the world have come together in the snow and as it happens rain and fog covered setting of Vancouver to compete in the Winter Olympic Games.

On the ice, downhill and around the track, these athletes embody the art of competition in their mastery of skill – and millions of people watch with great anticipation to find out who has trained hard and trained harder, who has practiced and practiced harder, who has fought against weaknesses or inconveniences to be the best at their respective sport.
What is most exciting to watch is what follows the best.

As winners stand on their podiums, bow to receive their medals, the question that quickly comes to mind is who will be the face of the next winner? Who will come back to the games some years later and be the face of the next champion.

Once we name the best – who will be better?

In March, the world’s best actors, best filmmakers and best writers will compete for a golden statue coveted in the industry of film when the Academy Awards hands out its prizes.

When the winners are announced, they will almost immediately win the respect of their peers though it’s safe to say not all, of course, still they will be heralded as strong competitors when it comes to the silver screen.

After the parties have died down, the winners sound asleep in the Hollywood Hills, the next morning will come along with an air of possibility. What will their next big project be? How will they push their limits, stretch their acting, writing or directing chops?
What will the next challenge bring?

Competition is a much talked about subject in the world of business. At the federal level, many at the nation’s capital are wondering just how to foster competition among various industries to bolster the economy.

Here in Michigan, House Republicans released their plan to revive the state’s current economic situation and fuel a new sense of competition among business owners, prospective businesses and even workers themselves.

Whether or not their proposed methods will work, is yet to be determined – but one thing is certain – competition is needed in business especially to fuel not only commerce but also creativity.

When we reach the top, are adorned with the gold medal, the only exhilaration yet to come is the next up and comer, testing our abilities, testing our endurance and testing our wits – forcing us to compete for our own glory.

Without a good, strong competitor to keep businesses searching for ways to improve, to keep industries pushing toward excellence in varying aspects, to keep students pushing for better education, society as a whole would be left without.

Left on the cutting room floor.

Or at the bottom of the hill.

As we continue in the long haul to economic recovery, we encourage those who feel our businesses and even our legislators are not headed in the right direction – to enter the arena.

Success needs a strong competitor just itching to take away the gold.