Don't Be a Crab

From February 1, 2011

Vincent Hvizda

No matter where we look, competition surrounds us. Here's a great piece of advice I'd like to pass along that may prove helpful during your next competition: If you want to be incrementally better, be competitive. If you want to be exponentially better, be cooperative.

For a great example of this, watch the motives of a crab. You probably guessed that if you put a crab in a bucket, it will easily reach up over the lip of the bucket and succeed in climbing out. However, if you have two or more crabs in the same bucket, they take turns trying to climb out while the other crabs pull the 'successful' crab back down into the bucket.

Here's the way I see it: If you see someone reaching for success, don't be a 'crab.' Instead, offer your encouragement by patting them on the back, and save your energy for your next climb out of the bucket. Look to us for print materials that will help you succeed!