With the start of the World Cup just hours away, I am reminded of the unrelenting competitive spirit that makes such events worth the wait (and trust me, I have been counting every single day since Germany in 2006). God-given talent can make one successful, but without that unwavering fire within the highest plateaus are unreachable. Although Michael Jordan had an amazing ensemble cast to support him, you could see the determination in his eyes to single-handedly turn his team into a basketball dynasty. Lance Armstrong had insurmountable obstacles on his path, yet his blind determination led him yet again to the greatest of success in his sport and his place in history. There are countless stories (in sports, business, life) to illustrate this point, but I digress.
Real estate is obviously a highly competitive field in which individuals are publicly recognized for their accomplishments, everything from Top 40 under 40, to Top 100, to Realtor of the Year, Inman 100, etc. But does it accurately reflect the competitiveness of the rest of Americans as a whole? I recently took my 10 year old nephew to his Tae Kwon Do tournament, in which trophies were handed out, not on the basis of merit or skills, but rather on a rotating basis (the ones who took ‘silver medals’ this time, will inevitably get ‘gold medals’ next time). Or have you been to those soccer/baseball games where they don’t keep score? Sure, every person, whether a kid or adult, wants to be acknowledged as special, a true champion. But in so doing, are we embracing mediocrity? Is there something wrong with accepting being average without unnecessary accolades? Are other competing countries (i.e. China) teaching the same values to their future leaders? Your thoughts/comments are welcomed.
