The winner takes it all?

Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin in Headlines and Opinions

21st century society actively creates and promotes an environment characterised by aggressive competition. It starts in kindergarten and only stops if you are lucky enough to be able to opt out of the “rat race”. We seem to prize winning above all else turning life into an ongoing obstacle race in every facet of our existence from our education, to work, social status, wealth, intellectual capacity, fertility and even physical appearance.

Designed and fueled by market forces, we are all caught in a hypnotic/psychotic relationship with symbols of success. A degree from Harvard, a new sports convertible, the blonde beauty queen, a sleek yacht … are all awards for being top dog. And so we compete… clawing our way rabidly to the top in a feverish pursuit to be a winner, the winner!

Is this need to win innate?

Are we genetically programmed to want to be top dog?

And why do some of us manifest that need more than others?

Most of western society prize winning above everything with being a winner linked to success, self worth, pride and even genetic superiority. Evolutionary biologists and social Darwinist theorists view inter-species and intra-species competition as the driving motivating force of all adaptation, and ultimately of evolution with competition, a mechanism for determining the best-suited group; ecologically, politically and economically.

Others argue that it is less an innate trait and more an acquired one nurtured by a society whose very foundations are based on individual achievement. Whether nature or nurture – the bottom line is survival.

Thus in our dog-eat-dog world where your worth is ranked by your ability to rise above the average, to shine like gold amidst the nickels and dimes, winning and awards acquire a mythical potency, a supposedly guaranteed entry card into high society.

Our education is a potent enforcer of the win at any cost principle. Traditional mainstream education systems are all about exams, tests, results and rewards for awards. Learning for the sake of acquiring knowledge is not the norm. Exceptions include the Montessori Method and Waldorf education that are integrated facilitated methods of educating children where self learning, discovery, playing and imagination are prized above all and traits of awareness, compassion and respect are ingrained in the approach.

Hard core capitalists would argue that to be the crème de la crème; assertiveness, risk taking, aggression and a winners attitude is what is needed. But is that really true?

The recent recession caused by the global collapse of the banking sector is a potent reminder that this ideology of winning nurtured in the best business schools of the world are actually churning out leaders who lack a balanced vision, with huge ethical flaws inherent in their approach to business based on aggressive competition and winning at all costs.

And there are always costs … in the pursuit of being the best at what we do, there is little time to explore the other aspects of our life like love, relationships and family that some may argue are far more valuable than status, money, awards or power. As Al Gore so aptly said, “No matter how hard the loss, defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out.”