The Competitive Leader: Using your competition

[stellarrenegade]

I totally agree. From the bit I watched, "refreshingly honest" is the first phrase that pops to mind. And I don't have any particular affinity for him either. I just love that he completely ignored the usual formalities and insubstantial nonsense that often passes for great and inspirational speeches and spoke the blunt truth, with style and poise.

I love being an Artisan.

[Al3322]

This weekend, as usual, I dropped in on my temperament in competition lab, more commonly known as the men's club at the local golf course.

Saturday was the "barracuda" game which has been played there for over forty years. Everyone who is interested signs up and the lowest handicapped players choose team members round robin style from the higher handicap groups - just like sandlot baseball. The bet is a $2 Nassau so serious money is in play. You could lose $6; although, with this system the odds favor no one and over time you will break even.

Guardian: While we were waiting to "T" off, TB stormed out of the clubhouse and began a rant about how one of the choosers had picked a player out of his handicap level. As he proceeded to tell us all in loud tones, this violates the spirit of the game and unfairly biases it. The people running the game today were all jerks and he may not play again if this is the way it was going to be conducted. He was shaking with rage when he "T" ed off and sliced his ball into the trees. The rest of the day he played far worse than his level.

Idealist: I played with an idealist and I noticed that he and I, unlike the sensing types, are not bothered by distractions such as talking, moving, standing directly behind, cell phones or the beer girl starting her cart after completing a sales and receiving a large tip. For us the lurch at the ball is exactly the same with decorum or with distractions.

Expressive artisan: Sunday was the club metal play tournament opener. For amateurs most golf competions are of the "hit and giggle" variety where there is some relief from the real pressure of strict metal play (like to pros). In fact for a golfer that is serious about trying to play well these metal play tournaments can create a lot of pressure. If it takes 16 shots to get down on the par 3, that score will be posted for everyone at the course to see. Your self image is about to violently impact reality.

A train 500 m away came by the course and distracted KM to the point that he could not "T" off. When it left, he complained that these trains alway come by when he is playing. He then procededed to pull his shot into the bunker. When he failed to get it out of the bunker, he jerked his hand cart so hard that his clubs fell off. He then jammed the clubs back onto the cart with such force that they fell out of his bag which he then began to kick. The next hole he smother hooked his drive and flung his $300 driver 10 m into one of his playing partner's carts, ricocheting it another 5 yards.

Yes, in answer to your question, we are adults, leaders in our community, responsable jobs, and examples to our kids.

[Goodrum]

Too funny Al, created a great visual... can just see it all unfold.

Love this description:

temperament in competition lab

I've found a similar thing, my life has become a fascinating observatory of wonderful temperaments in action....it's endearing..

[Narnia51483]

Al, I love your style.

[christina]

This is a great subject to debate and discuss, and I have some interesting background information that will come out hopefully this year. Particularly, I am working on with my colleague on a book on leadership. And it turned out for several reasons, mostly not related to Michael and Tiger's "difficulties," we had originally were thinking of using Michael Jordan as our "prime" example as our Competitive Leader (the Crafter Artisan), but decided to use Bruce Lee instead.

The Competitive Leader (the Crafter Artisan) has a problem -- how do they succeed? -- (1)they do it by beating opponents. How do they get all that energy to perform well -- in fact --- better than anybody else. (2)They have to generate that drive, and clandestine sexual encounters is one easy way to do that. Living on the edge is where Crafter Artisan lives.

Why do people cover such behavior. Reflective glory and business. (Some of this is talked about in Amazing Grace). (3)Bad boys have been always given slack since Alexander the Great.

I wanted to respond to a couple of points
1. I've never had this mentality. From an early age I considered it a disadvantageous and self-defeating perspective in terms of my individual path and quality of performance. I wouldn't consider it good sportsmanship either, though some could argue that uniting to defeat an "enemy" is the CORE of team values (essentially the way to play within a team). I was given an assignment in the 4th grade to write an essay about whether I favored or disfavored competition/competitiveness (I can't remember the exact wording of the assignment); I still have trouble answering that question even today, although I still favor the idea of "non-competitiveness". If I strive to achieve a "higher" virtuosity, I study other people's technique and/or find "inspiration" through other avenues (research, reflection, "cross-training, " etc). Bruce Lee said nicely:

"Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it."

In terms of martial arts, the opponent shouldn't be reviled, but revered (at least in my mind). It's about putting your best foot forward, doing your best and respecting that in someone else (a hard thing to do, but not unnatural). Time and time again you see this even in nature, males of the species tend to be more brightly colored as a way to indicate their worth to a female. In the arena, you WANT someone that can give you a challenge, otherwise it's a disgrace and a waste of time and effort, you leave with less than you came with(the goal being to constantly improve ONESELF).

I married a particularly competitive man. A Contending Rational from a notably C-O-M-P-E-T-I-T-I-V-E family. It's been interesting. He'll be talking about that later on, I'm sure

Christina's "secret" thought He wants to name our son distant-future son "Peregrine" (from the lord of the Rings ). I insist the name SOUNDS ridiculous, but in my head I'm enamored with it's idea, namely the mating rituals of the lightening fast Peregrine Falcons


2. In order to be convinced of this, I would need to see a direct-and-necessary relationship. If the Crafter Artisans craft is martial arts then getting into street fights would be a way of generating power that is DIRECTLY related to improving fighting technique. I read/heard somewhere that Bruce Lee picked fights in school and frequently got into petty physical fights throughout high school. I think I also saw his wife Laura mention in a documentary that as a young child he would shake his fists in defiance at, um , I forgot who occupied his country at the time, the Japanese? That would be another source of angst that could fuel his disciplined and tortuous training.

Another example would be a female getting into and out of turbulent relationships in order to write love songs ( I find this funny, I don't know why ).

