It’s common knowledge that competitiveness leads to success.
Some of the most accomplished people of our time like Steve Jobs were known for being hyper-competitive perfectionists.
Ambitious people go far in life because they’re always trying to be the best version of themselves. They don’t accept failure and have the level of motivation necessary to achieve their goals.
To encourage you to embrace your competitive streak, here are four reasons why being driven leads to a better life.
4 Ways Competitiveness Leads to Success
Competitiveness Leads to Growth
We’ve all heard the phrase “comparison is the thief of joy.”
Comparing yourself to others can be demotivating because no matter how successful you are, there will always be someone who is doing better than you.
But competitiveness leads to success when you stop comparing yourself to others and start competing against yourself.
You can ensure that you’re always growing by trying to make progress compared to where you were a year ago. When you see how far you’ve come by focusing on self-improvement, you’ll be motivated to continue advancing your skills.
Competitive People Allow Failure to Fuel Them
Success takes time, persistence, and a whole lot of failure.
JK Rowling lived on welfare and received thousands of rejection letters before Harry Potter became one of the most popular book series ever.
Oprah experienced harassment as a news anchor and even got fired before getting her own talk show and inspiring millions.
Michael Bloomberg and Mark Cuban were both let go from their jobs before launching super successful business ventures on their own.
Competitive people like Oprah and Mark Cuban use setbacks as fuel. They don’t give up when things don’t work out the way they planned because losing isn’t an option for them.
If you see failure as an opportunity to grow and do better next time, you’re more likely to achieve your goals.
Competition Increases Creativity
If you’re a competitive person, you may actually be more creative.
A recent study showed that competition from other freelancers motivated graphic designers to come up with more creative logo ideas for clients. When they had no competition, their ideas became less innovative because they had less incentive to think outside the box.
Competitive people always feel pressure to succeed and be the best, which may lead them to come up with more creative ideas than their peers. This tendency to innovate can help them accomplish more in their careers and lives.
Competition Improves Romantic Relationships
Competitiveness leads to success in your career, and can even improve your romantic relationships.
Studies have shown that a little friendly competition can increase the amount of passion you feel for your partner, especially if you’ve been together for a long time. Something as simple as playing tennis together can put the spark back in your relationship.
The trick is to prevent things from getting mean-spirited. If you gloat or make your partner feel bad when you win, it can damage your bond.
This competitive spirit can also help you achieve bigger goals together. If you and your partner motivate each other to succeed, you’ll go further in your careers and lives.
Being an ambitious, driven person means that you’re always striving to be the best. This strong desire to improve will help you be more successful in both your career and personal life.
Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.