The Only Person You Need To Compete With Is Yourself

Monday Motivation

I read this quote from Sam Altman in Shane Parrish’s newsletter this weekend:

“I think one thing that is a really important thing to strive for is being internally driven, being driven to compete with yourself, not with other people. If you compete with other people, you end up in this mimetic trap, and you sort of play this tournament, and if you win, you lose. But if you’re competing with yourself, and all you’re trying to do is — for the own self-satisfaction and for also the impact you have on the world and the duty you feel to do that — be the best possible version you can, there is no limit to how far that can drive someone to perform.”

— Sam Altman

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And it reminded me of what designer and founder Cat Noone said during our conversation in Series 5, Episode 33.

I don't want mediocrity. I want excellence and that's the benchmark I hold myself to.