Friendly Competition

Is there a such thing as a friendly competition? Can you really see yourself being friends with someone or loved by someone you know either wants what you have, defensive on how you look or will do anything to get one up on you?

Research shows competition is healthy for an individuals way of life. It will keep you on your toes and innovative, but when you add people you care for in the mix things can get messy.

LOVERS AND FRIENDS

Ever been in a relationship with someone that was jealous of you? A person can be jealous or hate you for the way others love you. You could do absolutely nothing wrong to them and if they see your circle loving you in a way they are not familiar, there is a problem within the two of you . Secret hate. You are trying to love them and they are trying to figure out what you are doing to make others love you the way that they do. And ways to be better than you or look better than you so they can get what you have. It is not just with love either. Your friend, boyfriend, girlfriend or fiancé could be secretly jealous of your success as well. My grandma always use to tell me, "Watch the company you keep", and if you have to keep looking over your shoulder throw the company in the trash. Immediately.

BUSINESS PARTNERS AND MENTORS

A dedicated business person will know that having a partner (if not silent) is risky business. Say you and a family member start a business. No two people have the same way of thinking. You may want to go left and they want to go right. If that happens the business can be at a stand still or dissolve all together. You also may get more recognition out of the business and they become jealous and start sabotaging. Now a lot of time, sacrifice or money have been thrown out of the window. I would suggest going at any business idea alone. If money is the reason you need a partner make them a silent one or just get investors.

In the book The 48 Laws of Power, Law 1 states to "Never outshine your master". Could you categorize mentors with masters? I mean you do see something in them that you want in yourself or for yourself. Although, If you do too much, they may become scared or insecure. Then it could be you versus them. When it was suppose to be y'all versus them. You could have outshined them unknowingly and now its world war III within your support group. You could definitely go to war since you have outshined them and end the war all together. Furthermore, If you have a smart mentor, they will not teach you everything they know and probably will beat you at your own game after awhile. The saying goes, those who can do and those that cant teach. If they have been teaching you great life lessons for a long period of time let them continue just to keep the student/teacher relationship alive and do you outside of them.

So can you have a genuine friendship with someone who is competing with you. And can you keep someone in your life that you outshined. Let me know in the comments below.

Something good to remember: Plates are man made, make a plate and eat...even if it is a to-go plate.