Spoiler alert – the biggest competition is yourself. This post is coming from someone who doesn’t keep track of the score in most team sports because he’s more interested in the process than the result. But, I guess at some point we need to address competition in the industry and all the insecurities that accompany it.
Summary
Mind my language but, f!@k those who project some dog eat dog world in the tech industry. It smacks of desperation. Yes, we all want the best job and a sparkling career. Yes, we want our companies to be successful (and profitable) but, by any means necessary? Desperate competition just leads to cheating, backstabbing, inferior products and unhappy clients.
…and sometimes challenging your competitors to a cage fight
My advice, there is only one person to compete against – yourself. Focus on you. Try to be a better version of yourself every single day.
Celebrate the wins of others, and be genuine about it. If you’re working to become a programmer then you know what it takes, how tough it can be. You can relate. Plus, who knows, being friendly could lead to an opportunity down the line that wouldn’t have materialised if you’re unbearable.
I understand that a career is the balance of time, money and satisfaction – to get the most money means at some point you must compete against others. Is money your main driver? To pursue money at all costs leaves you open to suffering the same level of dissatisfaction, desperation and bitterness that may have lead you here in the first place. I agree that we all need and deserve security, but I prefer a route that isn’t at the expensive of other, decent humans.
Cream rises to the top. I understand that you may feel you must accept work from belligerent, nightmare customers when starting out but my advice is to have more self-respect and reserve yourself for those worth working with. If your work is solid and your values are ethical then I believe you will attract solid, valuable customers.