A little competition never hurt anyone
Anyone whose been through business school knows that you aren’t supposed to seek out competition. Blue Oceans are better than red ones, discovering new markets is better than disrupting old ones, etc.
But then why are we so captivated and drawn to a good rivalry? We all grew up around them, whether it was your local sports team or a parent vs. their respective in-laws. We threw our support behind our chosen side and waited anxiously for the sparks to fly, the emotions to surge, and tensions to come to a tipping point.
There’s something undeniably great about rivalries, something that flies in the face of traditional business school logic. Competition can have tremendously positive effects and can inspire innovation, hasten progress, and yield perfection.
