The 2 Types of Competition — Vox Audita Solutions, Inc.
The 2 Types of Competition

The 2 Types of Competition

My mother was always against competition. A part of me grew up thinking this was normal. Another part of me didn’t understand what was so bad about being competitive. As I grew up, I’ve learned that there are two distinct types of competitive behavior. Both are valuable for different reasons, both as a participant and as an observer.

Negative Competition

And I do mean negative in a negative connotation, but I also mean subtracting.

This reactive approach to competition demonstrates our insecurities and personal biases for our failures. Most are internal and have no actual bearing on others’ perceptions of us. We do this to ourselves. Sometimes we take action against our competitors from this position and approach competition as a zero-sum game. It’s the basis of traditional competitive strategies and is a bland color of an otherwise vibrant topic. This type of competition bores me. It’s the used car salesman character we all know. The cutthroat business takeover, the oblivious pedestrian who enters the door you opened for someone else.

As an observer, it can be abrasive and hurtful when we receive this type of competitive behavior. Some of us have learned to use this type of input as fuel to build our realities in more creative ways. The best part of this type of competitive behavior is that it shows you exactly where to hit… if one was so inclined.

Obviously, you and I are better than that.

Positive Competition

These are the players of a different sport.

On the other end of the spectrum is positive behavior that amplifies our ability to learn, adapt and overcome. These are the players of a different sport. There is respect for the wins and losses that occur because they perceive competition with a pragmatism that most people struggle to find. This is why teams shake hands after a game and why we teach our children to be good sports. This is what a good sport is.

As an observer, we naturally follow these leaders. They inspire us, because they uplift. The reality surrounding them is a better reality than the one sold to us by others. It becomes a magnetic and contagious effect that promotes the betterment of humanity, not just the perception of a single individual. A buzzword in the marketing world is the Hero’s Journey. This is what the Hero’s Journey is all about. Making things better. It’s altruistic and competitive, but most of all… It’s the type of competition you want to be a part of because it diffuses the noise that distracts us from our goals.


We should all strive to embrace competition as long as we approach our competitive behavior in a way that adds to our experience and doesn’t subtract from it. Become the example that others want to follow. Teach others how to compete. Help the competition innovate. You are competing against yourself; everyone else is just here for the show.

Data Visualization & Education

Data Visualization & Education

From NonCustomer to NewCustomer

From NonCustomer to NewCustomer