Are you my competition?

In 1971, my parents bought me a desk. It was not the usual desk parents buy for kids; it was a quality piece of furniture. This piece of furniture saw me though many years of school, including a couple of college degrees. It was my home office for almost as long as I can remember. After thirty some odd years, I acquired a new desk (in case you are wondering the old desk is still in my house only now used by my spouse). What I discovered when I was ‘moving out of my desk’ was that I am a saver. I found cute note pads from many years ago. I never used them, I didn’t want to use them up because when you use them up, they’re gone.

How many of us have this same mentality in life. We want to hold on to what we have rather than believing that there is always enough. In his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey, talks about an “attitude of plenty.” About believing that there is plenty of everything for everybody, and the success of another in no way diminishes us.  It is often difficult as humans to believe that the successes of another cannot diminish our accomplishments.

Stephan Schiffman, in his book Make It Happen Before Lunch says “…Dwell in possibility – there is always a door somewhere waiting to be opened.” If you spend time always peering over your shoulder to see what the other guy is doing you will miss the doors open before you. Celebrate the successes of others with full faith and confidence that there is enough in the world for everyone.