“Escape the competition through authenticity.”
// Naval Ravikant
No one can beat you at being yourself.
We often fall into the comparison trap of trying to compete at things that we don’t truly want or that we feel we should do.
We become trapped in a game that we don’t want to play in.
This happens in individual and organisational contexts.
Businesses who decide to do things their way, rather than try to compete with others in their industry, are the one’s who will end up beating the competition. They will transcend the competition because they’re playing a different game.
They implement a strategy based on serving customers their way, rather than engaging in a war on price or efficiency. They are unique in how they deliver value. It’s aligned with their values and identity.
Many successful businesses are considered “change-makers” or “innovators” when all they’ve decided to do is just be themselves. They don’t pretend to be something they’re not. They’ve decided to play a game where the only participants are themselves and their customers.
They consider it as less of a game and more of a journey.
On an individual level, we need to be authentically us. Stay true to who you are and what you want. You will attract people through your genuine pursuit.
As a bonus, there is also more utility in doing things you’re passionate about. You will become remarkably good at these things which will make you more resilient to adversity and you’ll have developed capabilities that are transferrable to other exploits.
Imagine if we put as much energy into being ourselves as we did worrying about what everyone else is doing..?
Simon G. Cooper 