As I’ve processed the deaths of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry (fixed the bad reference) this week, I realized that I used the examples of their creativity and output as inspiration for my career. Not because I could ever “compete” with them and their careers, but to use their careers as inspiration for my own.
It’s the same with Gerald M. Weinberg, my dear teacher, colleague, and mentor. I’m not (and never was) in competition with him—and I have used his career as inspiration for my own.
These people exhibit a level of mastery I aspire to. That’s why I see their careers as inspiration, not competition.
Sometimes, it’s not always clear what inspiration is, and how that differs from competition. I suspect that’s because so many of us think in scarcity, instead of abundance.
Inspiration Helps Me Consider “More”
What do you think of when you consider people with outstanding careers? I think of their output: often, their “art”—books, movies, or music that affected many people. Sometimes, it’s people who have a “smaller” footprint, but made a difference in their communities.
Then there are people like Dolly Parton, who somehow made a difference in small and large communities—and had a tremendous body of work. Yes, she inspires me to do more.
Jerry wrote over 40 books—that level of output inspires me to write more.
Even better, these people continued to add to their output when they were officially “old,” as in retirement age.
I have always felt as if retirement is something I would retire “to,” not retire “from.” I suspect that’s because all these people inspired me to continue to create “more.”
In contrast, competition feels as if someone has to lose for someone else to win. That win-lose means there’s less to go around.
Competition Feels Like Scarcity
Sometimes, we do compete. There are awards, which not everyone can receive. (I’m not talking about participation “awards.” I mean winning some kind of accolade for your work.) I’m lucky enough to have published books back when there were the Jolt awards. That means I can say I am an award-winning author. That and a few bucks will get me a cup of coffee.
However, not everyone or every book can win an award. That is a form of competition.
While inspiration often causes me to ask, “How can I increase my mastery?” competition never does. Instead, when faced with competition, my first question for myself is, “Is this worth the time I will invest to try to win this competition?”
Often, the answer is a resounding No. (You are not surprised!)
That’s because competition is a closed, finite game. In contrast, inspiration is an open, ever-expanding infinite game.
I would much rather play an infinite game. Infinite games allow me to increase my mastery, and might do some good for all of my various communities.
I hope you can also tell the difference between inspiration and competition in your life. Maybe you, too, can use that inspiration to increase your mastery.