Why Competing Like Everyone Else Is a Path to Mediocrity

A mid-sized technology company, once a favorite of industry insiders, found itself obsessed with beating its two main rivals. Weekly meetings echoed with references to 'outselling X' or 'outperforming Y.' Product teams burned out chasing tiny feature victories. At reviews, employees began copying methods and even branding from competitors. Costs went up, and morale fell. Meanwhile, a less heralded startup quietly stopped watching what others did. They poured energy instead into a small but dedicated user group, building exactly what those users wanted—something no rival addressed. Over a year, the startup’s loyal community grew. When the larger firms hit a financial bump, the startup’s unique focus stood out. Eventually, they captured the market’s most valuable users. Behavioral science calls this the danger of 'zero-sum thinking'—the belief that you win only if others lose. Studies show that, over time, true differentiation and creating 'value monopolies' (offering something no one else does) lead to higher satisfaction, profitability, and resilience than competing in crowded markets.

Take a moment to write out the places in your life where you get caught battling for the same approval, prizes, or recognition as everyone else. Then, pick just one—maybe a club at school or a routine work assignment—and actually brainstorm how you might stand apart, not just win by a little. Try stepping away from those draining, sameness-focused contests, and use that freed energy to invest in an original project or skill that genuinely excites you. The sense of relief and progress when you break out of endless competition is real—why not give yourself that freedom this week?