The Trouble with Competition
Competition can push you to be better. However, the trouble with competition is that it can also become toxic instead of motivational if you focus on it too much. I try to lay low, but once you get your name out there, the haters show up like wild dogs and tried to cut your legs out from under you. So you do your best to stay focused on your own goals. They’ll make it especially hard to ignore them. I definitely bit off more than I can chew, but wouldn’t grandma be proud of me now!
I try to do my best.
I strive to do things as well as I am able. I’m always learning, but let’s be honest. I’m still new at this. I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning new things. Working in charter fishing, where there already is plenty of doubt floating all around me, I frequently feel like I’m failing to get any better. However, every little victory raises my confidence and helps me strive for a higher level. Even if my victory is the next guys every day. So I get at it every day. I mostly stick to my circle of supporters, family and friends, and avoid the people who try to hate on what I find beautiful,
The Trouble with Competition
Obviously, you should ignore the haters. So much easier said than done. Competition is great for motivating me to get to that next level, but it can often be just as cruel and harmful. Especially when the competition is toxic, which does occasionally happen. Most competition I’ve found around me has been supportive. The toxic ones, they will do anything to take you out, by lying, cheating and attempting to make you uncredible in town. They don’t go away as easily as you’d like. Making ignoring them nearly impossible. This can cause undo stress and anxiety for anyone. For women in this industry, we already have enough struggles to get through every day.
Handling the Hater Vibes
These stressors persist in the background every day and can often be hard to block out. So I focus on the healthy relationships and lean on friends and family. I try hard to measure my successes against my own skill levels and my own victories, and to learn from failures. When competing, there will always be failures. My family motto? When you fail, ask “What did you learn?” With these failures, I get stronger. Some people around you will see it for weakness and try to get everyone focused on your failures, but it isn’t about any of them. Hate can bring gains if you choose to handle it correctly, instead of playing into them. You can’t be a bitch AND have no taste. Pick a struggle.
How I Thrive
If someone hates me, all I know is they hated me first, so it’s their issue. They want to laugh at my failures? I don’t remember asking for their opinion any way. All I can do, is stay positive and resilient as I go forward. It’s not always easy. I try to learn from past experiences. I remind myself daily that what they think or say doesn’t matter in the slightest, because they are not in this fight at all. Mostly importantly, when competition becomes toxic, I walk away and find a healthy situation and re-focus, because that motivation has really taken me places. I let the hate bring more attention to my successes. Go ahead and hate on me. I promise I’ll find a way to use it to my advantage.