Another explanation could be centered around the idea of having to build oneself up gain after a great fall that INHERENTLY requires a "second cycle" of "improving" said technique. In Tiger Woods case, his fall was from his public pedestal.





Honestly, though, despite these explanations, I feel the path of womanizing/promiscuity is a dark path for the Crafter Artisan to take (when it is not aligned with a goal. For instance womanizing is appropriate if one wants to be come Dr. Love or something ). And, of course, every Crafter Artisans contains their own set of values set to different degrees.

If I compare the balance that must be struck between "freedom" and being "grounded" I think of a spinning top or a, better, something more "mathematical" or "vibrational" like when a washing machine is spinning off balance. That is mostly how I view Tiger Woods, I can't really comment on Jordan, though I did like his speech


3. I'll have to think about this some more

[christina]

This weekend, as usual, I dropped in on my temperament in competition lab, more commonly known as the men's club at the local golf course.

Saturday was the "barracuda" game which has been played there for over forty years. Everyone who is interested signs up and the lowest handicapped players choose team members round robin style from the higher handicap groups - just like sandlot baseball. The bet is a $2 Nassau so serious money is in play. You could lose $6; although, with this system the odds favor no one and over time you will break even.

Guardian: While we were waiting to "T" off, TB stormed out of the clubhouse and began a rant about how one of the choosers had picked a player out of his handicap level. As he proceeded to tell us all in loud tones, this violates the spirit of the game and unfairly biases it. The people running the game today were all jerks and he may not play again if this is the way it was going to be conducted. He was shaking with rage when he "T" ed off and sliced his ball into the trees. The rest of the day he played far worse than his level.

Idealist: I played with an idealist and I noticed that he and I, unlike the sensing types, are not bothered by distractions such as talking, moving, standing directly behind, cell phones or the beer girl starting her cart after completing a sales and receiving a large tip. For us the lurch at the ball is exactly the same with decorum or with distractions.

Expressive artisan: Sunday was the club metal play tournament opener. For amateurs most golf competions are of the "hit and giggle" variety where there is some relief from the real pressure of strict metal play (like to pros). In fact for a golfer that is serious about trying to play well these metal play tournaments can create a lot of pressure. If it takes 16 shots to get down on the par 3, that score will be posted for everyone at the course to see. Your self image is about to violently impact reality.

A train 500 m away came by the course and distracted KM to the point that he could not "T" off. When it left, he complained that these trains alway come by when he is playing. He then procededed to pull his shot into the bunker. When he failed to get it out of the bunker, he jerked his hand cart so hard that his clubs fell off. He then jammed the clubs back onto the cart with such force that they fell out of his bag which he then began to kick. The next hole he smother hooked his drive and flung his $300 driver 10 m into one of his playing partner's carts, ricocheting it another 5 yards.

Yes, in answer to your question, we are adults, leaders in our community, responsable jobs, and examples to our kids.

The guy has it ALL wrong But I have special insight into this, of course.


I would just let him throw his tantrum (as long as it isn't directed at anyone or anyone else's property or in front of children, sensitive peoples, etc, etc) and laugh about it.


Here's what you "do" when he gets out of hand, you release the dog! (I'm just having fun )

[shytiger]

Your thoughts are very similar to Shytigress's, Christina. The Competivite Leader may be a particularly male leadership role. The female version is less about beating other people and more about simply succeeding where others fail, a subtle difference. I am very competitive myself. It really did rankle me enough to stay up late until I beat her score in archery (Wii Sports Resort). I still can't beat my Dad in anything physical *sigh*.

[Olga]

http://www.psy.fsu.edu/faculty/megargee.dp.html

This man's study contained 4 different groups:

1. a high-dominant man with a low-dominant man
2. a high-donimant woman with a low-dominant woman
3. a high-dominant man with a low-dominant woman
4. a high-dominant woman with a low-dominant man

They were supposed to do something fast, and one was to be elected a "leader" which meant giving instructions to the partner. The second one was going to be the "follower", the one carrying out things. The decision would be made within the group.

Results:

(1+2) 75% of the high-dominant men and 70% of the high-dominant women took the leadership role in the same sex pairs.
(3) When high-dominant men were paired with low-dominant women, 90% of the men took the leadership role.

AND!

(4 )20% of the high-dominant women took the leadership role when paired with a low-dominant male...!
Apparently, high-dominant women were appointing their low-dominant males the leadership role, 91% of the women made the final decision about the roles!

His conclusion was that men and women express dominance differently.

[Narnia51483]

[Al3322]

Christina, I love playing with the guy, KM. His temper is not directed at anyone but himself, he is very funny, is a great golfer,and keeps the party going and the game interesting.

Another explanation could be centered around the idea of having to build oneself up gain after a great fall that INHERENTLY requires a "second cycle" of "improving" said technique. In Tiger Woods case, his fall was from his public pedestal.

This is the same style of my promoter daughter. Without a crisis she has a hard time getting motivated.

Tiger is by far the competitive leader in golf with no one else now or in history even close. He dominates when the money and competition attract the best talent world wide. From what I observe he follows this "second cycle" pattern to get himself motivated. He changes his swing, changes coaches, fights through injury, comes back from surgery, and now back from a personal crisis of his own making. He seems to need this to get himself motivated to put in the practice and maintain the intensity to be the absolute top. There are other golfers who have as much or more talent (i.e. Phil Mickelson) but can not maintain the drive that Tiger creates for himself.

In an odd sort of way he has thrown away tournaments and caused himself needless trouble by trying the heroic and difficult shots instead of playing steadily and more conservatively. I imagine it is just to keep himself interested.

I think in the recently completed Master's tournament he ran out of the mental energy he created by the time the last round was played.